Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill jumps into a pair of Bengals fans after his second-half touchdown against the Cleveland Browns.

(John Kuntz, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Browns linebacker Chris Kirksey said he was "just trying to protect the house," when confronting Jeremy Hill after the Bengals running back jumped into the FirstEnergy Stadium stands Sunday.

Perhaps not the best choice of words on an afternoon the Browns lost by 34 points, but many fans appreciated the fact someone defended their honor and showed some emotion in a 37-3 shellacking.

For the second straight season, Hill scaled the end-zone wall after scoring a touchdown here. In last year's adventure, a Browns fan shoved him back onto the field. This time, the second-year pro found a pocket of Bengals fans with whom to celebrate his 1-yard touchdown run to make it 27-3 in the third quarter.

Kirksey got into Hill's grill after he came back to Earth, but the meeting didn't turn physical. The linebacker drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a round of applause from Browns fans. Kirksey said he didn't hear the cheers.

"Nah, I was zoned out," he said. "Trying to protect the end zone, trying to protect the house."

Kirksey and the Browns endured another long afternoon in losing for the seventh straight time. The Bengals rushed for 144 yards, including 98 from Hill, who earlier in the week vowed not to leap into the FirstEnergy stands again.

"The spur of the moment got the best of me," Hill said.

What did Kirksey say to him?

"Don't do that," the linebacker said.

Hill's version was slightly more descriptive.

"It was a little salty," the running back said. "Just his competitive nature . . . If someone did that in our place, I'm sure we wouldn't be too happy about it."

Kirksey said no coaches lectured him on the sidelines for the flag.

There's a simple way to prevent Hill from doing it again next year: Play better defense. The Browns entered Sunday's action allowing 135.6 yards per game on the ground only to see that average climb.

The Bengals have outscored the Browns 67-3 in the past two meetings at FirstEnergy Stadium.

"It's all about us,' Kirksey said. "We're just not executing, that's it."