Browns at Raiders
THE STORY: Emotions figure to still be running high Sunday in Oakland as the Raiders host the Cleveland Browns in their first home game since the death of owner Al Davis. The Silver and Black posted an unexpected 25-20 road victory over the Houston Texans last Sunday, one day after the 82-year-old Davis passed away. The Browns are coming off their much-needed bye week following a 31-13 drubbing at the hands of the Tennessee Titans. Cleveland has won four of the last five meetings between the teams and seven of nine, including a 23-9 triumph at home in their most recent matchup on Dec. 27, 2009. Oakland is third in the AFC with 136 points scored but has allowed 133, the fourth-highest total in the conference. The Browns have scored just 74 points, the fourth-lowest amount in the NFL, but only five teams have surrendered fewer points than Cleveland's 93.
TV: CBS, 4:05 p.m. ET. LINE: Raiders - 6.5. O/U: 44.5
ABOUT THE BROWNS (2-2): Running back Peyton Hillis' contract dispute could turn out to be a distraction for the team. Hillis denies he sat out against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 25 due to his battle with management, claiming he had strep throat. Center Alex Mack and cornerback Joe Haden are both long shots to play. Mack still is recovering from an appendectomy performed on him the day after the loss to Tennessee, while Haden suffered a sprained knee against the Titans and is walking with a limp. Joshua Cribbs is third in the AFC with an average of 28.4 yards per kick return. Cribbs ran back a kick 99 yards for a score in 2007 against Oakland, which enters with the 31st-ranked defense.
ABOUT THE RAIDERS (3-2): Controversial quarterback Terrelle Pryor participated in his first practice since the preseason Wednesday after serving his league-imposed five-game suspension. Pryor left Ohio State in order to avoid a five-game ban by the NCAA for being involved in a cash-for-memorabilia scandal but was suspended by the NFL after being selected by Oakland in the supplemental draft and signed in August. The Raiders have agreed to a deal with the Seattle Seahawks for linebacker Aaron Curry pending league approval and a physical. Oakland will part with a seventh-round pick in 2012 and a conditional fifth-rounder the following year for the former first-round selection.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Oakland's Sebastian Janikowski booted three field goals of at least 50 yards in the win over Houston, tying the NFL record.
2. Darren McFadden of the Raiders leads the league in rushing with 519 yards. However, he was held to a season-low 51 by the Texans on 16 carries.
3. Cleveland's two victories came against Miami and the Indianapolis Colts, who are a combined 0-9 this season.