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For the fans of the Cleveland Browns it has happened again – they have found a new way to lose a football game. Whether it is the Drive, the Fumble, Red Right 88, the helmet, they seem to come up with improbable way after improbable way of losing games.

This Sunday the Browns had the only opponent that during the preseason
it appeared that they could beat prior to the bye week. The Raiders
were mired in nearly as much ineptitude as the Browns. But coming off
the spectacular offensive performance of week two against the Bengals
there was some hope that the Browns were beginning to find the corner
to turn. But during week three they took a major step back. They
displayed the same lack of defense that they showed against the Bengals
and little of the offense. Until Josh Cribbs made his 99 yard kick off
return they were unable to move the ball or to keep from making a
crucial penalty.

At about 8 minutes to go Derek Anderson finally found his arm and began
to move the team. He scored to bring the team within 2 points at 26 to
24. The defense was able to get the ball back – but only after allowing
to move the ball so that they had a long field to go. They were able
move quickly down the field with no time outs and completions to
Winslow, Edwards and Jurevicous to get the ball into position for a 40
yard field goal. The Raiders then executed a play from the Denver
playbook by letting the Browns line up for and kick the game winning
field goal only to find out that the Raiders sideline had been granted
a time out an instant before the ball was snapped for the field goal.
On his next attempt Phil Dawson was unable to get enough height to
clear the Raiders rush and the game was over.

This next week the Browns will certainly see little patience in the
home crowd for the incompletions and interceptions thrown by Derek
Anderson in the Raiders game. The offensive circus of the Bengals game
will not bring any sympathy from the home crowd which is hungry for a
winning team.