An extra three days off should help Browns
By STEVE KING
Who would have ever thought that a Thursday – not a Sunday or even a Monday night — would be one of the most important days in the history of the expansion-era Browns?
But that’s exactly the case, and it benefits the Browns greatly – or at least it should, by all reasonable expectations — as they get ready to play at Oakland against the Raiders on Sunday.
Advertisement: Browns Win!
The Browns, of course, won their first game in 635 days when they came from behind to defeat the New York Jets 21-17 two Thursday nights ago on national television at FirstEnergy Stadium.
As you might expect, that started a celebration that lasted not just the rest of that night and into the next morning, but several days beyond that, right through the weekend and even into the first day or two of last week.
Indeed, there was a lot of horrible stuff that had to be exorcised, and considerable time was needed for that to happen.
But that win will not mean nearly as much if the Browns (1-1-1) don’t follow it up with a victory over the struggling Raiders (0-3).
Now, if that win over the Jets had occurred last Sunday, then I would be afraid – extremely afraid – that the euphoria from it would not have dissipated fast enough for the Browns to get ready – emotionally, mentally and physically – to play a game a week later. In fact, as I think about it more, I’m almost certain it wouldn’t ha.
But with the fact that the Browns have had three extra days, giving them an entire week and a half, to get it out of their system and come back down to earth, I think they’ll be ready to go. I think they’ll be prepared and focused.
It won’t be easy – it never is while playing on the West Coast, especially against a team as desperate for a win as the Raiders – but I think they can, and will, get the job done.
You might say that the time is right for it.
