CLEVELAND (AP) — One perfect pass may have pushed Brady Quinn over the top.

Quinn threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards and outplayed Derek Anderson in perhaps their final auditions for coach Eric Mangini to be Cleveland’s starting quarterback, and the Browns beat the Tennessee Titans 23-17 in an exhibition game Saturday night.

Quinn and Anderson entered the third preseason game in a virtual dead heat. Earlier this week, Mangini described their summer-long competition as ‘‘very close’’ and it remains that way. They’ve posted similar stats with Quinn’s TD pass — the only one by a Cleveland QB in the preseason — as the only thing separating the pair.

After coming off the bench last week, Quinn got the start and finished 11 of 15 for 128 yards. He led the Browns to one TD and two field goals in his four series.

Anderson went 7 of 11 for 77 yards and led the Browns to one field goal on two possessions. He didn’t have an interception, but one poorly thrown ball was dropped by Tennessee cornerback Tenard Davis.

Mangini has given no indication as to when he’ll end the suspense and announce his starter for the Sept. 13 opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Cleveland’s first-year coach wants to gather as much information as possible before making his decision.

He may now have enough now to go with Quinn, the former first-round pick who has made just three starts in his first two NFL seasons.