Randomness from today's Browns home game:

Special Guest: My brother, Jeff. This gave us a chance to see what is going on with this Renaissance the Browns have been enjoying the past two weeks.

Today's Opponent: The Oakland Raiders. The Silver and Black have fallen on hard times recently. I happened to catch an AFL series on Showtime last night (BTW, highly recommended) and it's amazing how the Raiders franchise has become a laughingstock. Let's not kid ourselves, the Browns are right there, as well.

The Browns have won two games in a row, but with Brady Quinn injured, Derek Anderson (yeah, him again) gets to run the show. Hard to peg where this game will wind up. I'm in observation mode more then anything.

Parking: East 6th northbound in a Truck Zone on East 6th Northbound.

Pre-Game Festivities: We arrived pretty early for this game and were met with security who insisted you unzip your jacket and remove both of your gloves. Somehow I was able to keep my hat on.

We also noticed the Browns finally joined the 21st century and now have turnstiles directly in front of the escalator to take you to the upper levels. Where was that in the original escalator design? Oh, right, even the escalators were an afterthought.

The Browns Spirit Flag was unfurled again. Do you realize this is the largest Browns flag in the world, spanning 40 yards? The national anthem was sung by someone I think we should know, but did not.

Today's Browns Old Timers in attendance were Frank Minniefield and Dr. David Mays. Minniefield was introduced as the person who invented the Dawg Pound and he actually barked. The first thought that went into my head about Dr. David Mays was that he was out of jail.

Worst Feature (For Me): Baghdad Zac's Halftime Highlights. Does this guy ever take a breath?

The Weather: Marky Nolan was solo once again today, as Strano has obviously given up the gig. Game time temperature was 33, but the wind was brisk and he told us the wind chill was 22. Snow for most of the latter part of the game.

Today's Giveaway: None.

Section 345: Really quiet today. Lots of muffled clapping and not much else happening. The season ticket holders have fled and the newbies insist on sitting in their assigned seats instead of wanting to spread out. WTF?

Best Browns Play: A touchdown in the third quarter that was nullified by a penalty. I'm still not sure what happened, but everyone was faked out, including most of the fans who then saw Harrison with the ball in the endzone. Whatever he did, hooray!

Best Raiders Play: Sebastian Janikowski's 61-yard field goal, the 4th longest in NFL history. He was cranking them up from long distances in pre-game and we wondered if he would get the chance during the game. He did, right before the half, and nailed it.

Worst Browns Play: Just a few plays after his TD was taken off the board, Harrison fumbled inside the 5-yard line and the Raiders recovered. It prolonged Oakland's chances on the scoreboard for another quarter.

Second Worst Browns Play: Not really a play, but a series. Second Browns series, Harrison has just ripped off three straight runs of 9, 10 and 12 yards for a first down on Oakland's 27. Of course, the OC has to show how smart he is and calls for three straight passes. Two incompletes and a 3-yarder later, the Browns kick a field goal. Idiot.

Best Exchange: As I mentioned, lots of newbies show up during ticket-dumping time. I actually heard this question asked today: "Where is the Raiders section?". Just kill me.

Oddest Browns Jersey: 10 Holcomb, 34 Droughns, 82 Chuzie. Someone took an old 2 Couch and made a computer-generated nameplate of Hodges. Hodges!

Food Items: BOGO Nachos and a Dr. Pepper.

Worst Scoreboard Feature: I normally do not mind the Hats Off to Heroes feature (a salute to people currently serving in the military, today the Coast Guard was represented), it's one of the things the new Browns have done well over the years. But, folks, it's a figurative Hats Off. As Lee Greenwood sings, most people applaud and everyone usually claps. But today, we actually had two guys saluting with their hats. Weird.

The Fuckin' Run: The Browns actually held another opponent to under 100 yards rushing, as Oakland had 88. The only reason this is getting better for the Browns is the pass defense has been deteriorating. Charlie Frye threw for 333 today.

Worst Stat: Defense gave up 389 yards.

2nd Worst Stat: Chris Jennings had two rushes for -4 yards. Are we done with him? Please.

Most Interesting Stat: Derek Anderson threw for 121 yards and the Browns still won.

Penalties: Oh, the Raiders were at their best today. Two guys got ejected, one for a headbutt, the other for bumping an official. They were offside on a Browns botched fake punt. They had a combo of three unnecessary roughness or unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on the same drive. In general, they made some stupid decisions.

The Browns won their third straight game for only the third time since their return. It's hard to judge what is going on. is it pride? Is it playing for their professional lives with a new regime on the horizon? Is it their opponents, a schizoid Steelers team, a terrible Chiefs team an a crazy Raiders team? Is it a sense of routine as they, for the most part, have been home since after Thanksgiving?

Whatever the reason, they are running the ball well, not committing the killer turnover, and doing just enough to win.

The Browns beat the Raiders, 23-9.

Meal of Links

If you do something once in a Blue Moon, get ready this week. There is a Blue Moon on New Year's Eve.

20 things that happen in one minute. Some interesting, but many depressing things happen.

How to save jet fuel? Fly like geese.

Top 10 Top 10 lists. With a Cleveland sports mention.

Here are the favorite foods at Trader Joe's for 2009. Candy Cane Joe-Joe's are #14. The best Canned Corn you'll find anywhere is #19. I tried the Pumpkin Pancake Mix (#17) this year for the first time and it is terrific.

Listen up, Ohioans. Cash for Clunkers, Appliance-Style will start in 2010.

Exercise Yard

As far as Urban Meyer quitting...er...taking a leave of absence as Florida coach because of stress. They all come back. Even Dick Vermiel as Exhibit A.

Visitor

None, on a cold Browns Sunday.