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Top wrestlers advance at Knights of Columbus tourney in Avon Lake

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AVON LAKE, Ohio — Two weight classes emerged at the 32nd annual Knights of Columbus Wrestling Invitational Tournament at Avon Lake High School that, on paper, appeared to be head and shoulders above the rest. Through the first day of wrestling Friday, which was a three-round round-robin that set up the two brackets for today's tournament, both classes lived...

AVON LAKE, Ohio — Two weight classes emerged at the 32nd annual Knights of Columbus Wrestling Invitational Tournament at Avon Lake High School that, on paper, appeared to be head and shoulders above the rest.

Through the first day of wrestling Friday, which was a three-round round-robin that set up the two brackets for today's tournament, both classes lived up to the hype.

At 120 pounds, there were two defending K of C individual champions -- North Ridgeville senior Drew Dickson (a two-time champ) and Keystone senior Dylan Stiner -- and one defending K o fC runner-up in Bay junior Adam Tepper. All three wrestlers went 3-0 on Friday to set up a fantastic 'A' bracket for today.

At 138 pounds, Lakewood junior Yassir Abdel-Salam and Amherst senior Alex Funderburg each came in as defending KofC champions, while Avon's Adam Barker finished third in his weight class last year. All three also went unbeaten Friday.

Dickson, Stiner, Abdel-Salam and Funderburg were the only wrestlers who came into this weekend's tournament as defending champions. It is assured at least two of them won't be defending their crowns.

Dickson and Tepper competed at 113 last season, while Stiner is technically the 120-pound defending champion.

"I definitely agree with that assessment [that my weight class is the toughest one here]," said Dickson, who had a second-round bye between a pinfall in 1:04 over Clearview's Christian Cortright and a 23-6 second-period technical fall over Rocky River's Jack Omori.

"But that's cool. I'm excited about that. Hopefully, I can wrestle both of them tomorrow. It will be fun."

Stiner had a second-round bye around two quick pinfalls -- a 49-second pin of Avon Lake's Zack Klima and a 45-second pin of Rocky River's Brad Span.

Tepper wrestled three matches, pinning North Ridgeville's Will Keller in 2:39, beating Amherst's Anthony Mendez, 7-2, and pinning Midview's Josh Gabor in 1:15.

"I had three tough matches with three good opponents," said Tepper, who went 32-13 last season. "Pound-for-pound, this weight class is one of the toughest here, but that's just how it is sometimes. We'll see how we do tomorrow. I've got, at most, five more matches, so we'll see how it goes."

Tepper's performance keyed a solid day for the Rockets, who are second in the 15-team field with 99.5 points. They trail defending champion Amherst, which has 115 points.

Funderburg took the first step to defending his KofC title with an unbeaten performance. A second-round bye was sandwiched by a 32-second pin of Vermilion's Quentin Zadravec and a 57-second pin over Clearview's Brandon Folloey. "

Dan Gilles is a freelance writer in Elyria.


NCAA Volleyball Tournament: Cleveland State wins first game, but loses match to Kansas

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The Vikings stall and the Jayhawks pass them with a 3-1 victory in the first round.

kerry winchester csu.JPG Cleveland State’s Kerry Winchester spikes during the Vikings’ NCAA volleyball tournament loss to Kansas on Friday night.

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The message was sent in the NCAA Tournament match that preceded Cleveland State's battle against Kansas: Mid-majors can win in big time women's volleyball, too.

But after picking up on the early message, the Vikings stalled and the Jayhawks passed them with a 3-1 victory in the first round.

"These guys worked really hard the last couple of years," said 13-year head coach Chuck Voss, who directed the Vikings to their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament after winning the Horizon League regular-season title and postseason tournament. "It's a process that takes time at all levels."

The Vikings, after appearing in the 2007 tournament, were looking for their first tournament victory.

In the first match of the day at Allen Fieldhouse, Wichita State upset Arkansas, 3-2, the second time in as many days a team from the Missouri Valley Conference eliminated a team from a BCS conference.

The Vikings took notice.

"We knew we could beat them. We knew we could go out and be a Cinderella story, and that's how we came out and played in the first game," said Vikings senior Marie Frease, who led CSU in kills with 13.

The Vikings jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the opening set after a service ace by Amanda Medvetz, a senior defensive specialist from Elyria.

The Jayhawks, despite playing in front of their home fans, seemed out of place. KU made three errors during that opening stretch and called a timeout.

"We were doing some crazy stuff," said Jayhawks 15-year head coach Ray Bechard.

The timeout didn't help.

CSU maintained its lead to handily win the first set.

But the Jayhawks turned the tables in the second set and maintained control the rest of the match. Kansas took a 6-1 lead and cruised to 25-10 win in the second set.

"I think a couple of our players started playing a little tentative," said CSU's Kara Koch, a senior outside hitter, when asked about the difference between the first two sets. She included herself, since she didn't have any kills in the second set.

"I just had to get myself out of that," said Koch, who had 10 kills and 19 digs, her seventh straight double double.

The Vikings finished 23-7 with the season-ending loss.

Greg Echlin, Special to The Plain Dealer

Saturday, Dec. 1 television sports listings for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio

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Highlights include Portland at Cavaliers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV sports listings

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Noon Oklahoma State at Baylor, FX 

Noon Oklahoma at TCU, ESPN

Noon C-USA championship, UCF vs. Tulsa, ESPN2

3:30 p.m. Cincinnati at UConn, WEWS

4 p.m. SEC championship, Alabama vs. Georgia, WOIO; FM/92.3 

7 p.m. Pitt at South Florida, ESPN2

7:45 p.m. ACC championship, Florida St. vs. Georgia Tech, ESPN

8 p.m. Big Ten championship, Wisconsin vs. Nebraska, WJW; FM/92.3

8:07 p.m. Texas at Kansas Stats, WEWS

GOLF

9 a.m. Sunshine Tour, Nedbank Challenge, third round, at Sun City, South Africa (same-day tape), Golf Channel

1 p.m. World Challenge, third round, at Thousand Oaks, Calif., Golf Channel

3 p.m. World Challenge, third round, at Thousand Oaks, Calif., NBC

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

11 a.m. D-III final, SVSM vs. Bellevue, SportsTime Ohio; AM/1350

3 p.m. D-V final, Kirtland vs. Coldwater, SportsTime Ohio

7 p.m. D-I final, Toledo Whitmer vs. Cincinnati Moeller, SportsTime Ohio

MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Noon Nicholls State at Michigan State. Big Ten Network

Noon Mississippi State at Providence, ESPNU

12:30 p.m. Baylor at Kentucky, CBS 

2 p.m. Miami (Fla.) at UMass, CBSSN 

2 p.m. Rutgers at Mississippi, ESPNU

2:15 p.m. Xavier at Purdue, Big Ten Network 

3 p.m. Alabama at Cincinnati, ESPN2

4 p.m. Michigan at Bradley, ESPNU

4 p.m. Texas A&M at Houston, Fox Sports Ohio

4:30 p.m. Northern Kentucky at Ohio State, Big Ten Network; AM/970

5 p.m. Villanova at Vanderbilt, ESPN2 

6 p.m. UAB at North Carolina, ESPNU

8 p.m. Arizona at Texas Tech, ESPNU

7 p.m. Princeton at Kent State, AM/640

7:30 p.m. Coppin State at Indiana, Big Ten Network

10 p.m. San Diego State at UCLA, ESPNU

HOCKEY

1 p.m. San Antonio at Lake Erie Monsters, AM/850 

7:30 p.m. Boston U. at Boston College, NBCSN

NBA BASKETBALL

7:30 p.m. Portland at Cleveland Cavaliers; Fox Sports Ohio; AM/1100

8 p.m. Philadelphia at Chicago, WGN

SOCCER

7:30 a.m. Premier League, Chelsea at West Ham, ESPN2

4:30 p.m. MLS Cup, Houston at Los Angeles, ESPN

WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Noon Evansville at Ohio State, AM/970 

