CLEVELAND Browns not looking ahead

Carolina has lost eight straight games coming into Sunday's contest.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Cleveland Browns aren't taking any chances today. They know the Carolina Panthers, struggling with off-field problems, can cause them problems on the field.
For perhaps the first time since returning as an expansion team in 1999, the Browns (6-5) have a game plan that includes more than just X's and O's.
They're worried about being overconfident and looking past the Panthers.
But it's a sign of the Browns' steady improvement and maturity under second-year coach Butch Davis that they're not thinking about any other team but reeling Carolina (3-8).
"We're not going to take them lightly," Browns running back Jamel White said of the troubled Panthers, who have lost eight in a row. "We're going to treat them like they are the Super Bowl champions. We just need to go out there and play our game."
After regrouping during their open week, the Browns have moved back into the AFC's wide-open playoff race by winning the last two weeks at Cincinnati and New Orleans.
New found running game
They've done it with a newly discovered running game that produced 100-yard-plus efforts in consecutive weeks for the first time since 1995.
Rookie William Green broke out for a season-high 114 yards last week against the Saints, who may have been peeking ahead to this week's important NFC South matchup with Atlanta.
The Browns don't want to make the same mistake.
"Sometimes teams get caught overlooking [other teams]," Cleveland quarterback Tim Couch said. "Look at last week, I think the New York Giants might have looked past the [Houston] Texans. We don't want to fall into that trap of thinking this team is coming in here on a losing streak. We have a lot of respect for them.
"They're capable of coming in here and beating us, so we have to be on our best game."
Carolina is as close to a sure win as the Browns have left on their schedule. Following the Panthers, they'll play Jacksonville (5-6), Indianapolis (7-4), Baltimore (5-6) and Atlanta (7-3-1) -- all teams in the playoff picture.
Cleveland was an identical 6-5 last season, but then went 1-4. Couch said these Browns understand what's at stake.
"This team is more focused, more confident," Couch said. "We see the light at the end of the tunnel. There's a lot riding on each and every game and we realize the impact."
Problems on and off field
Meanwhile, the Panthers' season of disarray has gotten more disorderly.
On Thursday, running back Lamar Smith was charged with drunken driving, the latest legal tangle for a team free-falling since a surprising 3-0 start.
Smith, Carolina's leading rusher and scorer this season, was charged with driving while impaired, speeding and reckless driving outside Charlotte, and the team put him on a paid leave for the rest of the season.
Smith's arrest came just as the club was recovering from an ugly incident where wide receiver-kick returner Steve Smith was suspended one game for beating up teammate Anthony Bright during a film session. Smith was reinstated this week after apologizing to his teammates.
In addition, the Panthers released starting right tackle Chris Terry last week following a series of incidents stemming from a domestic violence charge this summer. They're also without defensive tackle Brenston Buckner, currently serving a four-game suspension for using a banned dietary supplement.
There's more. Rookie defensive end Julius Peppers, who has 11 sacks, will appeal a possible four-game suspension next Tuesday for testing positive for a banned substance.
Sunday's game in Cleveland could be Pepper's last this season.
"Perfect timing, right?" Couch said, rolling his eyes at the thought of being chased by Peppers. "He's a guy we have to account for."