5 reasons Cleveland Browns will upset the Oakland Raiders

Special teams on even playing field

The Cleveland Browns improved their special teams, for at least one week, with the play of rookie Greg Joseph, who made three kicks during his debut against the Jets Thursday night.

Some of his kicks caused more than few hearts to skip a beat, but none-the-less, Joseph still got the ball through the uprights.

On the Raiders’ sideline, Oakland is on its third kicker since training camp.

Former Buckeye Mike Nujent just went down with a hip injury and Oakland worked out five kickers before green lighting Kansas State free agent Matthew McCrane.

The Browns also have the advantage with steady long snapper Charlie Hewitt. The Raiders had to start a rookie named Trent Sieg after Andrew DePaola tore his ACL in Week 1.

The Browns meanwhile, have to get through a game clean, with no blocked punt or missed kicks. Special teams, and more precisely, missed kicks, have already cost this team two games this season.

Cleveland’s also got to get rid of those yellow flags on punt returns. It seems like the Browns are blocking someone in the back on every single punt attempt, costing the team yards.

Look, nobody notices special teams until there are mess ups, and the Raiders are employing some newbies at the position. The Browns might actually get the advantage here for once.