1:30 p.m. Kent State at Niagara, AM/640

1:45 p.m. Canisius at Akron, AM/1350


Cleveland Browns kicker Phil Dawson gets assist in Pro Bowl bid (video)

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Phil Dawson, kicker for the Cleveland Browns, is having a perfect season so far making all 21 field goals he has attempted. Punter Reggie Hodges has been so impressed with the season Dawson is having he has started a Twitter campaign to get Phil fan votes for the Pro Bowl. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- Phil Dawson, kicker for the Cleveland Browns, is having a perfect season so far making all 21 field goals he has attempted.  Punter Reggie Hodges has been so impressed with the season Dawson is having he has started a Twitter campaign to get Phil fan votes for the Pro Bowl.

Click here to watch this video on a mobile device

Mary Kay Cabot's story on Phil Dawson and the Pro Bowl

To reach this Plain Dealer videographer: dandersen@plaind.com

On Twitter: @CLEvideos

Preview capsules for today's men's and women's college basketball games

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Cleveland State's men's basketball team hosts Toledo, while Kent State hosts Princeton.

Rian Pearson.JPG Toledo's Rian Pearson is averaging nearly 20 points per game.

Men

No. 4 Ohio State vs. Northern Kentucky

Tipoff: 4:30 p.m., Value City Arena, Columbus.

TV/radio: Big Ten Network; WFUN AM/970, WKNR AM/850.

Notable: OSU (4-1) goes for its 35th straight nonconference home victory in its first meeting with NKU. The Buckeyes suffered their first loss Wednesday at Duke, leading by as many as 10 in the second half, but the Blue Devils went on a 20-7 run and eventually won, 73-68. OSU coach Thad Matta, however, didn't find any solace in the loss. "I'm not happy," Matta said. "I think that we go home and take a look at this thing, and there's going to be some areas where we had chances to make plays and didn't make plays." The Buckeyes shot a season-low 33.8 percent from the field, including 6-of-21 on 3-pointers. The Norse (0-4) still are seeking a win in their first year as a Division I basketball program. Nebraska transfer Eshaunte Jones, a senior guard, leads NKU at 15.8 ppg.

Next for OSU: Dec. 8 vs. Long Beach State, noon.

-- Associated Press

Cleveland State vs. Toledo

Tipoff: 2 p.m., Wolstein Center.

Radio: WHK AM/1420.

Notable: Cleveland State (5-2) won its first game playing without the services of Anton Grady, who is out with a knee injury. This puts the scoring focus on point guard Charlie Lee (14.9 ppg) and the rebounding challenge on 6-6 sophomore Marlin Mason (5.9 rpg). CSU's defense, which hasn't allowed a team to score more than 69 points in regulation, will be tested by Toledo (2-4) and potent scorer Rian Pearson (19.8 ppg).

Next for CSU: Dec. 8 at North Carolina State, 1 p.m.

-- Elton Alexander

Kent State vs. Princeton

Tipoff: 7 p.m., M.A.C. Center.

Radio: WHLO AM/640.

Notable: Kent State (5-2) already has played three overtime games, winning one at home and one on the road. Starting 6-8 freshman power forward Chris Ortiz (5.7 ppg) suffered a foot injury and is out at least until January. Starting freshman point guard Kellen Thomas (1.7 apg) needs to get his assist numbers up. Princeton (2-4), playing its fifth road game, has played a tough schedule, losing to Nebraska, Rutgers and Syracuse.

Next for KSU: Tuesday at Bucknell, 7 p.m.

-- Elton Alexander

Lake Erie College vs. Grand Valley State

Tipoff: 1 p.m., Osborne Wellness Center, Painesville.

Online: LakeErieStorm.com

Notable: Lake Erie fell to 3-1, losing its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener to Ferris State University, 80-74, in overtime Thursday. Junior guard Riley Thomas sent it to overtime and finished with 18 points, along with Tom Parker (St. Ignatius). Grand Valley State (4-1, 1-0) is coming off a 66-57 win at Ashland.

Next for LEC: Dec. 9, vs. Wayne State University in Detroit, 1 p.m.

-- Staff reports

Women

No. 15 Ohio State vs. Evansville

Tipoff: Noon, Value City Arena, Columbus.

Online: BTN.com, OhioStateBuckeyes.com

Notable: Ohio State (4-2) returns home hoping to bounce back from a last-second loss to No. 22 North Carolina on Wednesday. The Buckeyes have won 26 consecutive home games, the third-longest active streak in the nation. Senior guard Tayler Hill scored 24 points at UNC to hit 1,500 for her career.

Next for OSU: Dec. 9 vs. Lafayette, 1 p.m.

Akron vs. Canisius

Tipoff: 2 p.m., Rhodes Arena.

Radio/online: WARF AM/1350; SportsRadio1350.com

Notable: Akron (5-1) returns home after completing a successful trip by rocking Saint Peter's on Monday, 103-57. Zips are off to their best start since 1995-96, and junior Rachel Tecca (Archbishop Hoban) has four 20-point games. A win would give coach Jodi Kest the most wins (80) in Akron women's basketball history. Canisius (2-3) is playing Akron for the first time since 1990.

Next for Akron: Wednesday, at George Mason, 7 p.m.

Kent State at Niagara

Tipoff: 2 p.m., Gallagher Center, Niagara, N.Y.

Notable: KSU is 0-6. Niagara is 2-3. The Golden Flashes are averaging 24.2 turnovers per game and shooting just 35 percent from the field. Diamon Beckford leads KSU in scoring at 8.7 ppg.

Next for KSU: Thursday vs. Temple, 7 p.m.

-- From staff reports and information from the colleges' sports information departments.

Kent State falls to Northern Illinois in double overtime in MAC Championship Game

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The Huskies win the 2012 MAC title, 44-37, in double overtime at Detroit's Ford Field in front of 18,132 fans.

Gallery preview

DETROIT, Mich. — A magical regular season for Kent State football came with a near-magical ending.

But Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch was not to be denied Friday as he led the defending Mid-American Conference champion Huskies to a second straight title with a 44-37 double-overtime triumph against Kent State.

The crowd of 18,132 at Ford Field in Detroit saw a thriller to the end.

"A tough one to swallow," Kent State coach Darrell Hazell said. "We just needed a couple of more plays at the end."

KSU rallied from a 27-13 deficit with less than five minutes to play in the fourth quarter. But the Flashes just did not have enough in the end to finish off Northern Illinois (12-1).

