Browns-Raiders Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Cleveland, Oakland showing flashes of consistencyBoth teams have shown improvement over the past two weeks with the Cleveland offense waking up last week against the Bengals and the Oakland offense giving Denver a run for its money. Consistency is huge part of winning in the NFL and neither team has shown much in recent years, but offensive coordinators Rob Chudzinski of Cleveland and Greg Knapp of Oakland have brought new ideas and schemes to their units. Both defenses have struggled lately, though, giving up big plays against both the run and the pass. Whichever team is more prepared and plays with more discipline on defense will likely win this game. These teams have seen a lot of each other in recent seasons, but both have shown flashes of promise and one will take another step forward this week.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
CLE	10-6	402	382	7-1	3-5	3-3	7-5
OAK	4-12	283	398	2-6	2-6	2-4	4-8
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Cleveland Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Quinn 56.7 812 5 5 Anders... 42.9 681 2 9

Oakland Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Russel... 46.8 1064 2 9 Gradko... 53.1 346 2 3

Cleveland Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Lewis 132 460 3.5 0 Harris... 69 254 3.7 0

Oakland Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Bush 81 377 4.7 2 Fargas 90 336 3.7 2

Cleveland Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Massaq... 25 473 18.9 1 Furrey 22 161 7.3 0

Oakland Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Miller 34 495 14.6 2 Murphy 17 261 15.4 2

Full Player Stats: Cleveland | Oakland

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	CLE	351.0
	OAK	295.0
Yards Passing	CLE	232.9
	OAK	164.4
Yards Rushing	CLE	118.4
	OAK	130.4
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	CLE	359.6
	OAK	341.6
Pass Yds Allowed	CLE	230.1
	OAK	195.8
Rush Yds Allowed	CLE	129.5
	OAK	145.9

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Cleveland leads 3-1
Oct 1, 2006	CLE 24, OAK 21
Dec 18, 2005	CLE 9, OAK 7
Oct 12, 2003	CLE 13, @OAK 7

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess was inactive for the Oakland Raiders' game against Cleveland on Sunday with a calf injury.

Burgess, who injured his calf in the fourth quarter last week, did not practice most of the week and was listed as questionable for the game. Rookie Jay Richardson started in his place at left defensive end.

The other players inactive for Oakland were cornerbacks Duane Starks and John Bowie, fullback Oren O'Neal, linebackers Isaiah Ekejiuba and Robert Thomas and offensive lineman Mario Henderson. Andrew Walter was the third quarterback.

Center Jeremy Newberry, who missed the previous two games with a groin injury, was active but Jake Grove started at center.

Four Browns players didn't make the trip to Oakland: safety Gary Baxter (knees), punter Dave Zastudil (back), offensive lineman Isaac Sowells, and linebacker Willie McGinest (back). The other inactive players were running back Jerome Harrison, offensive linemen Isaac Sowells and Kelly Butler, and receiver Travis Wilson. Ken Dorsey was the third quarterback.

Outsiders: Week 12 previews

Football Outsiders analyzes Week 12 in the NFL. Ideas: Oakland isn't THAT bad; Reggie Bush is poised for a big game vs. New England; Pittsburgh needs to play better in the second half; David Garrard gets knocked around too much and a plan for Houston.

Bengals might have Benson on field vs. Browns

Bengals running back Cedric Benson is expected to practice this week and might play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, a team he ran over last year.

Ex-ND QB Quinn: Firing Weis would be 'mistake'

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn says Notre Dame would be making a mistake if it fires coach Charlie Weis.

Mangini regrets accusing Lions of faking injuries

Browns coach Eric Mangini says he was frustrated at losing when he suggested the Detroit Lions faked injuries in Sunday's game.

Browns Insider: Mangini sees errors, but also progress, as Quinn, Anderson learn new offense

Browns coach Eric Mangini explained Tuesday why the quarterbacks have looked a little ragged this week and last week during voluntary practices.

Witnesses for the defense: Ex-Jets spreading the word to help Browns learn Mangini's ways

The Browns haven't made a tackle yet this year, of course -- or missed one -- but certain characteristics of their defense are emerging in their off-season workouts.

Dumb move by Mangenius

By essentially forcing the rookies to take a 10-hour bus trip to work a camp at his old high school in Connecticut this weekend, head coach Eric Mangini only succeeded in adding to the Browns' reputation as an NFL laughingstock.

How to Lose Friends and Irritate People, Eric Mangini Edition

It's not going to matter if Eric Mangini goes 11-5 with the Browns and Rex Ryan goes 5-11 with the Jets, but .. In a comparison of the two in the off-season, Ryan seems to be winning, 62-0. Most of it is Mangini's own doing.

Mangini Not Making Friends In Cleveland

Eric Mangini irked Browns rookies by "asking" that they help out at a football camp in Hartford, Conn.

Raiders -- yes, Raiders -- upbeat this summer

Things have been relatively quiet for the Raiders this offseason. Sure, there were those pesky photos of a blinged-out JaMarcus Russell, whose work ethic has been in question, posing in what appeared to be a club with an unlit cigar in his mouth and a drink in hand.

Sharing stadium not such bad idea

THE ONLY ABSOLUTE about a sports team seeking a new home is the presence of anger.

Raiders are easy targets

It's tantamount to a declaration of war on the sovereign Raider Nation. John Tayman's Bang! Cartoons levels both barrels at Al Davis , JaMarcus Russell , Darrius Heyward-Bey and Tom Cable.

Long past their glory days, Raiders seeking winning recipe

Once upon a time, the Oakland Raiders staked their claim as one of the more successful franchises in NFL history.

Cable shoots down Burgess talks

Raiders coach Tom Cable was a guest on Chronicle Live on Wednesday night, talking about the goal of OTAs, the development of JaMarcus Russell, etc.