SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 26, 2014
Browns 23, Raiders 13: Brian Hoyer passed for 275 yards and a touchdown as host Cleveland kept Oakland winless.
Andrew Hawkins made seven catches for 88 yards and a TD while Ben Tate ran for a score for the Browns (4-3), who avoided a second straight loss to an 0-6 team after falling to Jacksonville last week. Hoyer completed 19-of-28 passes without an interception and Billy Cundiff booted three field goals as Cleveland posted its ninth victory in its last 12 meetings with Oakland.
Rookie Derek Carr was 34-of-54 for 328 yards and a score for the Raiders (0-7), who have lost 13 consecutive games dating to last season. Tight end Michael Rivera hauled in seven passes for 83 yards and Andre Holmes had five receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown as Oakland held Cleveland to 39 yards rushing.
Cleveland opened the scoring on Cundiff's 52-yard field goal just over five minutes into the game, gaining possession when Oakland holder Matt Schaub fumbled the snap on a field-goal attempt and proceeded to throw an interception that was returned to the Raiders 48 by Tashaun Gipson. Cundiff converted kicks of 33 and 26 yards for a 9-0 lead before Sebastian Janikowski kicked 46- and 38-yard field goals in the final 1:50 of the first half to get Oakland within three.
An impressive drive by Oakland late in the third quarter again was negated by a turnover that resulted in points for the Browns. Darren McFadden fumbled at the Cleveland 29 and Joe Haden returned the ball 34 yards to help set up Hoyer's 4-yard touchdown pass to Hawkins in the opening minute of the fourth for a 10-point advantage.
GAME NOTEBOOK: A fumble by Carr late in the fourth quarter led to more points for Cleveland as Tate delivered a 5-yard TD run with 2:26 remaining. ... Browns TE Jordan Cameron made three catches for 40 yards before leaving the game with a concussion. ... The Raiders nearly remained the only team in the league yet to score 100 points this season, but Carr connected with Holmes for a 10-yard touchdown with seven seconds left in the contest. Oakland (105) still has been held to 14 points or fewer in six of their seven contests, however.