The victory puts the Huskies' bowl fate in the hands of pollsters and computers to see if they are worthy to land a profitable Bowl Championship Series bowl berth. The loss dampened a surprising season for Kent (11-2), which won the MAC's East Division title, 10 straight games before the NIU setback and set a school record for victories in a season.

Credit the 6-0, 216-pound Lynch with bringing it all to an end, including a 2-yard touchdown run in the second overtime to seal the victory.

"You know he's going to make his plays," Hazell said. "He breaks so many tackles, that's what makes him special."

The junior QB did much of his damage on third downs, marching his team down the field at will the longer the contest wore on. With Kent's offense stymied by the NIU defense, and big-play man Dri Archer (15 yards rushing, 81 receiving) bottled up, Lynch pretty much had a field day as he rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 212 yards and a TD.

Kent really needed bruising tailback Trayion Durham to have a big game. Yet while he had his moments -- 72 yards on 20 carries -- the 6-1, 250-pounder generally found the going tough.

"We were struggling running the football," Hazell said. "We just couldn't get them blocked up front."

Kent did not surpass 100 yards of offense until halfway through the fourth quarter, but using its formula for victory all season -- turnovers -- the Golden Flashes made it interesting. Two fumble recoveries and an interception kept KSU in it.

Kent used an early NIU turnover off a fumbled punt to get a 15-yard Archer run for a 7-0 lead, then got a 37-yard Freddy Cortez field goal following another short-field possession for a 10-0 lead with 5:06 to play in the opening quarter. The challenge now was to bottle up Lynch, and the Flashes could not do it as he consistently made plays on third and fourth downs.

A quarterback draw on fourth-and-3 ultimately led to an NIU field goal. A third-and-8 at the 13 ended with a Lynch first-down scramble, then a touchdown to tie it, 10-10. Lynch would scramble to convert a third-and-10 and a third-and-7 to anchor a 58-yard drive for a 17-10 NIU halftime lead.

Kent got the ball first to start the second half and put together an eight-play, 46-yard drive for a field goal, but quarterback Spencer Keith missed an open Matt Hurdle in the end zone for a touchdown. Cortez made a 24-yard field goal to make it 17-13. Not bad if the defense could stop Lynch, but he continued his third-down magic.

But Lynch answered with a 75-yard drive capped by a 1-yard TD as he converted a third-and-6 with a 14-yard pass, then a fourth-and-inches with a 43-yard sweep to set up his short score. Another bad series for Kent's offense and Lynch went back to work, taking the Huskies for a short field goal and a 27-13 lead with 2:30 to go in the third quarter.

It stayed that way until less than five minutes remained in regulation. Keith scored on a 5-yard run to close it to 27-20, and Lynch fumbled the next handoff, and Kent State's Zack Hitchens scooped the ball and rumbled for 22 yards for the game-tying touchdown.

"It gave us life on the sidelines," Hazell said.

Undaunted, Lynch came back and completed a 43-yard pass, then a 9-yard touchdown run to regain the lead, 34-27, leaving Kent 3:12 to rally again.

Keith patiently moved Kent 58 yards in 11 plays, scrambling on third down before finding Tim Erjavec in the end zone for a 19-yard connection with 44 seconds left.

The Flashes got the ball first in overtime, and once again, Erjavec saved Kent with a tightrope catch-and-run for 8 yards on third-and-7. But moments later, on third-and-1, Kent went to Erjavec again on a tight end reverse. He fumbled the handoff, and Keith was lucky to recover it, leaving Cortez with a 33-yard field goal for a 37-34 Kent lead.

Kent's defense then held the Huskies on three downs, leaving the Huskies with a 40-yard field to tie, 37-37.

Electing to stay on defense the second overtime, Lynch -- the game MVP -- made quick work of the Flashes with a 2-yard TD run on the second play for a 44-37 lead.

Kent then got to Northern's 11, thanks to a pass interference penalty. But on fourth-and-9, Keith threw an interception to Demetrius Stone that ended the Golden Flashes' upset hopes.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: ealexander@plaind.com, 216-999-4253

Cleveland State men's basketball team rallies to beat Toledo Rockets

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Charlie Lee's 3-pointer with 31 seconds left put the Vikings ahead for good. Lee finished with 22 points.

Gallery preview

By Matt Pawlikowski

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- They have been hit by the flu, have taken a beating on the injury front and are one of the youngest teams in Division I men's college basketball.

Despite all of that, the Cleveland State Vikings might have found the moment that defines them against Toledo.

Trailing most of the way, CSU rallied in the final minutes to take a big 78-73 win over the Rockets on Saturday at the Wolstein Center.

"It was a hard-fought game, and our kids never quit or gave up, which I think is very important for our future," Vikings coach Gary Waters said. "The fans also gave them a lot of energy. I will say our guys the last three-and-a-half minutes stopped them five times in a row, and that was the ball game. They are fighting things of all sorts; they are young, but they never quit."

Cleveland State (6-2) took the lead for the first time when Charlie Lee -- who scored a game-high 22 points -- hit a 3-pointer with 31 seconds remaining to put the Vikings up, 74-71.

CSU's Sebastian Douglas, who had 10 points and four rebounds, then stripped Julius Brown of the ball, and Douglas' layup with 19 seconds left made it 76-71.

"That was our defensive scheme all along; I knew he was their leading scorer, and my job was to guard him," Douglas said of Brown, who was the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year last season. "Those steals are the things you work on in practice, and I'm just thankful for them."

Still, it wasn't over.

With 10 seconds left, there was a scrum under the Toledo basket, and Douglas and Dominique Buckley were called for technical fouls.

The Rockets' Reese Holliday sank his two free throws, and Lee converted both of his shots at the other end to help seal the win.

"Coach just told us at halftime to come out and play with a lot of heart, and that is exactly what we did," Lee said.

The Rockets jumped out to an 11-2 lead and led the Vikings, 32-26, at the half behind 52 percent shooting and 12 points from Matt Smith.

Smith finished with 20 and Holliday 16.

"I'm obviously very disappointed in the loss; we just didn't play well the last half of the game," Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "It's a part of our growing process; the next step for us is to start trusting each other and to start winning games on the road. It will come."

The Vikings, who shot 52.9 percent from the field in the second half, will have one of their biggest tests of the season next weekend when they travel to No. 18 North Carolina State.

Kent State can't recover from another slow start in loss to Princeton

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Coach Rob Senderoff says his team was not ready to play.

By Matt Pawlikowski

KENT, Ohio -- There are late bloomers, and then there is Kent State.

All season the Golden Flashes (7-3) have struggled out of the gate, but have always seemed to find their niche as the game progressed.

Saturday night in a 62-50 loss to Princeton they took it another extreme, but not the one Kent State coach Rob Senderoff wanted.

Kent started slow once again – shooting just 32 percent in the first half – but this time was unable to turn on the afterburners following halftime. The Golden Flashes played one of their worst games of the year as Princeton (3-4) led from start to finish.

"We haven't started out well at home all year," Senderoff said. "I don't have an answer for it. It's thinking about the wrong stuff and not coming out ready to play."

True, Princeton is expected to win the Ivy League this year, but following a great trip in which the Flashes beat Youngstown State and Nebraska, Senderoff is worried.

