The Raiders faced the Browns with the NFL’s worst running game and were missing key players Maxx Crosby and Davante Adams. Coming off a loss to the previously winless Panthers, coach Antonio Pierce was not pleased.
However, the Raiders managed to establish a strong running game and held off a late rally from Cleveland to win 20-16 on Sunday.
“Yeah, a lot of adversity this week, there’s no doubt about it,” Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew said. “I was happy to see how we responded. Coming in Friday’s practice, we kind of turned the corner and the mood of the team changed, and everybody was feeling really good again.”
Cleveland advanced to the Raiders’ 9-yard line with a chance to win, but Charles Snowden sacked Deshaun Watson on fourth down with 35 seconds left in the game.
The Raiders (2-2) managed to generate enough offense without star receiver Adams (hamstring) and limited the Browns to 241 yards without Crosby (ankle).
“We all had to take a step up,” Snowden said. “I have to thank Maxx. He was engaged all week, coaching us up and being a very present figure.”
Alexander Mattison rushed for 60 yards, helping the Raiders accumulate a total of 152 rushing yards. Five players had runs of at least 10 yards, which was the most for the team since 2010 against the Seahawks. The Raiders also had rushing touchdowns from receivers Tre Tucker and DJ Turner, becoming the first team since the Jets in 2010 to have two rushing touchdowns from wide receivers.
Las Vegas had not rushed for more than 55 yards in any game this season.
“It felt really good to be able to operate on all cylinders like that to get the run game going,” Mattison said. “The O-line did an amazing job. We have to keep it going because we know what we’re capable of.”
Minshew completed 14 of 24 passes for 130 yards and was sacked twice by Myles Garrett, the reigning AP Defensive Player of the Year, who is dealing with several injuries.
Watson started strong, completing all eight of his passes on the Browns’ opening drive that took 9:22 and ended in a touchdown. However, he finished with 24 completions out of 32 attempts for 176 yards.
Watson came into the game having been sacked a league-high 16 times, and the Raiders brought him down three more times. The Browns’ offensive line was missing four starters for much of the game.
Even though it’s not yet October, the Browns (1-3) took a hit to their playoff hopes. Since the 1970 merger, only 42 teams have made the playoffs after starting 1-3.
A week before, Las Vegas lost 36-22 to the Panthers, which led coach Antonio Pierce to question some players’ effort. Then the Raiders fell behind 10-0 in the first quarter.
However, Las Vegas scored the next 20 points and seemed to take control of the game.
“I knew what group I had,” Pierce said. “That wasn’t the team (last week) that we’re accustomed to seeing. It was a trying week. It probably started with me and my comments, and I apologized to (the players) for that. I don’t want to be a distraction in that way.”
Zamir White fumbled on the first play of the fourth quarter, and Browns safety Rodney McLeod returned it for a 25-yard touchdown, giving Cleveland a boost. Dustin Hopkins missed the extra point, leaving the Browns down 20-16.
“They had the momentum at that point, and we really needed to step up and get a takeaway,” Garrett said. “That’s what we were calling for in the huddle, and we answered the bell. That was an adrenaline shot.”
Cleveland seemed to take the lead with an 82-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Amari Cooper, but backup center Nick Harris was flagged for holding, and the Browns had to punt instead.
On their final drive, with the Browns needing a touchdown, Watson was unable to attempt a pass on the key play.
