CLEVELAND -- With a tipped-ball interception and a dazzling touchdown run, Kroy Biermann on Sunday showed why the Atlanta Falcons are finding all kinds of ways to win.
The Falcons were up three points over Cleveland with 4:14 left. Biermann, the third-year defensive end, was rushing from the right side, and he sensed something was up: The Browns' offense had let him in too easily. Biermann got his hands up and batted the quick pass by Cleveland quarterback Jake Delhomme. The ball squirted up, Biermann hauled it in and then he was gone, helping Atlanta secure a 20-10 victory.
The Falcons improved to 4-1 with the win. With Arizona's victory over New Orleans Sunday, Atlanta is in sole possession of first place in the NFC South. (Tampa Bay is 3-1 after beating Cincinnati.)
On the big play, Biermann crashed into the turf after making a diving grab for the tipped football, but he rolled once and was up again before anyone could lay a hand on him.
For an instant he was running toward Cleveland's bench.
"A lot of it was natural reaction," Biermann said. "I had to get my bearings or something. I knew I was going to try and get up. Maybe I was just looking to see which way I needed to run."
Didn't take long for him to figure it out. After briefly running toward the sideline, he turned upfield and raced 31 yards. Cleveland's Chansi Stuckey finally caught up with Biermann about two steps outside the end zone, but it was too late. They went over the goal line together.
"That was real huge," defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux said.
So huge that the Falcons went bonkers on the sidelines and in the end zone, drawing a celebration penalty.
Falcons coach Mike Smith said he was impressed with the play, Biermann's second NFL touchdown.
"I know that Kroy is from Montana and he's probably rode a wild bronco or a bull. He's probably been thrown off them and has landed on his feet," Smith said. "I think that had something to do with it. It was a super athletic play."
About two minutes after Biermann's pick, with 1:56 to play, linebacker Stephen Nicholas again intercepted Delhomme, who was playing for the injured Seneca Wallace.
Whereupon the Falcons just handed the ball over to Michael Turner, who had four carries before Ryan twice took a knee to close out the game. Turner finished with 140 yards on 19 carries.
The Falcons' game plan was to stop running back Peyton Hillis, who had back-to-back 100-yard games and a rushing touchdown in the last four games. He was held to 28 yards on 10 carries.
"We knew he had to come through one of those holes and as long as we stayed gap sound, we thought we'd be able to control the run today," Babineaux said.
The Browns (1-4), coming off a big road win at Cincinnati, held a 7-6 halftime lead.
The Falcons' offense was stymied for most of the first half and had to settle for two field goals; a third attempt was blocked. Cleveland scored on a 19-yard touchdown pass to Hillis, who had got behind Biermann.
Early in the third quarter, Cleveland linebacker Scott Fujita had a sack-strip and Kenyon Coleman recovered the fumble at Atlanta's 24. But the defense, which limited Cleveland to 48 yards rushing overall, forced the Browns to settle for a 19-yard Phil Dawson field goal to make it 10-6.
On the Falcons' next possession, wide receiver Roddy White got open for a 45-yard touchdown to put the Falcons ahead 13-10, a lead they took with them into the fourth quarter.
Under Smith, the Falcons are 20-1 when they start the fourth quarter with a lead.
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