"Especially after coming off two important road wins, two games in which we played very well and very together," he said. "Disappointed is probably an understatement right now. Give them credit, you don't want to take away from what they did. They deserve some credit, they are picked to win their league for a reason, but in my eyes we just didn't pay well."

Kent did make a late run. Thomas Kellon's steal, which led to Chris Evans' layup, seemed to give the Golden Flashes some momentum as they were down just six points with 2:49 remaining.

Kent State also struggled on the offensive glass.

"We had three second-chance points and three offensive rebounds and we certainly missed a ton of shots,so that to me is effort and I'm sure they had something to do with it. We usually have 18, 19 or 20 offensive rebounds. Not tonight though. We didn't play without getting frustrated."

Kent State shot a dismal 34 percent (18-53) from the field.

Kent scored its first points of the game with just over 18 minutes remaining in the first half on Bryson Pope's jumper but wasn't able to get on the board again until Melvin Good's layup at the 10:13 mark. By that time, the Tigers had jumped out to a 16-2 lead.

The Golden Flashes got within eight points at the 7:25 mark of the first half, but Princeton's defense continued to stymie Kent's shooters. The Tigers led, 31-23, at halftime.

"Times like this are going to happen," Evans said " You just have to play through them. We definitely cant forget about this. We have to take it as a learning experience watch the film and get back."

Evans led all scorers with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Randal Holt and Kris Brewer each had nine for the Golden Flashes. TJ Bray led Princeton with 15 points.

Kent State takes on Buckner this Tuesday in a non conference match-up at 7 p.m.


Cleveland Browns vs. Oakland Raiders: Plain Dealer staff predictions

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Five out of seven PD writers see good things ahead for the Browns in Oakland.

THE LINE: Browns by 2 1/2

Mary Kay Cabot

Record: 5-6

Browns 17, Raiders 13: The Browns have a happy mudder's day.

Bill Livingston

Record: 8-3

Browns 11, Raiders 9: Is Terrelle Pryor still with the Raiders? Does he have a "University of Ohio State" tattoo?

Dennis Manoloff

Record: 8-3

Raiders 28, Browns 24: West Coast trips can be nasty, and questions surround Weeden's health and game.

Terry Pluto

Record: 6-5

Browns 27, Raiders 13: Browns have one of their best games of the season.

Tom Reed

Record: 7-4

Browns 24, Raiders 17: Browns ride Pineapple Express to first road victory in 13 games.

Bud Shaw

Record: 8-3

Browns 16, Raiders 13: The Browns are going in the right direction to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Branson Wright

Record: 7-4

Raiders 26, Browns 20: Just win, maybe?

Sunday's NFL capsule previews and Dennis Manoloff's picks

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D-Man has a surprising pick in the NFC West.

SUNDAY'S NFL

MATCHUPS

Indianapolis (7-4)

at Detroit (4-7)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Ford Field.

Early line: Colts by 41/2.

TV: WOIO Ch. 19.

D-Man's pick: Lions figure out way to overcome Andrew Luck's quality performance. Lions, 27-24.

Minnesota (6-5) at

Green Bay (7-4)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Lambeau Field.

Early line: Packers by 9.

TV: WJW Ch. 8.

D-Man's pick: Packers emphatically make amends for meltdown against Giants last week. Packers, 34-13.

Seattle (6-5) at

Chicago (8-3)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Soldier Field.

Early line: Bears by 4.

D-Man's pick: Bears and their nasty defense are too much for an opponent that struggles on the road. Bears, 28-10.

San Francisco (8-2-1)

at St. Louis (4-6-1)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Edward Jones Dome.

Early line: 49ers by 7.

D-Man's pick: Rams cause problems for the NFL's newest sensation, Colin Kaepernick. Rams, 24-23.

Carolina (3-8) at

Kansas City (1-10)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium.

Early line: Panthers by 1.

D-Man's pick: Cam Newton is playing better than the perception. Panthers, 24-13.

Houston (10-1) at

Tennessee (4-7)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at LP Field.

Early line: Texans by 41/2.

D-Man's pick: Texans have terrific record. Somehow, though, Titans keep it close. Texans, 27-24.

Arizona (4-7) at

N.Y. Jets (4-7)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at MetLife Stadium.

Early line: Jets by 31/2.

D-Man's pick: Jets are a mess. Cardinals are worse. Jets, 30-10.

Jacksonville (2-9)

at Buffalo (4-7)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Early line: Bills by 6.

D-Man's pick: Bills are better than they've shown. They put it all together at home. Bills, 27-10.

New England (8-3)

at Miami (5-6)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Sun Life Stadium.

Early line: Patriots by 7.

D-Man's pick: Patriots should blow out Dolphins. They don't, but they still win. Patriots, 34-30.

Tampa Bay (6-5)

at Denver (8-3)

Kickoff: 4:05 p.m. at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

Early line: Broncos by 61/2.

D-Man's pick: Peyton Manning continues to amaze. Buccaneers struggle in thin air. Broncos, 30-10.

Cincinnati (6-5)

at San Diego (4-7)

Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. at Qualcomm Stadium.

Early line: Bengals by 1.

D-Man's pick: Bengals are hot, but they have a tendency to disappoint when much is expected. Chargers, 28-24.

Pittsburgh (6-5)

at Baltimore (9-2)

Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium.

Early line: Off.

D-Man's pick: Ravens feeling good about themselves. Steelers can't shake awful performance against Browns. Ravens, 24-12.

Philadelphia (3-8)

at Dallas (5-6)

Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. at Cowboys Stadium.

Early line: Cowboys by 9.

TV: WKYC Ch. 3.

D-Man's pick: Cowboys have all sorts of advantages on Eagles, but their flaws prevent a cover. Cowboys, 27-20.

Last week ATS: 7-7-2.

Season ATS: 79-94-4.

--From staff, wire reports

Late free throws push Rhodes past Cuyahoga Heights: High School Sports Roundup

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James Douglas, entered his senior season with plenty of optimism, and it's showing. Douglas' two free throws with nine seconds remaining Saturday night secured Rhodes' 36-32 victory over Cuyahoga Heights in a boys basketball game.

James Douglas, entered his senior season with plenty of optimism, and it's showing.

Douglas' two free throws with nine seconds remaining Saturday night secured Rhodes' 36-32 victory over Cuyahoga Heights in a boys basketball game.

Douglas finished with a game-high 14 points. Jordan Martin scored 12 for the Redskins.

No. 4 Villa Angela-St. Joseph 67, Africentric 58 Sophomore guard Brian Parker hit 10 field goals to finish with 21 points and also had six rebounds, two steals and two assists to lead the Vikings to a road victory between state powers. Sophomore Carlton Bragg had 17 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks, and Cleveland State recruit Demonte Flannigan had 10 points, 12 rebounds and a block for VASJ.

Westlake 61, No. 8 Brunswick 57 The Demons won in overtime at the Grove City Tournament, despite Ryan Badowski's 24-point performance for Brunswick. Kersey Long lead all scorers with 25 points.

No. 20 Brush 51, No. 14 Benedictine 49 Brandon Dawson had 22 points to lead the Arcs, who overcame a 24-17 halftime deficit. J.T. Steele scored 15 for Benedictine.

Midpark 79, John Marshall 38 David Dunnigan had 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Christian Calton connected on four 3-pointers for 12 points in the Meteors' victory.

