Browns 24, Raiders 21
I had pronounced the game over when it was 21-3. I still was unconvinced when a touchdown pass to Darnell Dinkins made it 21-10 just before the half.
The second half was another matter entirely. A key fourth-and-8 completion to Kellen Winslow Jr. (who was out on many third downs in the first half for some unknown reason) seemed to set the tone, and the Browns capitalized with another Charlie Frye-to-Winslow completion, this one for a touchdown.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Winslow is the Browns' best player. Period. Keep him on the field as much as possible. From there, the game was over. The Browns had the game won, because Winslow, Frye, Joe Jurevicius and Reuben Droughns were willing to go all out.
The Raiders and Randy Moss were not.
Now for the notes:
* Kamerion Wimbley is so good it's scary. By far the best pick the Browns have made in the first round since they've been back, although K2 is making his case.
* Charlie Frye, God bless him, needs to throw the ball away. He's a terrific leader and has stepped up as a solid QB. But the throw he made from the Raiders' 6, on second down, was as ridiculous a throw as I've seen an NFL quarterback make. Charlie's better than that, and he knows it.
* Jurevicius' TD catch was the best catch made by a Brown this year. Droughns finally looked like Droughns again.
* The difference between 1-3 and 3-1? Six points.
* Leigh Bodden's injury scares the heck out of me.
* Why do the Browns do playaction on third and long? Because every now and then Maurice Carthon calls a draw to Droughns for 1 yard. So there.
* Joshua Cribbs, who I have been a fan of since his days at Kent State, is proving to be one of the most dangerous special teams' players in the league. Combined with Dennis Northcutt and punter Dave Zastudil, not to mention Phil Dawson, the Browns have one of the best squads in the NFL.