Oakland and Cleveland bounced back strongly from their disastrous season-openers, defeating Baltimore and Tennessee, respectively, on Sunday. The Raiders and the Browns will look to keep the momentum going this coming weekend when they lock horns in a critical showdown at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Who will emerge victorious in this Week 3 clash? Read on below for a preview of this much-anticipated NFL showdown and while you’re at it, you can check out our previews of Green Bay vs. Kansas City and Denver vs. Detroit.
[sc:Football ]Oakland Raiders vs. Cleveland Browns Preview
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
When: Sunday, September 27, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Oakland Raiders (+3.5) at Cleveland Browns (-3.5); total: 42.5 – view all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Oakland Raiders
Oakland finally chalked up its first win of the season with a gripping 37-33 come-from-behind victory over Baltimore on Sunday. It was a morale-boosting win for the Raiders, who suffered a humiliating Week 1 defeat to Cincinnati.
[sc:NFL240banner ]The victory wouldn’t be possible, though, without the heroics of quarterback Derek Carr. He sliced through the Ravens’ secondary for a career-best 351 yards and three touchdowns, including his critical 12-yard game-winning pass to Seth Roberts with 26 seconds left on the clock. Before directing that clutch nine-play, 80-yard drive, Carr also led the Raiders to four first-half scores, the first time Oakland has accomplished that feat since November 2011. Carr also became the first Raiders passer since Carson Palmer in 2012 to throw for 200 yards in the first half.
The Raiders’ offense as a whole was simply phenomenal on Sunday. They gained a total of 448 yards in the win against Baltimore – more than twice what the Ravens allowed to the Broncos in a 19-13 loss last week. They will need to bring that same kind of offensive effort this coming Sunday if they are to record their second win against Cleveland.
For the Raiders to achieve that feat, they will need Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper to continue their excellent play. Crabtree had 111 receiving yards on Sunday, while Cooper followed closely behind with 109. That’s the first time since the 2011 season finale that the Raiders had a pair of players reach 100 yards receiving.
The Raiders are 0-10 SU and 4-6 ATS in their last 10 road games.
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Betting on the Cleveland Browns
Look out NFL fans, Johnny Football is back!
Johnny Manziel dazzled in his third-career NFL start, passing for 172 yards and two touchdowns in Cleveland’s 28-14 victory over Tennessee on Sunday. His two touchdown passes were things of beauty, with Travis Benjamin the main beneficiary in both of those connections. Manziel threw a majestic 60-yarder to Benjamin on Cleveland’s second play and connected with his wide receiver again for a critical 50-yard pass with 2:52 remaining in the game that all but sealed the Titans’ fate. It was a huge win not only for Manziel, but also for the Browns, who recorded just their third home-opening win since 1999.
The Browns will look to make it back-to-back wins when they host the Oakland Raiders at FirstEnergy Stadium this coming Sunday. The main question now for Cleveland fans heading into that game is who will be their starting quarterback in that contest. Will it be Josh McCown, who’s still recovering from a concussion he suffered in Week 1? Or will it be the enigmatic Manziel, who finally displayed some flashes of brilliance against Tennessee?
The smart money will be on Manziel, as he has already formed some kind of understanding with the talented Benjamin. In their short career together, Manziel is 7 of 9 for 213 yards and three touchdowns when targeting Benjamin. That partnership will be crucial for Cleveland this coming weekend, as Oakland has struggled mightily with its defense’s secondary this season. The Raiders are allowing 326.5 yards per game through the air this campaign, third-highest in the entire NFL.
The Browns are 5-5 SU and ATS in their last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Cleveland (-3.5) wins, 24-21.
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