Cleveland Browns vs. Oakland Raiders Week No. 3 In-Game Blog

By Adrienne Goehler

CLEVELAND- The Cleveland Browns (1-1) take on the Oakland Raiders (1-1) at First Energy Stadium.

1:02pm- Kickoff, Raiders receive.

1:12pm- After the Raiders marched the ball 82 yards down the field, the Browns defense stops them from punching it in the end zone, and holds them to 3. Amari Cooper, 3 receptions for 54 yards, is proving to be an early nuisance for CB Joe Haden.

1:15pm- Raiders kickoff and send the ball into the end zone for a touchback. Browns will start their work from the 20, Josh McCown under center.

1:21pm- Oh no. The return of the two yard pass (or in this case, negative yardage) on third-and-long! McCown cannot help the offense move the ball, and the Browns are forced to punt. Carrie brought down on Oakland 31 by Mingo, 6 yard return.

1:29pm- Derek Carr goes for the deep ball to Michael Crabtree on third and long, and the pass is broken up by Pierre Desir. Raiders punt, Travis Benjamin with a 5 yard return to Cleveland 20.

1:35pm- Ugly first quarter. The Browns seem to be lacking in energy and passion, and cannot get anything positive rolling. They’ll start the second quarter with 3rd and 14 at the Cleveland 40. McCown 3-4, 22 yards. The Browns only have 25 total yards on the day.

1:38pm- Right idea, but still not good enough. Short again. McCown’s pass to Gary Barnidge only good for 10 yards, and once again the Browns have to punt it away. Fair catch, Oakland will work from the 12.

1:41pm- Coach Pettine takes the first timeout of the game. Raiders 2nd and 10 after Donte Whitner breaks up a pass.

1:43pm- Browns D finally bringing some life to the game, and Oakland is forced to kick it away. Benjamin receives, no gain after illegal block. Browns will start at the 33.

1:48pm- Cleveland takes their second timeout. They really need to answer on this drive, and pump some energy into this crowd.

1:50pm- Penalties. Penalties. Penalties. Browns getting killed again by the yellow flag, called for offensive pass interference. Amari Cooper in to receive the punt, and brought it to the Oakland 20 for 9 yard gain.

1:53pm- Nice flea flicker, but it’s called back for offensive pass interference. Another penalty, false starts, gives Oakland 1st and 25.

1:56pm- Back-to-back three-and-outs spoiled for Browns with roughing the kicker. Oakland gets the ball right back in a very disappointing turn of events for the Browns.

2:02pm- Browns are out there back peddling, and the Raiders keep ramming it down their throats. 11 plays, 80 yards- touchdown. Carr finds Andre Holmes in the end zone. PAT good, Raiders lead 10-0 with 6:46 left in the 2nd. Costly roughing the kicker penalty comes back and bites the Browns, big time.

2:19pm- Penalties are absolutely crushing the Browns positive momentum today. McCown takes the Brown and Orange 74 yards in 13 plays, but the Raiders stand up at the goal line and force the Browns to settle for 3, although they were lined up to go for it on fourth and goal before another penalty. McCown connected with Barnidge on a big 40 yarder on 3rd and 14 during the drive.

2:26pm- 1:26 is all it took for Derek Carr to lead the silver and black to another TD. 5 plays, 70 yards, and a short left to Seth Roberts for 13 yards. Make that 17-3 Oakland.

2:31pm- Browns almost cough up the ball on punt return, but after review the call is reversed and keep possession. The clock ticks to 0:00 after Duke Johnson’s 6 yard carry.

The first half couldn’t have gone any worse for the Brownies, and the team is greeted by a chorus of boos as they leave the field down 17-3. Second half adjustments are necessary to keep the Browns alive, but that goes without saying.

Penalties: 5/45 for CLE, 6/40 for OAK.

Oakland: 13 first downs, 253 yards. Carr- 12/21, 201 yards, 2 TD, 121.3 RTG

Cleveland: 6 first downs, 125 yards. McCown- 7/15, 104 yards, 69.9 RTG

2:48pm- Negative yardage for the Browns isn’t quite the start I expected for the second half. Luckily for them, Amari Cooper can’t find any running ground on the punt return and loses 7 yards to OAK 8.

2:54pm- Latavius Murray carries the ball for a monster 54 yard gain. Browns CB Joe Haden was injured during the play and heads for the locker room.

3:02pm- Another impressive drive for Derek Carr results in a FG. Raiders now lead 20-3. The Browns offense desperately needs 6 here.

3:04pm- Touchback. Let’s see if McCown can lead them into the end zone.

3:08pm- What a grueling process it appears to be for the Browns to gain any positive yardage on the day. Between the penalties, bad passing, and stuffed runs, it’s been hard to move the football. McCown’s pass to Hartline, who kept possession with the ball between his legs was ruled a catch. Oakland challenged, but the call stands, 1st down.

3:14pm- Good news. Browns convert on 4th and 2nd with short pass to Barnidge to the Cleveland 48.

3:20pm- McCown and Barnidge might be on to something as they connect on a 28 yarder for a TD! Travis Coons kicks it through the uprights to cut the Raiders lead 20-10. 13 plays, 80 yards on that drive for Browns O. Browns defense needs to contain the Raiders offense this series.

3:25pm- Haden has made his way back out to the field for the Browns. Oakland O relentless- FB Marcel Reese just took the ball 55 yards to the Cleveland 22 on a short left.

3:28pm- End of the 3rd quarter, and the Browns are starting to run out of time. Raiders threatening, and will resume 1st and goal on Cleveland 8.

3:31pm- Murray punches it in the end zone for his first TD of the day to accompany his 21 carries for 127 yards. The Raiders now have a commanding 27-10 lead. This isn’t the Browns D we saw last Sunday- not even close.

3:36pm- McCown comes up with a huge third-and-long pass to Hartline for 41 yards to OAK 46.

3:39pm- Isiah Crowell with a 13 yard gain to the OAK 19. Browns cannot settle for a first down.

3:42pm- The drive ended somewhat abruptly after McCown gets stripped and taken down, but a Brown jersey falls on top of the loose ball. Coons drills 41 yard FG to cut the Raiders lead 27-13, with less than 11 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter.

3:45pm- Touchback. Raiders get it at the 20. Browns need the defense now.

3:50pm- Big-time hit on Cooper to jar the ball out, Browns jump on top at OAK 44!

3:56pm- TOUCHDOWN BROWNS! In just 1:58 McCown and the Browns O go 44 yards in 6 plays, ending with Travis Benjamin fighting to get the ball over the goal line. Browns cut the Raiders lead 27-20. 6:28 left to play. Browns take advantage of Cooper’s fumble.

3:59pm- Touchback, Raiders will start at the 20. Browns have the crowd going now, and the defense needs to play off of the energy to force the Raiders to give the ball back.

4:01pm- OAK called for holding, 2nd and 16.

4:04pm- Defense forces the turnover, but Benjamin muffs fair catch and OAK gets the ball at CLE 43.

4:07pm- Browns D stands up, and Raiders are forced to punt. Raiders down the ball at the 2, and Cleveland will have to go the distance to have a chance at tying the game.

4:10pm- Browns challenge that Raiders Taiwan Jones possessed the ball in the end zone, and should be touchback. Ruling on field stands, Browns lose timeout.

4:13pm- Browns move the ball only out to their 17. Two minute warning.

4:16pm- McCown to Hartline for 19 yard gain, CLE 36.

4:21pm- Ouch. With 43 seconds left, McCown’s deep pass intended for Benjamin gets picked to seal the game for the Raiders. Raiders hang on for a 27-20 victory.