Gilmour Academy 64, Berkshire 55 Big first and fourth quarters helped the Lancers get the win as David Linane and Charlie Sullivan each had 18 points.

Girls basketball

West Holmes 49, No. 1 Hathaway Brown 45 The Knights avenged last season's loss in the Division II state championship game after jumping out to a 15-5 lead.

The Blazers (2-2) tied the game, 26-26, at the half, and it was tied with a minute remaining until junior post Laina Snyder went 4-for-4 from the foul line in the final 10 seconds to help keep West Holmes (3-0) unbeaten.

Snyder had 23 points and 14 rebounds, Vanessa Smith's 19 points and six rebounds led HB and put her over the 1,000-point plateau.

Nia Marshall had 12 points for the Blazers.

No. 5 Walsh Jesuit 70, Firestone 48 A 22-8 first-quarter lead propelled the Warriors (3-0) to the road win as Jessa Gilberto had a game-high 20 points.

No. 7 Hudson 56, No. 19 Brunswick 45 The short-handed Explorers (2-1) overcame a 17-10 first-quarter deficit to get the Northeast Ohio Conference crossover-game victory. Jackie Ulmer had 23 points to lead the Explorers.

Hudson was without Youngstown State recruit Hannah Boesinger (concussion), Brynne Drohan (knee) and Natalie Goodson (knee). All three were injured during Wednesday's loss to Wadsworth.

No. 8 Archbishop Hoban 73, Massillon Jackson 51 The Knights (1-2) earned their first victory of the season behind the 20-pount effort of Siena recruit Meghan Donohue. Emma Horning connected on three 3-pointers en route to a season-high 17 points, and Sandra Dickos scored 10.

Lakewood 55, No. 15 Lake Ridge Academy 50 The Rangers (2-1) got the overtime home victory as junior Megan Barrett and sophomores Madison Clause and Mikayla Harper combined for 37 points.

Chardon 53, No. 24 Eastlake North 49 The unbeaten Hilltoppers (2-0, 1-0) made an early statement in the Premier Athletic Conference with a home victory over defending champion North. Chardon had a 26-12 lead in the second quarter and held a 10-point advantage at halftime, only to have the Rangers come back to go ahead, 37-36, late in the third quarter.

Chardon responded with 7-0 run, bolstered by Lindsey Lyons' 3-pointer, to regain the lead for good at 43-37. Lyons finished with a team-high 16 points. Lexi Balausky's 17 points paced the Rangers.

Geneva 52, Riverside 46 The Eagles (3-0, 1-0) handed Riverside its first loss in a meeting between PAC schools. Lindsey Mayle's 19 points led Geneva. Riverside's Alexis Parsons had a game-high 21 points.

Madison 71, Willoughby South 39 The unbeaten Blue Streaks (3-0) got 17 points from Abbie Trivisonno and 11 points from Taylor Bland in the PAC victory.

Westlake 59, Avon 47 The visiting Demons (3-0) remained unbeaten as Maggie Zimmerman scored 19 of her 20 points before halftime. Zimmerman left the game in the second half with a sprained ankle. Liz Kobe scored 10 of her 11 points in the second half for Westlake.

Buckeye 57, Columbia 52 (OT) Senior center Jessica Banas had 10 points, 23 rebounds, seven blocks and five assists for Buckeye in the Patriot Athletic Conference crossover-game victory. Sara Dash had 16 points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

Shaw 47, Bedford 24 Sabrina McLin's 17 points led the Cardinals to the win in a Lake Erie League opener.

St. Joseph Academy 59, Culver Academy 33 The Jaguars (3-0) stayed unbeaten as Katie Battaglia had 15 points, four assists and three steals, and Sarah Schwind had 10 points and eight steals.

Euclid 69, Maple Heights 37 The visiting Panthers (2-0, 1-0), who sprinted out to a 20-7 first-quarter lead, had Rachelle White score 16 in the LEL victory.

Villa Angela-St. Joseph 57, Open Door Christian 31 Laniece Thomas had a game-high 16 points for the Vikings (2-0), who held a 30-13 lead at halftime.

Cleveland Heights 53, Warren Harding 31 Ashanti Abshaw and Arion Jackson combined for 27 points for the Tigers, who held Harding to two points in the first quarter and four points in the third quarter.

Padua 47, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 39 Senior Lea Walsh had 10 points and 15 rebounds for the Bruins in the North Coast League Blue Division victory.

Hockey

Walsh Jesuit 6, Padua 1 The Warriors got two second-period goals by Joel Ruane, and Ben Romanski had a goal and three assists for the Red South victory.

North Olmsted 12, Normandy 2 Five goals by Alex Arendec and three by Shawn Elliott were more than enough to carry the Eagles to the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League win.

Brecksville-Broadview Heights 5, Westlake 3 Jake Kivett's goal off assists from T.J. Carlo and Andrew Marincic put the Bees ahead, and a Joe Sullivan-from-Caitlin Koprowski score was the insurance goal for host Brecksville (3-1).

Midview 9, Benedictine 4 Brock Behler's four goals and Austin Steindl's three goals and three assists led the Middies.

Wrestling

Solon Comet Classic The host Comets crowned two individuals -- 120-pound Brandon Thompson and 152-pound Oklahoma State recruit Anthony Collica -- en route to winning the team title with 182 points.

Lake Erie Monsters beat San Antonio, 4-2

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Monsters rookie goalie Sami Aittokallio made 26 stops, including a save on a penalty shot in the second period.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Patrick Bordeleau's third-period goal broke a 2-2 tie and the Lake Erie Monsters went on to beat San Antonio, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon at The Q.

One day after allowing the Rampage to score four first-period goals in a 6-2 loss, the Monsters (11-8-1-1) led, 2-0, after the first period.

Bryan Lerg scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season 1:53 into the game and Mark Olver scored a power-play goal eight minutes later.

San Antonio (6-11-0-3) scored once in the second period and tied the game with a power-play goal early in the third period.

Monsters rookie goalie Sami Aittokallio made 26 stops, including a save on a penalty shot in the second period.

Lake Erie plays today in Toronto against the Marlies. First puck drops at 3 p.m.

San Antonio 0 1 1--2

Lake Erie 2 0 2--4

FIRST PERIOD: 1, Lake Erie, Lerg 9 (Sgarbossa, Walker), 1:53. 2, Lake Erie, Olver 3 (Walker, Pock), 9:51 (PP). Penalties-Shore Sa (interference), 8:29; Petrovic Sa (slashing), 10:23; Caruso Sa (tripping), 11:17; van der Gulik Le (interference), 15:59.

SECOND PERIOD: 3, San Antonio, Rallo 6 (Robak, Wright), 16:25. Penalties-DeSantis Sa (hooking), 6:36; Yonkman Sa (boarding), 12:53; Bordeleau Le (charging), 19:53.

THIRD PERIOD: 4, San Antonio, Robak 3 (Rheault, Strachan), 2:26 (PP). 5, Lake Erie, Bordeleau 2 (Elliott, Gaunce), 8:41. 6, Lake Erie, Connolly 1 (Stollery, Barrie), 12:19. Penalties-Pock Le (high-sticking), 1:34; Petrovic Sa (hooking), 2:40; Howden Sa (high-sticking), 5:20; Malone Le (tripping), 13:17.

