Browns fumble four times (losing two), drop two interceptions, commit one false start and stumble their way to a 13-0 first quarter deficit.
CLEVELAND -- Observations and notes on the first quarter ...
* Sloppy first series for the Browns offense. Jerome Harrison lost the ball after a four-yard gain, but he was ruled down on contact. He fumbled the second time he touched it and Josh Cribbs recovered. Then Billy Yates committed a false start at right guard. Jake Delhomme's third-down completion to Cribbs then was three yards short of the first down.
* Rams quarterback A.J. Feeley got dinged on a blitz by linebacker Chris Cocong on the Rams' fifth play from scrimmage. Feeley stayed in the game but looked like his right hand was in pain. Feeley completed a 65-yard drive with a nine-yard TD pass to backup tight end Daniel Fells. Fells put a move on Brandon McDonald inside the 5 to break free for an instant and Feeley put the ball in the right place. The Browns had no pressure on the play as Feeley threw quickly out of the empty shotgun formation.
* Feeley was replaced by rookie Sam Bradford on the Rams' second series. Feeley had a sprained thumb.
* John St. Clair did, in fact, start at right tackle. Marcus Benard, who had practiced with the first team at right outside linebacker all week, was not in the starting lineup. The Browns fielded a starting unit of Matt Roth, Eric Barton, Chris Gocong and Scott Fujita.
* The Browns' sloppiness continued on their second series. Delhomme fumbled the snap on second down and the Rams recovered at the Browns' 23.
* Eric Wright dropped interceptions on successive plays. On the first, intended receiver Donnie Avery might have helped dislodge the ball. The second one bounced off Wright's hands. Wright was penalized for interference of receiver Danny Amendola, but it looked like a weak call. Bradford's short pass was behind Amendola and Wright appeared to make contact with the ball first.
* Joe Haden replaced Cribbs at kick returner in the quarter. On his first try, Haden let the St. Louis kickoff fall to the ground. But the delay thwarted the timing of the Rams' coverage unit. Haden picked up the ball and returned it 28 ayrds to the Browns' 40.
* Nice punt return of 23 yards by Mardy Gilyard, the former University of Cincinnati receiver. Every facet of the Browns' game is committing bad plays.
* Now Cribbs is in the act. He loses the ball after fielding a punt. Rams recover at Browns 21 and kick a field goal to go up, 13-0.
* Best play for the Browns: Delhomme waits for Chansi Stuckey to free himself, delivers him the ball and Stuckey runs for a 28-yard gain.