Browns-Raiders/Week #3

Good teams simply do not lose to Oakland. Heck, average teams don’t lose to Oakland. Actually, since October of 2006, no one loses to Oakland – until now.

Something had to give. It was long-term futility versus short-term futility - the worst team in football since 1999 playing the league’s most inept team the past year +.

Unfortunately for the Cleveland Browns, the Oakland Raiders survived and won a game Cleveland desperately needed if it hoped for a good start to the 2007 season.

The game ended when Oakland blocked the Browns’ game-winning field goal attempt, but the contest was not lost on that single play.

It was lost when the Browns allowed a rusher go for over 100 yards (Lamont Jordan) for the third consecutive week.

Cleveland lost when it could not muster any offense in the first half of play, due to poor quarterback play, costly penalties and the line’s inability to open holes for the running game.

The contest was lost when the Browns’ defense couldn’t stop the Raiders on third and 23 – allowing a first down and eventual field goal.

The Browns lost when after taking a 17-16 lead, permitted the Raiders to go on a 15 play/80 yard drive for a touchdown, mostly on the ground while chewing up nine minutes of clock in the process.

All the momentum gained from last week’s seven-on-seven drill, known as the win over the Bengals, went bust Sunday afternoon out west.

Now the Browns come home to take on a very physical Ravens team and follow that up with a game against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. They could be looking at 1-4 before playing Miami just ahead of the bye.

Unless their play dramatically improves, by the time the Indians’ post-season run ends, the Browns’ hope for a competitive season may have also come and gone.

I wish I could be more positive, but the pictures don’t lie.