He recorded three interceptions for 87 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown, all while covering Browns star receiver Braylon Edwards, who managed just four receptions for 35 yards from third-string quarterback Ken Dorsey.

Hall and Edwards hail from the University of Michigan, but neither were exchanging holiday greetings in the heat of battle.

"We didn't talk much," Hall said. "It was nothing personal. It was pretty much straight business."

It was also pretty much straight revenge.

In Week 2 of the 2007 season, Edwards lit up Hall for eight catches for 146 yards and two TDs in the Browns' 51-45 victory.

"What is it, a 45-minute flight home?" Hall said. "It felt like three days."

Hall sought redemption, and got it. He jumped in front of a Dorsey pass toward Edwards, snatched it out of the air and sprinted 50 yards for a TD that gave the Bengals a 7-0 lead at 8:30 of the first quarter.

"I was just reading the quarterback and then getting my eyes on the receiver and reading him, and then jumping the route," Hall said. "I had never scored a touchdown off an interception. I got one at Michigan, but it was called back and didn't count. So this is the first one in my life. It felt real good."

He got another pick at 9:36 of the third quarter at the Bengals' 19, and another at 11:02 of the fourth quarter at the Bengals' 33 when Edwards tried a deep route down the right sideline.

Hall waited all season to get his first pick. On this, his special day, he snagged three.

"I've been talking about it for a while now - I don't have any picks," he said. "Now I'm leading the team, which is good. I just wanted to play my game, do my job, make plays and help the defense."

Linebackers Dhani Jones and Brandon Johnson were singing Hall's praises afterward.

"AFC Player of the Week - Leon Hall," Jones kept shouting in the locker room.

"We wanted to come out with the momentum we had last week (in a 20-13 victory over Washington)," Johnson said. "Just execute and give a great team effort. Last week, we had to have a parade for Corey Mays (for forcing a Redskins' fumble during a goal line stand). This week, we have to have a parade for Leon Hall."