CINCINNATI — The message on Brian Simmons' voicemail Monday was short and direct.

        Takeo Spikes just called to say thanks.

        Missing the emotional leader of their defense, the Cincinnati Bengals pulled together Sunday and pulled out a game they absolutely had to win. An inspired defense set up a 24-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

        When game balls were awarded Monday, one was saved for Spikes, who was with his family in Georgia following his father's death.

        “He called me this morning, but I didn't get a chance to talk to him,” said Simmons, another linebacker whose locker is next to Spikes' in the Bengals dressing room. “He left a message. He just said thanks for getting the game for me.”

        Jimmie Spikes was diagnosed with brain cancer about 10 months ago. He died Friday in Georgia, and his son missed a game for the first time since the Bengals drafted him in 1998.

        “We know what he's been going through since May,” said linebacker Adrian Ross, who filled in and got a game ball Monday for his five-tackle performance. “I have to give him so much respect for coming in here and never showing what's going on.

        “I was excited to go out there and represent No. 51 and play my heart out. Our main focus was on playing for Takeo and his family and getting the win so that we could give him a game ball. I think that was our biggest defensive game of the year.”

        The Browns ran for only 40 yards, and Tim Couch was sacked three times while completing 14-of-28 for 194 yards with two touchdowns. Cleveland had only 211 yards and was 2-of-11 on third-down conversions.

        Spikes' absence also had an emotional impact on the offense, which scored on its first four possessions in the second half to pull away.

        “That's really a difficult thing,” quarterback Jon Kitna said. “I was thinking about him all the time, wondering whether he was watching at home. I was watching the defense, and I know they were excited and emotional.”

        The victory improved the Bengals to 3-2, their best five-game record since the 1990 season. That's the last time they had a winning record and made the playoffs.

        Players knew that a loss to the Browns would have wiped out all the momentum from a 2-0 start and left everyone thinking they're the same old Bengals. Cincinnati has the worst record in the NFL since 1991.

        Now, they've got a winning record with a home game against Chicago and a game at Detroit.

        “It's going to be a very interesting year,” offensive tackle Willie Anderson said.

        Spikes was on many of the players' minds again Monday as they made arrangements to fly to Georgia to join him for the funeral Tuesday.

        “If you ask, 'If you could find another job that would pay you the same money, would you go out and play football?' He always says yes,” Anderson said. “Me, I think about it.

        “I respect him for that, just his love for the game. He gets mad when I call him short guy, little guy. He's not the biggest linebacker, but I think he has the biggest heart of any linebacker you'll find in the league.”

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