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Cincinnati • Andy Dalton threw three touchdown passes and played lead blocker in a near-perfect performance that kept the Bengals unbeaten.

Dalton connected with tight end Tyler Eifert for three scores and played the role of blocker on Mohamed Sanu's reverse for a touchdown, setting up Cincinnati's 31-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night.

The Bengals improved to 8-0 for the first time in franchise history, their longest winning streak within a season. Coming off an emotional 16-10 victory in Pittsburgh on Sunday that gave them control of the AFC North, the Bengals dominated the Browns (2-7) and Johnny Manziel in the second half.

Manziel had some of his best moments in the opening half, which ended with Cincinnati up only 14-10. In the second half, the Browns managed only 32 yards and two first downs.

It was a night for the Bengals to show how far they've come in a year. And no one has improved more than Dalton, who had his worst showing — a 2.0 passer rating — during a 24-3 loss to the Browns during a Thursday night game last November.

He threw touchdown passes of 9 and 2 yards to Eifert in the first half, the latter after a Browns penalty kept a drive alive. Dalton also played lead blocker on Sanu's 25-yard TD reverse in the fourth quarter, a play that took the Browns by such surprise that there was nobody there for the quarterback to touch.

His 19-yarder to Eifert put Cincinnati in control and gave the tight end nine touchdown catches for the season.

Dalton finished 21 of 27 for 234 yards. NFL schedule

Thursday

Cincinnati 31, Cleveland 10

Sunday

Tennessee at New Orleans, 11 a.m.

St. Louis at Minnesota, 11 a.m.

Green Bay at Carolina, 11 a.m.

Washington at New England, 11 a.m.

Miami at Buffalo, 11 a.m.

Jacksonville at N.Y. Jets, 11 a.m.

Oakland at Pittsburgh, 11 a.m.

Atlanta at San Francisco, 2:05 p.m.

N.Y. Giants at Tampa Bay, 2:05 p.m.

Denver at Indianapolis, 2:25 p.m.

Philadelphia at Dallas, 6:30 p.m.

Open: Arizona, Baltimore, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Seattle

Monday

Chicago at San Diego, 6:30 p.m.