CINCINNATI (AP) — Andy Dalton’s harried look summed it up. Cleveland’s defense was all over him all night long, turning an AFC North showdown into a shockingly one-sided matchup.

With every sack and every interception, the Browns showed they’re for real.

Cleveland improved on its best start in 20 years by taking full advantage of Dalton’s miserable night Thursday, beating the Cincinnati Bengals 24-3 and ending one of its most enduring streaks of futility.

The Browns (6-3) moved into a first-place tie with Pittsburgh and snapped their streak of 17 straight losses to division opponents on the road. The last win? Also in Cincinnati, a 20-12 victory on Sept. 28, 2008.

Just like the Browns, the Bengals (5-3-1) were trying to break away from some bad franchise history. They’ve played some of their worst games in prime time and wanted to show they were finally ready to hold up under the national attention.

Dalton was 10 of 33 for 86 yards with three interceptions and two sacks. It was another big-game meltdown for the fourth-year quarterback, who has led his team to the playoffs three years in a row only to lose opening games all three times.

Cincinnati fell to 18-41 in prime time.

The game marked the first since 1986 ”“ when Bernie Kosar and Boomer Esiason were the quarterbacks ”“ that the intrastate rivals played with first place on the line so late in the season. The Browns won that one 34-3.

And they were in charge right from the start of this one, too.

Cleveland rushed for 170 yards after managing only 158 in the last three games combined. Terrance West led the way with 94 yards on 26 carries. Brian Hoyer was 15 of 23 for 198 yards.