Lawrence Vickers News

They didn't have established NFL reputations like Antonio Gates or LaDainian Tomlinson, but the young players who stepped up and made plays for the Browns during Sunday's 30-23 loss to the Chargers gave the team new hope for the offense.

Beaten up and beaten down, the Cleveland Browns haven't quit. Their embattled coach isn't surprised.

The Chargers led the Browns, 13-7, at halftime today at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

BEREA: Jamal Lewis might be the closest the Browns get to a hall of famer until left tackle Joe Thomas is five years into retirement and hosting a reincarnation of The American Sportsman .

Cornerback Brandon McDonald thought things were bad when he was demoted from starter to backup two games ago.

If this is it for Jamal Lewis' football career, it's a shame to see the season cut short for a guy who never cut corners.

The Cleveland Browns have not only been experiencing what some have said is their worst season ever as a franchise, but now it looks like the injury bug is quickly catching up to them too.

The Browns overcame the touchdown to lose to the Bengals, 16-7, and remain a top contender for the first pick in the NFL draft.

For Brady Quinn and the Browns, it's a chance to build on the season's best offensive performance and do something the Browns have done before: derail the Bengals' playoff push.

Browns reciever Mohamed Massaquoi, No. 11, celebrates his 59-yard touchdown pass with quarterback Brady Quinn Sunday at Detroit.

It took all 60 minutes - plus two plays after time had expired - for the Lions to strike the last blow in a wild one Sunday and top the Browns, 38-37. Matthew Stafford's fifth touchdown pass of the day came on an untimed down from the Browns' 1, capping a 10-play, 88-yard drive engineered by the rookie in the final 1:46 without a timeout.

BEREA - Ita s not a nightmare, or an optical illusion. The Browns offense has really been as bad as ita s looked.

Receiver Josh Cribbs says he intends to play Sunday in Detroit despite being questionable with what he described as a sprained neck.

Running back Jamal Lewis and punter Dave Zastudil are among eight Browns who are questionable for Monday night's game against the Ravens.

The Ravens are set to take on the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium .

BEREA: Anyone wondering whether running back Jamal Lewis was speaking for his Browns teammates Thursday when he accused coach Eric Mangini of overworking his players need only have witnessed the locker room scene 24 hours later.

Browns coach Eric Mangini can only delay the inevitable. Eventually he's got to name a starting quarterback and send him onto the field to face the Baltimore Ravens on "Monday Night Football" next week.

Imagine being a player for the Cleveland Browns and receiving a report card for the first half of the season.

Last season, the Cleveland Browns failed to score an offensive touchdown in their last six games.A However, at that point in the season, they were playing the third and fourth string quarterbacks in Ken Dorsey andA Bruce Gradkowski.A What's their excuse this season? A The Browns did score an offensive touchdown today, but the philosophy and results ...

What do Packers tackle Breno Giacomini and Browns quarterback Brady Quinn have in common - besides the first two letters of their names? They were the only players who were in uniform, but did not step on the field Sunday during Green Bay's 31-3 destruction of Cleveland.