Browns hoping to finish strong

Even five wins would be an improvement over last season.
BEREA (AP) -- No NFL team enters a season with the goal of winning five games.
But for the Cleveland Browns, five wins would be a sign of improvement, however slight, in coach Romeo Crennel's first season.
The Browns are 4-9 and have lost three straight entering Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders, who share an identical record and losing streak.
It would be easy to say the teams have no reason to care anymore. Crennel, however, said there's plenty of motivation for his team.
"If we're able to go out there and get the victory, we'll say that we have made some progress this year," he said Wednesday. "I want them to treat this game as a playoff game, and that's what it really will be for the teams involved."
Finished 4-12 last year
The Browns went 4-12 last season as the team went into an injury-riddled tailspin and coach Butch Davis quit with five games left. Crennel has given the team a fresh outlook, but the changes haven't been evident in the win column.
"We'd like to finish up on a strong note here at the end so going into the off-season we have a good attitude and can look forward to next year," Crennel said. "It would be a good carry-over. When the guys walk out of this building at the end of the year -- make them feel better about working in the offseason and preparing for another year."
Kicker Phil Dawson says it doesn't matter what time of year it is or what their record is -- they just want to win another game.
"Coach is right," Dawson said. "We all want to walk out of here feeling like, you know what, we learned some things this season. We got better this season."
Managed to win late
The Browns have salvaged wins late in each of the last two seasons. They beat Houston with interim coach Terry Robiskie in the final week last season and in 2003 ended Cincinnati's playoff hopes with a road victory.
"Since I've been here, we've never quit and I have no reason to believe that this team will," Dawson said.
Rookie quarterback Charlie Frye has plenty to play for. He's trying to prove himself as the team's quarterback of the future. Frye, who has a sore right knee, is expected to play Sunday and is still looking for his first win as an NFL starter.
"I hope to get a win," Frye said. "I hope to get three wins. That's the goal every week."
Since Frye took over as quarterback, the Browns have lost two close games to teams likely headed to the playoffs -- Cincinnati and Jacksonville.
Three games remaining
After Oakland, the Browns have home games left against Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The Browns need a win in the last two weeks to avoid going 0-6 against their AFC North rivals for the first time.
Crennel knows there's another motivating factor besides wins entering the final three weeks -- his players' jobs.
It's what motivates linebacker Kenard Lang.
"You still get your check. Mr. [Randy] Lerner signs your check. You've got a job," Lang said. "Last year they brought in a whole new coaching staff. What's the next thing to go? It's a cycle. The coaching staff goes, then the players go."