CLEVELAND -- The football popped into the air and Jason Pierre-Paul knew exactly what to do next.Use both hands.I knew one of these days I was going to catch the ball, he said. I knew if I was ever catching a ball, Im going to the end zone.Pierre-Paul returned a fumble 43 yards for a touchdown and recorded three sacks to lead the New York Giants to their sixth straight win, 27-13 over the Cleveland Browns.Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes -- two to Odell Beckham Jr . -- as the Giants extended their longest winning streak since 2008 and moved closer to securing their first playoff berth in five years. The Browns (0-12) have lost 15 straight dating to last season.With the Giants (8-3) slogging through a game where they seemed to be playing down to Clevelands level, Pierre-Paul helped New York open a two-touchdown lead and avert disaster with his third career touchdown -- maybe one that meant a little bit more to the defensive end.Under pressure, Browns quarterback Josh McCown was hit as he threw by New Yorks Jonathan Hankins and the ball was corralled by Pierre-Paul, who tucked it under his left arm and rambled untouched for the TD to give the Giants a 20-6 lead. It was another stirring moment in the comeback for the 27-year-old Pierre-Paul, whose career was nearly ended by a horrifying fireworks accident in 2015, when he lost his index finger and parts of two others on his right hand.The fumble return only reaffirmed Pierre-Pauls return to form as an elite player, coming a week after he had 2 1/2 sacks, forced a fumble and deflected a pass in a win over Chicago.Im not proving anything, he told reporters Sunday. I told you all last year when I came in, I already won.Pierre-Paul is the first player to have three sacks and a fumble return for a touchdown of at least 40 yards since 1982, when the NFL first recognized individual sacks as an official statistic.His humility after the performance was just as impressive. He has been an inspiration to his teammates, who have marveled at his resiliency.Hes basically taken over these last two games, Giants linebacker Jonathan Casillas said. Ive been a fan of JPP since he came into the league, and knowing what hes been through, its so encouraging to watch him now.Pierre-Pauls TD was originally ruled an interception before being changed to a fumble.It was an interception, he said with a laugh. How else can you get seven points? The ball never touched the ground, so were going to call it an interception.The Giants recorded seven sacks on McCown, who said there are few players as tough to block as Pierre-Paul, who was limited in practice this week because of a knee injury.He is a big dude and a heck of an athlete, and he plays hard, McCown said. You have those types of things where he has a very rare skillset for that size and speed. That is what gives him an edge.Here are a few other takeaways from the Giants win:NEW ROLE? Beckham had a 59-yard punt return TD called back by a holding call, but that didnt stop him from celebrating in the end zone.As he mimicked the powder toss made famous by Cavaliers star LeBron James, a close friend, Browns punter Britton Colquitt informed him the play was coming back.I told him, `I dont care, I still ran it back on you, Beckham said.Giants coach Ben McAdoo wouldnt commit to Beckham taking over return duties.DOWN BROWNS: Cleveland is four losses from history, and first-year coach Hue Jackson may have reached a breaking point.Jacksons eyes teared up when discussing a nightmarish season that is almost over. The Browns are trying to avoid joining the 2008 Lions as the only 0-16 teams, and Jackson is vowing his team wont be bad in 2017.I am not feeling like this next year, Jackson said. There is no way. Uh-uh. No. I am a fighter, and I dont lose many fights.WAR OF WORDS: Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor and Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins wont be exchanging Christmas cards.Despite Pryor catching six passes for 131 yards, including a 54-yarder, Jenkins ripped him on Twitter following the game with a vulgar post. Pryor answered back with praise, writing you are a great corner. Solid defender! You played a solid game. Good luck rest of year.Earlier in the week, Jenkins said Pryor, a converted quarterback, wouldnt be a challenge and called him another receiver, just bigger.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Billy Turner Super Bowl Jersey . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. Kevin King Super Bowl Jersey . PAUL, Minn. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Dave-Robinson-Packers-Jersey/ . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. Packers Super Bowl Jerseys . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Raven Greene Super Bowl Jersey . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Ryan Ludwick had a bag of ice wrapped on his right shoulder, the one thats prevented him from doing much of anything all season. It seems to be finally coming around, just like his team. Ludwick drove in his first run of the season with a double, and the Cincinnati Reds kept up their August surge, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 on Monday night for their seventh win in nine games. The Reds moved 17 games over .500, matching their season high and keeping the pressure on Pittsburgh and St. Louis in the NL Central race. "Weve been playing pretty well since I came back," said Ludwick, who returned from shoulder surgery a week ago. "We were 5-2 on the road trip, and we beat the team thats behind us in the wild-card standings, so thats a good start to the series." Its an important four-game series for Arizona, which now trails Cincinnati by six games for the final NL wild card spot. The Diamondbacks have won five of their last seven games, but cant afford to lose any more ground. "Were hoping to win the next three -- thats our goal," catcher Wil Nieves said. Bronson Arroyo (12-9) won his third straight start, allowing three runs in six innings. Aaron Hill hit a solo homer, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. J.J. Hoover retired the side in the eighth, his 23rd straight scoreless appearance -- a club record and the longest active streak in majors. Aroldis Chapman gave up a pair of singles in the ninth while getting his 31st save in 36 chances. It was the left-handers first appearance since he gave up a two-run homer to Jonathan Lucroy for a 7-6 loss in Milwaukee on Friday night. Ludwick got his long-awaited RBI during a three-run fourth inning against Randall Delgado (4-4), who had won his last three decisions. The left fielder tore cartilage in his right shoulder while sliding headfirst into third base on opening day. He returned a week ago and had a pair of singles in 14 at-bats on a road trip, showing a lot of rust from his long layoff while recovering from surgery. Manager Dusty Baker has dropped him from the cleanup spot to sixth in the order while he gets his swing straightened out. He doubled down the line at third base during the three-run fourth innning, his first RBI since a solo homer off Matt Cain during San Franciscos 6-4 win in Game 5 of their divisional playoff series at Great American Ball Park last Oct.dddddddddddd 11. "I actually felt a little better tonight," Ludwick said. "I dont know if it was being home in familiar surroundings or what. "Its baby steps. Its a process. You feel like you want it all at once. You want to hit a home run in every one of your first 10 at-bats. Obviously, its a rhythm and timing issue. Tonight, I felt like I had a pretty good rhythm at the plate." The Reds could use a consistent right-handed run producer in their lefty-dominated lineup. Ludwick led the offence when Joey Votto missed most of the second half of last season with a knee injury, leading the Reds to the NL Central title. "Like Ive said, our best days are ahead of us," Baker said. "Weve just got to keep winning in the meantime." The Diamondbacks were coming off a 16-inning, 4-2 win in Pittsburgh that left their bullpen worn down. They needed a solid start from Delgado, who came up short. Todd Frazier hit a solo homer. Brandon Phillips had a triple among his three hits off Delgado and scored a pair of runs. Zack Cozart drove in two with a sacrifice fly and a groundout, helping the Reds pull ahead 5-1 after five innings. The Diamondbacks loaded the bases in the sixth, and Martin Prado singled for a pair of runs that cut it to 5-3. Arroyo allowed seven hits but didnt walk a batter for the third straight start. Notes: Diamondbacks C Miguel Montero, on the DL since Aug. 1 with a strained lower back, is scheduled to catch on Wednesday, take a day off, then catch Friday and Saturday. Hell be evaluated then. ... LH Matt Reynolds, on the DL since June 10 with a strained left elbow, is playing catch but hasnt thrown off a mound. ... Hill is 8-for-21 career against Arroyo with three homers. ... Phillips is 8-for-16 during a four-game hitting streak. ... Cozart leads the NL with nine sacrifice flies. ... The Diamondbacks will start LH Patrick Corbin, who hasnt won on the road since June 2, in the second game of the series. LH Tony Cingrani makes his first career appearance against the Diamondbacks. ' ' '