Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals

Browns defensive end Desmond Bryant records one of his two sacks of Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton on Thursday night.

(Joshua Gunter, Plain Dealer)

BEREA, Ohio -- No team intentionally takes a victory lap before crossing the finish line, but sports history is rife with examples of first-place clubs faltering in the stretch run.

Browns defensive end Desmond Bryant listened with great interest as coach Mike Pettine reminded his players "there's no prize for being 6-3."

The Browns returned to work Tuesday in sole possession of the divisional lead for the first time since 1995, when you could buy a gallon of gas for about $1.35. The team's injury report won't reflect it, but plenty of players probably are nursing sore backs from having them slapped so many times in the wake of Thursday's nationally-televised 24-3 victory over the Bengals.

Bryant enjoyed one of his best games as a pro Thursday night, registering two sacks and creating plenty of chaos, in the franchise's most meaningful win in seven years. But standing at his locker Tuesday afternoon, the hulking lineman told a cautionary tale -- one he plans to share with his defensive teammates at some point this week. Bryant was a member of the 2011 Raiders, who squandered a two-game lead in the AFC West with only five games remaining.

"We were 7-4 and lost four of our last five games," he said.

Defensive end Desmond Bryant celebrates with fans after the Browns defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.

"That's my message to the guys this week: It's great to come out of the gate like this, but as the coach said we haven't done anything – 6-3 gets you nothing. It gives you a chance to do something, but at the end of the day we haven't done anything yet."

Bryant's story is particularly relevant given the recent histories of the Raiders and Browns, once proud franchises who have combined for 15 head coaches and 35 starting quarterbacks since their last playoff appearances in 2002.

Unlike the Ravens, Steelers and Bengals, the Browns aren't used to playing big games this late in the season. The additions of safety Donte Whitner and Karlos Dansby, who helped losing teams become Super Bowl contenders, should prove beneficial.

Bryant, 28, isn't considered one of the team leaders, but his experience from three years ago is also a valuable teacher for younger players who might be feeling a bit full of themselves given all the positive press.

Momentum is hard to gain and easy to lose. And, you never know on which roster the next Tim Tebow is lurking.

'The other team wanted to win the game more'

The 2011 Raiders appeared in great shape following a 25-20 triumph over the Bears on Nov. 27. They had a penchant for winning close games even after losing starting quarterback Jason Campbell to a Week 6 collarbone injury suffered against the Browns.

The club mortgaged the future in trading for Carson Palmer and it looked as if the gamble would pay off. The Chargers and Chiefs were 4-7. The Broncos started 2-5 and had turned over the offense to Tebow, whose throwing motion and inaccuracy drew snickers league-wide.

Bryant can't pinpoint one or two reasons for the Raiders' collapse. But three years later, with hindsight as his guide, he made this observation:

"We just weren't all the way there as a team," Bryant said. "We were there and playing well, but the other team wanted to win the games more."

The 2011 Oakland Raiders started the season 7-4 only to fall apart down the stretch.

The Raiders lost three straight, surrendering a combined 108 points. They won their penultimate game, but needing just a victory in the season finale, fell to the Chargers, 38-28.

The Broncos, Chargers and Raiders all finished with 8-8 records, but Denver won the division and qualified for postseason on tiebreakers. Bryant sat home as Tebow stunned the Steelers in an opening-round playoff game.

Bryant doesn't want to sound like a downer in a room percolating with confidence, but he's compelled to relay the story in the next day or two.

"I want to let them know about that 7-4 season and how it's great to start that way, but we've got a lot of work to do."

Valuable lesson learned

Given Bryant's current form, Pettine probably would be pleased to allow his veteran to address the group.

"The one thing about Des is Des has been consistent and just steadily getting better," said Pettine of a lineman who missed much of preseason and the opener with a wrist injury. "He's consistently been doing his job, and given opportunities to rush the passer, he's shown why he was brought here.

"I thought this was his best game maybe going back to the beginning of last year when he was playing well. He was a spark and he's really stepped up for our guys. It's been a big part of our success defensively."

Edge rusher Paul Kruger shares in his coach's appreciation of Bryant.

"He's been a force to be reckoned and statistics don't always portray that," Kruger said of Bryant, who has three sacks on a defensive line that's finally getting healthy. "I was glad he was able to get the rewards so to speak against Cincinnati, but he's been doing it all year."

The Browns won their next three.

"(The Jaguars) came in 100 percent focused and locked in on how they wanted to beat us and I don't think we were quite prepared for that," the Harvard product said.

"We did not want to fall back into an up-and-down season. We know what we have here. We know we can do it. Everyone has been locked it and we want to prove it. Our focus level has been much better since then."

Bryant signed as a free agent with the Browns in 2013, yet has much in common with the likes of Joe Thomas, Ahtyba Rubin and Joe Haden. He's sick of losing, of endless franchise reboots and waiting for next year.

In his sixth season, he's ready to make the playoffs.

"Man, that would be the greatest accomplishment of my career," he said. "That's what it's all about. If I could help to get my team there and if I can say something that helps us get there then I'm going to do that."

Amid all the euphoria in Brownstown, Desmond Bryant has a story of failure he wants to tell. The Browns would be wise to listen.