Goalies: San Antonio, Grumet (28 shots-24 saves); Lake Erie, Aittokallio (28-26). Shots on goal: San Antonio 7-11-10--28; Lake Erie 9-12-7--28. Power plays: San Antonio 1-4; Lake Erie 1-7. Ref: Kaval. Linesmen: King, Roberts. A: 3,715.

Terry Pluto's early scribbles before the Cleveland Browns play the Oakland Raiders

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Can the Cleveland Browns really win two games in a row? They have a legitimate chance to do it on Sunday.

scribbles-weeden.JPG After suffering a concussion against Pittsburgh, Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden practiced during the week and will start against Oakland on Sunday.

Scribbles in Terry Pluto's Browns notebook before Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders:

1. Two in a row. Can the Browns actually win two in a row? Certainly, it's possible as they play in Oakland Sunday, where the Raiders are only 2-4 at home. They are giving up almost 42 points a game in their last four games. This is a bad 3-8 team on a four-game losing streak, whereas the Browns appear to be a 3-8 team heading in the right direction.

2. As one Browns operative told me: "We are 3-3 in the last six games. While people want to get all over (Brandon) Weeden, I see some progress simply because we are starting to win some games with him."

3. It was new owner Jimmy Haslam who talked to the PDs Mary Kay Cabot about how the Browns could be "6-5 instead of 3-8." He counts the 17-16 loss to Philadelphia, 23-20 loss to Dallas and 17-13 loss to Indianapolis as possible wins. The good news is the Browns aren't getting blown out. Most Sundays, they are in the territory of what Joshua Cribbs called "we almost always almost win."

4. But it's time to win a road game, something that hasn't happened since Sept. 25, 2011. That was a 27-19 victory at Indianapolis with Colt McCoy at quarterback -- the only time the Browns scored at least 27 points in 2011. (They've done it three times this season.) Following that victory at Indianapolis, the Browns beat Miami, 17-16. And yes, they were 2-1 at one point last season. They ended up 4-12.

5. That was the last time they won two in a row. And since beating the Colts, the Browns have lost 12 in a row in the road. Yes, it's time to win this game. The Browns don't need to enter next year with a 15-game losing streak on the road. That would be the case if they lose the remaining three road games this season: at Oakland, at Denver and at Pittsburgh.

6. After the 20-14 victory over the Steelers, I received three types of emails. The first was simply happy to beat Pittsburgh. The second was pleased to beat Pittsburgh, but had a lot of complaints about Weeden's iffy performance: The Steelers having Charlie Batch at quarterback and how he's terrible, and how the eight turnovers really meant Pittsburgh "gave the game to the Browns."

7. There were a few in a third category, those who think if the Browns win too many games, they won't fire coach Pat Shurmur. They fear it will be like 2010, when Eric Mangini ended with a four-game winning streak and finished 5-11. New team president Mike Holmgren shockingly kept Mangini as coach, even though Holmgren didn't like how Mangini coached offense or defense.

8. There is no way to be certain, but it seems doubtful that Haslam, working with an experienced NFL executive in Joe Banner, will retain Shurmur simply because he won a few games. That's exactly what Holmgren did. Now we can see that Holmgren's approach to running a team often was muddled. The guy had more news conferences (three) after it was announced he was leaving than he did either during the entire 2010 or 2011 seasons. He had one news conference during each of those regular seasons.

9. If Shurmur stays, it will be because Banner knows him well from the 10 years that Shurmur was an assistant coach in Philadelphia and believes Shurmur is maturing as a coach and his assistants are strong. Banner was the Eagles' president when Shurmur and offensive coordinator Brad Children were assistant coaches in Philadelphia.

10. Haslam obviously will have a huge say in the coaching situation. If he retains Shurmur, it won't be simply because they won a few games and Holmgren wasn't sure if he wanted to coach. That was why Holmgren decided to keep Mangini for 2010 while deciding if he should return to the sidelines in 2011.

11. I know, if they "win too many games," then they won't get a high draft pick. Not sure what constitutes "too many games," but there comes a time when a young team such as the Browns has to start winning "some games." This franchise has been losing games and drafting high almost yearly since 1999, and look at what has produced -- one playoff appearance, a loss. That was in 2002.

12. So it's time to beat Oakland in Oakland. That probably will require doing it in rainy, windy weather. It's time that Weeden has a good game and that Trent Richardson converts on those third-and-1 plays. It's time that the team plays a game that it's expected to win -- then wins it.

13. The special teams are getting better. I know, I wrote this earlier in the season and the Browns had their worst special teams game of 2012. So maybe I'll just shut up, except to say the obvious -- will those who do the picking finally realize the greatness of Phil Dawson and make the man a Pro Bowler? In the past two years, Dawson has made 12-of-13 field goals from at least 50 yards. For the second time in his career, he's made 27 consecutive field goals. Fans know Dawson is Phil The Great on Field Goals. But he's kicking off so well and the Browns are covering those kicks so well, that the opposition is starting at the 19.8 yard line -- tied with Chicago for the NFL lead. The longest kick return against them this season has been 34 yards. The punt returns are good, too. But I'll stop right here.

14. I'm anxious to see how Josh Gordon performs in bad weather, because he has the speed and hands to be a terrific receiver. The Browns haven't had too many really bad weather games this season, other than the 7-6 victory over San Diego at the lakefront.

15. When the Browns lost, 24-17, at Oakland last season, Peyton Hillis (14 yards in six carries) was hurt. Montario Hardesty (35 yards in 11 carries) went nowhere. McCoy was 21-of-45 passing for two touchdowns as he tried to carry a lame offense. Greg Little caught six passes. The Browns had no Richardson, no Gordon, no Weeden, and they gave up a touchdown on a kick return. So yes, it's time for the orange helmets to show they are a different and better team from a year ago.

Sunday, Dec. 2 television sports listings for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio

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Highlights include Browns at Oakland.


CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV sports listings

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

8:30 p.m. BCS Selection Show, at Bristol, Conn., ESPN 

GOLF

7:30 a.m. Sunshine Tour, Nedbank Challenge, final round, at Sun City, South Africa (same-day tape), Golf Channel

1 p.m. World Challenge, final round, at Thousand Oaks, Calif., Golf Channel 

3 p.m. World Challenge, final round, at Thousand Oaks, Calif., NBC

HOCKEY  

3 p.m. LAKE ERIE MONSTERS at Toronto, AM/1420 

MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Noon Clemson at South Carolina, ESPNU 

NFL  

1 p.m. Indianapolis at Detroit, WOIO  

1 p.m. Green Bay at Minnesota, WJW  

4:25 p.m. CLEVELAND BROWNS at Oakland, WOIO  

8:20 p.m. Philadelphia at Dallas, WKYC; FM/92.3 

WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL  

1:30 p.m. Central Michigan at Purdue, Big Ten Network  

2 p.m. Cincinnati vs. Xavier, Fox Sports Ohio

4 p.m. Cal at Wisconsin, Big Ten Network 

6 p.m. Kentucky at Louisville, ESPNU 

WOMENS COLLEGE SOCCER  

2 p.m. Penn State vs. Florida State, ESPNU 

4 p.m. Teams TBA, ESPNU 



Mary Kay Cabot's Sunday kickoff

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Cleveland Browns fans should rally behind Phil Dawson and vote for the kicker to finally make it to the Pro Bowl.

kickoff-dawson.JPG While it's too late to write Phil Dawson in on the presidential ballot, Cleveland Browns fans can still vote to send him to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns punter Reggie Hodges was right. Browns fans should rise up and help catapult kicker Phil Dawson into his first career Pro Bowl.

