Kosar’s Passing Gives the Browns Win Over Raiders

The Cleveland Browns accomplished a rarity Sunday. They won on the West Coast.

Now, they’ve got to win at another difficult location to capture the AFC Central Division title.

Bernie Kosar passed for 294 yards and two touchdowns as the Browns defeated the Raiders, 24-17, Sunday at the Coliseum to move into first place in the AFC Central.

Cleveland (9-5) can win the AFC Central title with a victory or a tie at Pittsburgh next Saturday in the regular-season finale. The Steelers are 8-6 after losing to Houston, 24-16, Sunday.

“I think everyone knows the meaning of next week’s game,” Browns’ Coach Marty Schottenheimer said. “It involves the divisional championship. To me, that’s what I’m in this business for--to be involved in big games. That’s what it’s all about. That’s the thing that makes your blood run hot. We’re looking forward to it.”

The Oilers, who also are 8-6, will win the division crown if Pittsburgh beats Cleveland and Houston defeats Cincinnati at Houston.

In the last 17 years, Cleveland has won just once in Pittsburgh. That came last year when the Browns nipped the Steelers, 27-24.

Cleveland was 0-2 on the West Coast this year before beating the Raiders. Since 1984, the Browns have won just once in six games in the West.

“We didn’t really believe in (a West Coast jinx),” Kosar said. “We’ve played some good ball games out here and lost. Today we proved we can play anywhere.”

The Browns also have had a tough time with the Raiders in the past, winning just once in 11 games, including two postseason losses.

Last year, Kosar was sacked six times and pressured on several other occasions during a 27-14 loss to the Raiders. In Sunday’s game, Kosar wasn’t sacked at all.

“We were prepared for a lot of different looks,” Kosar said. “Our line did a great job. You need to get a quick tempo when playing an aggressive defense like the Raiders.”

The Raiders, who played without rookie sensation Bo Jackson, fell to 5-9. Jackson, who sprained his right ankle a week ago, watched from the sideline in civilian clothes.

Kosar, who leads the AFC in passing efficiency, completed 21 of 32 passes with one interception, which was returned 48 yards for a touchdown by Stacey Toran with 14 minutes left in the game. But by that time, the Browns had a 24-3 lead.

“It’s so frustrating with a guy like Kosar,” Raider defensive end Howie Long said. “I was thinking sack five times. I broke through five times and I was thinking I’ve got him. He’s not even looking at you, but he can tell you’re there and (the ball) is gone.”

The Raiders drew within seven points on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Marc Wilson to James Lofton with 1:51 remaining, but the Browns then ran out the clock.

“We had a chance right to the very end to make a game of it, but it slipped away,” Raider Coach Tom Flores said. “Kosar was very impressive. We just didn’t play like we had been playing defensively. Offensively, once again we just didn’t get it into the end zone. We had our opportunities.”

Kosar threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Earnest Byner late in the first quarter and an 18-yard scoring pass to Webster Slaughter late in the third period.

Byner also scored on a 15-yard run midway through the second quarter.

The Raiders took a 3-0 lead on a 39-yard field goal by Chris Bahr. The Browns, who scored on their first three possessions, then went ahead for good on the Kosar-to-Byner scoring pass.

Cleveland drove 74 yards on 13 plays to get into position for Matt Bahr’s 20-yard field goal early in the second quarter. The Browns made it 17-3 on the scoring run by Byner, which capped a 67-yard, seven-play drive.

The Browns ate up 8:56 of the third quarter, moving 93 yards on 14 plays to go ahead 24-3. The drive was kept alive when the Raiders jumped offside as the Browns lined up for a field goal attempt on a fourth-and-four play. The offside gave the Browns a first down, and on the next play the drive was capped by Kosar’s touchdown pass to Slaughter, who had seven receptions for 115 yards in the game.

Toran’s interception return came after the Browns had forced the Raiders to punt.

Byner finished with 74 yards on 12 carries, including a 21-yard run in a third-and-seven situation with 1:32 remaining which put the Browns at their own 43-yard line and enabled them to run out the clock.

Wilson completed 23 of 36 passes for 270 passes. He was sacked four times and wasn’t intercepted. Marcus Allen gained 35 yards on 14 carries and had a career-high 10 receptions for 84 yards for the Raiders.

The Browns needed only four plays to go 73 yards on their first possession. On their first scrimmage play, Raider cornerback Sam Seale was penalized 39 yards for pass interference.

The Raiders blew a scoring opportunity early in the third quarter. They got to the Cleveland 13, but Allen fumbled and Chris Rockins recovered for the Browns.

Tight end Ozzie Newsome of the Browns extended his streak of catching at least one pass to 126 consecutive games with a one-yard reception early in the fourth quarter.

The game was played before a crowd of 40,275 at the Los Angeles Coliseum. A total of 51,019 tickets were sold for the game, meaning there were 10,844 no-shows despite pleasant weather.