Finally, Browns get a little lucky

Rookie quarterback Charlie Frye has given the team a reason to believe.
BEREA (AP) -- On a rainy, sloppy, silver-and-black afternoon on the edge of the Black Hole and its angry, undesirable denizens, Browns coach Romeo Crennel found an eye-pleasing sight.
It was on the scoreboard: Cleveland 9, Oakland 7.
"We know it wasn't pretty," Crennel said. "They don't count pretty. They just count wins and losses. So it's really beautiful to me."
One week after losing on a field goal on the game's final play at Cincinnati, the Browns (5-9) blocked a late field goal by the Raiders, benefited from a fumble being overturned by instant replay in the final minute and watched as Phil Dawson's 37-yard kick sailed through the uprights as time expired.
The victory was just Cleveland's second on the road this season, and the club's first since Week 2 at Green Bay. But what made this one a little extra special was that it came when it appeared the Browns were on their way to another painful loss -- like so many others they've experienced since 1999.
"The guys hung in there," Crennel said.
Playing through pain
None of the Browns "hung in" more than rookie quarterback Charlie Frye, who left the Bay Area with bruised ribs and assorted bumps from head to toe. Frye, showing poise and grit in his third career start, finished 21-of-31 for 198 yards and one interception.
But on Cleveland's drive to set up Dawson's game-winning kick, which started after Alvin McKinley blocked Sebastian Janikowski's field-goal try with 3:19 left, Frye went 4-of-5 for 32 yards.
On a second-and-12 play with 1:09 remaining, Frye took a shotgun snap, rolled right and rifled a 12-yard pass to wide receiver Frisman Jackson, who managed to keep both feet down while balancing on Oakland's sideline.
Frye has shown steady improvement each week, giving Crennel more justification for playing him ahead of veteran Trent Dilfer.
"The young quarterback," Crennel said, referring to Frye, "continues to show he can handle the tests we are throwing at him, and the opponents are throwing at him. After he got knocked down, he got back up and made plays."
Frye wasn't available to reporters on Monday as Crennel gave his players the day off following the trip back from the West Coast. Frye, though, came in for treatment on his aching body, which absorbed several big-time hits, including a nasty shot to the ribs from blitzing linebacker Danny Clark.
"He's sore, but I don't think it's anything major," said Crennel, who would only commit to Frye for Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Major injury
The Browns did suffer one major injury as center Jeff Faine tore a biceps muscle and will miss the final two games. Once he is placed on injured reserve, Faine, who may need surgery, will have spent the end of his three seasons in the NFL on the injured list.
Crennel, however, was pleased with Faine's production and isn't concerned about the 24-year-old's history of injuries.
"He has only finished one year on IR with me," Crennel said. "We expect him to come back and be fine."
Like his predecessors Chris Palmer and Butch Davis, Crennel has had to endure his share of costly injuries in his first season as Cleveland's coach. But the bad luck that has haunted the Browns finally turned their way in the final minute.
When Reuben Droughns fumbled at the Oakland 19 and it was recovered by the Raiders with 43 seconds left, it looked as if the Browns were doomed. As referee Mike Carey peered under the hood of the sideline video monitor to watch several replays, Crennel tried to stay positive.
"You just kind of hold your breath until they decide," he said. "But it looked like his knee was on the ground."
Carey agreed, the Browns kept possession, and Frye took a knee on Cleveland's next play to set up Dawson's game-winning field goal.
With their fifth victory, the Browns have surpassed last year's win total and have a legitimate shot at getting their first in the AFC North with upcoming games against the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.
Crennel said the next two weeks could be a peek at his club's future.
"Mentally, this win helps lift us up a little bit," he said. "It could be a lead in to how we can compete within the division."