By BRIAN DULIK Staff Writer

CINCINNATI — The Browns’ defense did its best to make Ryan Fitzpatrick’s first NFL start in three years a miserable experience Sunday. Cleveland collected three interceptions, forced two fumbles and sacked Fitzpatrick three times in a 20-12 win over Cincinnati.

“He is the backup quarterback, so I think he got frazzled a little bit and just started chucking it,” safety Mike Adams said. “We took advantage of that.”

Defensive backs Adams, Terry Cousin and Eric Wright all picked off Fitzpatrick, who last threw a pass in a regular season game on Dec. 4, 2005. Linebackers Alex Hall and Kamerion Wimbley each forced a fumble and had a sack, while nose tackle Shaun Rogers also planted Fitzpatrick on the artificial turf.

Their handiwork helped limit the Bengals to 225 yards of total offense — just 43 by running back Chris Perry on 17 touches — and a lone trip into the red zone. It was a far cry from their typical output under Pro Bowl quarterback Carson Palmer, who missed the game with a sore right elbow.

“There were some plays I wish I could have back,” said Fitzpatrick, who committed four of his team’s five turnovers. “We made some mistakes and it didn’t work out.”

The biggest plays made by the Browns were provided by Adams, Wimbley, Hall and Cousin.

Adams’ came first when he intercepted a Fitzpatrick pass at the Cleveland 7 in the second quarter, thwarting the Bengals’ bid to break a 3-3 tie.

Next up was Wimbley, who crushed Perry on a handoff one play after the Browns had taken a 10-6 lead in the fourth. The ball popped loose and Adams pounced on it at the Cincinnati 20, setting up Jamal Lewis’ touchdown run 1:52 later.

As time wound down, Hall simultaneously recorded a sack and forced fumble that led to a Phil Dawson field goal, while Cousin put the victory on ice by picking off Fitzpatrick with 14 seconds to go.

“We used the same game plan we practiced all week,” said Adams, who played against then-Rams quarterback Fitzpatrick while with the 49ers in 2005. “If Palmer was in there, we would have gotten after him as much as we went after Fitzpatrick.

“Once you get things rolling, it’s like a snowball thing. It started piling up for us today.”

 INJURY UPDATE: Browns fullback Lawrence Vickers was struck in the face with a beer bottle after blocking for Lewis on the team’s final TD. It occurred in the South end zone, just in front of the stands the Bengals call The Jungle. “He was pretty mad, I know that,” quarterback Derek Anderson said. … Left guard Eric Steinbach sat out practice all week with a shoulder injury that finally responded to treatment Saturday, allowing him to start in Cincinnati. “I rehabbed the (heck) out of it,” he said. “I guess you could call it a miraculous recovery, but a little adrenalin definitely helped.” … Right tackle Kevin Shaffer exited with a concussion in the third quarter and will undergo tests today. … Wide receiver Joshua Cribbs suffered a large carpet burn on his right forearm, but did not require stitches. He also reported no problems with his lingering ankle, shoulder and hamstring problems. “The more I played today, I felt better and better,” said Cribbs, who had a season-long 44-yard kickoff return.

 RUN YOURSELF RAGGED: One week after Lewis called the Browns’ offensive game plan “pathetic” after only getting 12 carries in Baltimore, he had a season-best 25 rushes for 79 yards against the Bengals. He gained 38 yards on Cleveland’s first four plays, but was limited to 41 more on his final 21 tries. “It kind of surprised me we came out that way, but it was good,” Lewis said. “It was tough sledding later on because I know (Bengals coach Marvin Lewis), and I knew he wasn’t going to let me keep running like that.” Cleveland’s team also set 2008 highs in rushes (40) and yards (134) as six players toted the ball at least once, including Jerome Harrison and Cribbs. “Romeo told us we were going to run early and run often, and we stuck with that all day,” Steinbach said.

 BENGAL BYTES: Fitzpatrick became the 26th quarterback to start a game for Cincinnati in its 41-year history. The Harvard graduate had a team-high 41 rushing yards and was 21-for-35 for 156 yards passing with one touchdown and three interceptions. … Wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco extended his franchise-record streak to 96 consecutive games with a reception. The former Chad Johnson finished with three catches, including a 4-yard TD. … T.J. Houshmandzadeh was Fitzpatrick’s favorite target, making a game-high six grabs. … The teams’ all-time series is tied at 35-35, but the Bengals are 5-4 at Paul Brown Stadium and 22-14 in games played on the banks of the Ohio River.

 OUT OF ACTION: The Browns’ inactives were wide receiver Donte Stallworth (quadriceps), linebackers Willie McGinest (knee) and Beau Bell (knee), tight end Martin Rucker (knee), guard Ryan Tucker (hip), safety Sean Jones (knee) and guard Scott Young. Ken Dorsey was their third quarterback. … Cincinnati was without Palmer, safeties Herana-Daze Jones (hamstring) and Dexter Jackson (thumb), cornerback Johnathan Joseph (ankle), running back Kenny Watson (hamstring), wide receiver Andre Caldwell and defensive tackles Pat Sims and Jason Shirley.

 EXTRA POINTS: A crowd of 65,541 took in the game on a sunny 74-degree afternoon. It was Cincinnati’s 38th straight home sellout. … Parking spots within three blocks of the stadium cost $20-35. … The Bengals wore their black tops and white pants, while the Browns were in all-white jerseys. Cincinnati is 9-13 all-time in those uniforms. … Though the NFL will not mass produce No. 85 Ocho Cinco apparel until Reebok exhausts its supply of Chad Johnson items, the Bengals Team Shop was selling jerseys for $100. Replica tops of ex-Cincinnati running back Rudi Johnson could be had for $21. … Bengals mascot Who-Dey is doing double-duty as the host of the Cincinnati Zoo’s pre-Halloween celebration.

Dulik may be reached at 330-721-4059 or brisports@hotmail.com.