The Oakland Raiders held off a late rally to defeat the Cleveland Browns 27-20 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland. A Charles Woodson interception in the waning moments sealed the win for the Silver and Black.
The Browns won the opening coin toss and elected to defer their choice to the second half. The Raiders elected to receive the opening kickoff. RB Taiwan Jones returned K Travis Coons' opening kickoff 25 yards to the 23. Raiders QB Derek Carr led a drive deep into Browns territory to start the game. The Raiders drove to the 5 before the Browns forced a field goal attempt. K Sebastian Janikowski's 23-yard field goal was good and capped a 13-play, 72-yard drive, and the Raiders took a 3-0 lead with 8:33 left in the 1st quarter.
RB Shaun Draughn fielded the ensuing kickoff 9 yards deep and took a knee for a touchback. The Browns started at the 20 with former Raiders quarterback Josh McCown at the controls. The Raiders defense allowed one first down on a penalty but forced a punt. CB TJ Carrie returned P Andy Lee's 52-yard punt 6 yards to the Oakland 31.
The Raiders drive stalled and P Marquette King came on to punt. WR Travis Benjamin returned the 46-yard punt 5 yards to the Browns 20. The Raiders allowed one first down but forced a punt thanks in part to a LB Ray-Ray Armstrong sack. Carrie called for and made a fair catch at the Oakland 12.
The Raiders went three-and-out and King came on to punt. Benjamin's punt return was wiped out by an illegal block in the back penalty and the Browns started at the 33. The Raiders forced a three-and-out and Lee came on to punt. WR Amari Cooper returned the punt to the Oakland 20.
The Raiders next drive was derailed by penalties and King came on to punt. Cleveland roughed King on the punt – the Raiders kept the ball after the 15-yard penalty and resumed at the Oakland 40. A 40-yard pass to Cooper set the Raiders up deep in Browns territory. Carr connected with WR Andre Holmes for a 3-yard scoring strike. The PAT was good and the Raiders led 10-0.
Draughn fielded the bouncing kickoff in the end zone and took a knee for a touchback. The Browns drove to the Raiders 1 but the Silver and Black made three stops in a row. The Browns elected to go for it on 4th and goal. A false start convinced the Browns to go for a field goal. Koons 24-yard kick was good and the Browns cut the Raiders lead to 10-3 with 1:44 left in the 2nd quarter.
Jones returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards to the 30. Carr raced the Raiders down the field and connected with WR Seth Roberts for a 13-yard TD pass with 18 seconds left in the half. The PAT was good and the Raiders led 17-3.
Draughn returned then ensuing kickoff and fumbled. Holmes recovered for the Raiders at the Browns 18 with 14 seconds left in the half. The officials chose to review. The play was overturned and the Browns took over with 15 ticks at the 17. A RB Duke Johnson run up the middle ended the half.
Janikowski's opening kickoff of the second half was fielded for a touchback and the Browns started at the 20. The Raiders forced a three and out thanks to a 3rd down LB Malcolm Smith sack. Cooper fielded the bouncing punt and tried to do too much reversing his field twice. After all was said and done the Raiders started at the 8 after the punt and negative return. The Raiders made the most of it as Janikowski capped the 9-play, 76-yard drive with a 35-yard field goal to give the Raiders a 20-3 lead with 9:25 left in the 3rd quarter.
Janikowski's ensuing kickoff went for a touchback and the Browns started at the 20. The Browns took advantage of some defensive confusion and McCown hit TE Gary Barnidge for a 28-yard touchdown pass. The PAT was good and the Raiders lead was cut to 20-10 with 3:32 left in the 3rd quarter.
Jones mishandled the ensuing kickoff and took a knee for a touchback. Murray answered the Browns drive with an 8-yard touchdown plunge to cap a 7-play, 80-yard drive. The PAT was good and the Raiders led 27-10 with 14:30 left in the 4th quarter.
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anikowski's ensuing kickoff hit the crossbar for a touchback and the Browns started at the 20. The Raiders forced the Browns to settle for a field goal after Mack's second sack of the game. Koons 41-yard kick was good and the Raiders lead was cut to 27-13 with 10:57 left in the 4th quarter.
The ensuing kickoff went out of the end zone and the Raiders started at the 20. The Raiders gave the ball back when Cooper fumbled and the Browns recovered at the Oakland 44. McCown connected with Benjamin for a 4-yard TD pass. The PAT was good and the Raiders lead was now 27-20 with 6:28 left.
Jones let the ensuing kickoff bounce through the end zone for a touchback. The Raiders went three and out and King came on to punt. Benjamin muffed the punt and rookie LB Neiron Ball recovered it for the Raiders at the Browns 43.
The Raiders went three and out and King came on to punt. The Raiders downed the punt at the 2-yard line with 2:26 to play. Safety Charles Woodson intercepted McCown deep down the Raiders sideline to preserve the victory. Carr ran out the clock by taking a knee.
The Raiders improve to 2-1 on the season and head to Chicago next week to take on the Bears.