Currently, Dawson isn't even among the top five vote-getters in fan balloting on NFL.com, which closes Dec 17. Granted, the fan vote accounts for only one-third of the total, but it would certainly go a long way. Players and coaches, who make up the other two-thirds, vote later this month.

But no kicker in the NFL has fared better this season, especially considering the adverse conditions Dawson's had to kick in. He's made all 21 field goals, including a stunning five of 50 yards or more, to lead all NFL kickers in field-goal percentage. An NFL-record three of those 50-plus-yarders came in one game against the Ravens. He's also been perfect on his 20 extra-point attempts.

Dating back to last season, Dawson's made 27 straight field goals, which is a league-high and matches his career best. Also stretching back to last season, he's made 12 kicks of 50 yards or more -- tops in the NFL.

He's equally as proud of his 19 touchbacks and the fact that the Browns are second in the NFL in holding teams to a 20.2-yard kickoff-return average.

And at 37, he keeps getting better with age.

"I've worked extremely hard," he said. "The experiences pay off. I've had great teammates around me that have given me opportunities. Alex Smith, for example, is our wing on field-goal protection, and we put him on our best rush corner each and every week and he takes care of that for me. I'm not the fastest guy to get the kicks off. If you don't have excellent protection, you've got to hurry up the process, and sometimes when you do, you're not as accurate. I can't overstate what a big role he has provided for me being able to be back there, be comfortable, take my time, and the accuracy follows. So it's certainly a team effort, and I'll just continue to work hard and see how good I can get."

Can he get much better than this? Time for a luau.


For Pittsburgh Steelers, no Ben Roethlisberger means no wins vs. Baltimore Ravens: AFC North Nuggets

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Since 2004, the Steelers are 0-5 against the Ravens without Big Ben Roethlisberger in the lineup.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Baltimore Ravens are virtually unbeatable at home. The Pittsburgh Steelers are having trouble winning anywhere without Ben Roethlisberger in the lineup.

Those two factors could go a long way to deciding the AFC North title.

The Ravens can clinch a playoff berth and perhaps a division championship Sunday as they host the reeling Steelers. Baltimore (9-2) is searching for its 17th straight win at home and second victory in three weeks against Pittsburgh (6-5).

The Steelers have ruled out Roethisberger for a third straight week after he suffered a shoulder and rib injury against Kansas City. They lost at home to Baltimore two weeks ago and committed eight turnovers in a 20-14 defeat last Sunday in Cleveland.

Since 2004, the Steelers are 0-5 against the Ravens without Roethisberger under center. Charlie Batch, the club's third-string quarterback, is supposed to make his second consecutive start.

The Steelers could fall out of playoff position Sunday with a loss and a Cincinnati win.

"We have to figure out what we need to do," Batch said. "In order for us to get to where we want to get to, we have to start winning."

And stopping fumbling. Four different running backs fumbled against the Browns. Jonathan Dwyer is expected to start against the Ravens.

Bengals rolling: The streaky Bengals hope to maintain their current momentum as they head to San Diego to face the free-falling Chargers.

Cincinnati (6-5) is looking for its fourth straight win after losing four in a row. A Bengals win and a Steelers loss on Sunday would give them an inside track toward a wild-card spot.

Quarterback Andy Dalton has emerged from an early-season funk and responded to coach Marvin Lewis' challenge to provide more leadership. In the past three games, Dalton has thrown nine touchdowns and no interceptions. He's also starting to get help from the running game, which has averaged 205 yards in the past two games, wins over Kansas City and Oakland.

"The anticipation comes down to these last five (games) now and what they mean and how important they are," Lewis said. "We're in OK position. We're not in great position, but we're in OK position. And we've got to improve upon it each and every week."

The Chargers are wounded but still dangerous, as the Ravens discovered a week ago. Baltimore needed to convert a fourth-and-29 on a pass to Ray Rice to force overtime on the way to victory.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cleveland Browns at Oakland Raiders preview: Keys to the game

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Downpour, wind in Oakland expected to change the way the game is played when the Browns take on the Raiders.

BROWNS-RAIDERS: KEYS TO THE GAME

Bring plenty of cleats

Hard and steady rain with strong wind has been in the Bay Area forecast. Presumably, it means the track inside O.co Coliseum will be sloppy, with some areas worse than others on a surface that is uneven even on a good day. That will necessitate change(s) of cleats -- and possibly shoes -- to maintain an edge. The cornerbacks, in particular, must avoid slippage. Wind also is expected to be a factor throughout the afternoon. The last time the Browns played in wind and rain was Oct. 28 against San Diego in Cleveland. They protected the ball and relied on defense and the running game in crafting a 7-6 victory.

Ride "T-Rich"

Trent Richardson enters today with 209 rushes for 755 yards and six touchdowns, and 41 receptions for 316 yards and one touchdown. The third overall pick in April leads the Browns in receptions and ranks among NFL leaders in touches. As much as Richardson's ribs need a breather, he remains committed to playing as many downs as possible. The Browns desperately need him, especially in bad weather. Against the Chargers, Richardson carried 24 times for 122 yards and one touchdown and caught one pass for 12 yards. Richardson might want to double-line the flak jacket, because the Raiders' defense can be had on the ground and through the air.

Make sure defense does not rest

The Browns' defense has been on a roll, sacking quarterbacks and forcing turnovers. But it needs to stay sharp for the full 60 minutes. A struggle to close out halves began in the opener against Philadelphia, when the Eagles scored touchdowns late in the first and second as part of a 17-16 victory in Cleveland. Recent examples: Ravens scored 11 in final five minutes to win, 25-15; Cowboys kicked a field goal in final seconds of regulation to force overtime, then won, 23-20; Steelers scored a touchdown with one second left in first half of a 20-14 loss. The opposition deserves credit, but the Browns have assisted with helmet-scratching penalties and blown assignments.

Embrace the "Black Hole"

The Raiders receive plenty of love nationally simply for being the Raiders. Part of their mystique stems from the Black Hole, an area of the stands reserved for an especially fanatical collection of supporters. Think: black-and-silver Dawg Pound, but with less regulation. The Black Hole is supposed to intimidate opponents, but the Raiders are in the midst of their 10th straight non-winning season, so it must not be too effective. Oakland's best two seasons in the last 10, 2010 and 2011, ended with 8-8 home records and 16-16 overall records. One of the victories in 2011 came against the Browns, but it wasn't easy (24-17). This season, Oakland is 2-3 at home.

What ever happened to former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Lester Hudson?: Hey, Mary!

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Plain Dealer Cavaliers reporter Mary Schmitt Boyer answers fan questions about Lester Hudson and other topics.

Lester Hudson Lester Hudson talks with Cavaliers coach Byron Scott during a game last season.

Q: Hey, Mary!

What ever happened to Lorenzo Hudson, who played for the Cavaliers some last year before being released and despite averaging double digits?

I know he's not a true point guard and I understand that he doesn't play much defense, but I just described Daniel Gibson. Gibson's always hurt and seldom consistent, while Hudson was instant energy and offense off the bench. And we all know that the Cavs need energy and offense off the bench.

-- Dale Brosky, Strongsville

A: Hey, Dale:

You mean Lester Hudson. The Cavs tried to re-sign him at the end of last season and he opted to sign with his hometown Memphis Grizzlies. He was eventually cut and reportedly is playing in China. The Cavs have no interest in bringing him back. Daniel Gibson certainly has had his share of injuries, but he has been playing well when healthy this season and he may be the team's premier perimeter defender. His value to the team is more evident when he's out, as coach Byron Scott often notes in his post-game comments.

Q: Hey, Mary!

The Cavs can make a trade at the right time in the season sending Andy Varejao to Oklahoma City for Perkins, Perry and Lamb. That trade would work out for both teams, and we would not lose any picks. We would have to release two players but that should not be a problem.

-- Floyd Phillips, Twinsburg

A: Hey, Floyd:

If I'm Oklahoma City, I'd love that deal. If I'm a Cavs fan, not so much. Anderson Varejao has been the Cavs' best player this season and is the best center in the Eastern Conference at this point, if not the league. Perkins is a great defensive player with limited offensive skills. Perry and Lamb are untested. This is too one-sided for my liking.

Q: Hey, Mary!

The Cavs have been lacking scoring punch when coming off the bench. Are there any rumors or news involving the Cavs? Plus who do you think the Cavs' top five targets are in free agency next year?

-- Adam Kalfas, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

A: Hey, Adam:

There aren't a lot of trade rumors at this point in the season, but the Cavs' name usually comes up in any multi-team deal because they have assets and want to improve their team, they're willing to be creative about it, and they're about $8 million under the luxury tax level this season and will have a lot more money to spend next summer.

They're much more likely to improve their team through trades and the draft than free agency, so I'm afraid I can't give you a list of their free-agent targets.

Spotlight on Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer

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Carson Palmer is probably happy to see the Browns. He had a 9-3 mark, with 25 touchdown passes and a 90.6 rating, against Cleveland as quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals before forcing his way out and landing in Oakland last season.

carson-palmer.JPG Carson Palmer is 3-8 as a starter for the Raiders this season. (AP Photo)

Carson Palmer is probably happy to see the Browns. He had a 9-3 mark, with 25 touchdown passes and a 90.6 rating, against Cleveland as quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals before forcing his way out and landing in Oakland last season.

But it hasn't been a pleasant season for Palmer and the Raiders, especially in recent weeks, as the Raiders have dropped four straight. Particularly disappointing for Palmer was last Sunday's 34-10 loss against the Bengals in his first trip back to Cincinnati. Palmer was sacked four times and completed 19 of 34 passes for 146 yards, snapping a 16-game streak of at least 200 yards passing. For the season, Palmer has thrown for 3,181 yards, with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He's been sacked 24 times, and his passer rating is 84.1.

Browns middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson says Palmer is as talented as ever, in spite of the Raiders' struggles.

“He's still capable of making every throw on the field,” Jackson said. “He has a great arm. It's a lot [that] goes into a season from a quarterback's standpoint. A lot of his games, he's been playing from behind, so it's forced him to do things that they don't want to do. I've played against him for many years . . . He's still willing and able to make those throws and be successful in this league.”

Browns coach Pat Shurmur thinks Palmer is still adjusting to the move to Oakland and a new offense this season.

“I've always thought Carson Palmer was one of the better quarterbacks in the league, and he's showing that out there,” Shurmur said. “He's got outstanding numbers. He can win games. He's developing a relationship with his receivers, and it's obviously taking time. Even though he was there at the end of last year, it's a new system for him, and there is a lot of new this year for him that I'm sure he's got to work through.”



Once-proud Raiders franchise can relate to Browns' pain: NFL Insider

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A decade ago, the Oakland Raiders were perhaps a tuck rule away from returning to the Super Bowl. Today, they are a home underdog to the Browns, a team that carries the NFL's longest road losing streak (12) into the matchup of 3-8 clubs at O.co Coliseum.

raiders-fan.jpg The only "€œBlack Hole"€ that the three-time Super Bowl champion Oakland Raiders have seen during the recent past is those cut into sacks that hide the faces of their embarrassed and frustrated fans. (AP Photo)

Just when, baby? That's what the silver-and-black-clad fans here by the Bay would like to know.

A decade ago, the Oakland Raiders were perhaps a tuck rule away from returning to the Super Bowl. Today, they are a home underdog to the Browns, a team that carries the NFL's longest road losing streak (12) into the matchup of 3-8 clubs at O.co Coliseum.

Neither the Raiders nor the Browns have made the playoffs since the 2002 season, and each has come close only once in that span. The famous “Just win, baby!” slogan of late Raiders owner Al Davis mocks a passionate Oakland fan base that has seen the Raiders lose four straight while allowing an average of 42.3 points – the second-most by an NFL team in a four-game stretch since the 1970 merger.

“Everybody deals with adversity, and what we have to be able to do is respond to adversity and be able to pull ourselves out of it,” said first-year coach Dennis Allen.

Since purchasing the club, new Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has been touring the league and taking copious notes. He's not come across a franchise – at least on the Browns' schedule – that has fallen so far, so quickly from its proud perch. The Raiders have won three Super Bowls and played in two others, making their most recent trip in 2002.

But quarterback Rich Gannon got old, and the Raiders have spent the past decade searching for his long-term successor. Kerry Collins. JaMarcus Russell. Jason Campbell. Carson Palmer, not to mention some long-relief appearances by Rick Mirer, Daunte Culpepper, Aaron Brooks, Andrew Walter, Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye.

Coupled with the instability at quarterback has been a parade of hirings and firings at head coach: Bill Callahan, Norv Turner, Art Shell, Lane Kiffin, Tom Cable, Hue Jackson and Allen.

Any of this sound familiar, Browns fans? The success of the quarterback and coach are often linked. Everybody from New England owner Robert Kraft to the guy who performed Haslam's home inspection in Bratenahl has probably been telling him something similar. It's what makes the decision on Brandon Weeden's future so important.

It's hard to blame Palmer for the Raiders' latest flameout, unless the organization thought he would play in the secondary as well. But acquiring the 32-year-old Palmer from Cincinnati at the 2011 trade deadline for a 2012 first-round pick (cornerback Dre Kirpatrick) and a 2013 second-rounder was a mistake. There have been others during the past decade, as Davis lost his way with poor draft picks and bad contracts.

When you don't get the right quarterback, you often make a series of wrong decisions trying to compensate for it. We've seen it time and again. The Dolphins have been searching for Dan Marino's replacement for more than a decade. Same for the Browns and Bernie Kosar. It's what makes the situation in Indianapolis – letting go a Peyton Manning and drafting an Andrew Luck – so remarkable.

The Browns appear ahead of the Raiders in their retooling because of the young, aggressive defense that General Manager Tom Heckert is building. Of course, Heckert could be gone at season's end, and the Browns would be starting over again – just as Oakland is now.

Once committed to excellence, the Raiders are just tying to get back to mediocrity by season's end.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: treed@plaind.com, 216-999-4370


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