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First off, here are a few thoughts regarding the Browns returning from their bye week:

1.) Right now, the Browns aren't a good team. They aren't a bad team, either. They are a young team with young playmakers who are trying to grow up in a hurry. That usually is not a recipe for success. Keep in mind that a majority of their major contributors are Heckert's draft picks. Look at the very best teams in football year after year: they win with established veterans that mesh with hungry young role-players. The Ravens and the Patriots aren't loaded with first and second year players starting games. They have a few here and there, and the play of the veterans can mask the deficiencies of the youngsters. The Browns don't have that yet. They could, but not yet.

2.) Colt McCoy is not the second coming of Joe Montana. He's Colt McCoy, his own man, and we need to stop comparing him to every other great undersized quarterback. He needs to manage the game, not make mistakes, and lead the team down the field when they need him. He does not need to throw 60 times a game, that's for sure.

3.) They're 2-2 right now. 8-8 is doable, and something to shoot for. On paper, they have a lot of winnable games left on the schedule, but every game is a winnable game in the NFL. The games against Saints and the Patriots last year proved that. We can beat the Steelers and the Ravens, but we probably won't. It still doesn't mean we can't. So, who knows, maybe we could do better than a .500 record.

Now onto the keys to victory for Sunday's game:

1.) Control the emotional tide in Oakland: This is the first game in Oakland since the death of Al Davis. There will be plenty of pre-game hoopla both in the Bay Area and nationally. The fans will be begging for a winner to salute their fallen leader. The Browns need to somehow find a way to get out to an early lead that can quiet the crowd. Easier said than done, so far this year.

2.) Sooner or later, they'll stop the run: It hasn't happened yet, but the Browns supposedly drafted Taylor not just for his pass rush, but for his run stopping ability. Someone has to keep McFadden under 80 yards. Every single starting back they've faced this year has gotten off on them, and McFadden is having the best year of any of them, including Chris Johnson.

3.) Winning cures all: We won two in a row, and we were on top of the world. Then, we get blown out by the Titans, and the team sucks. Peyton Hillis drama, Marcus Benard and his Can-Am accident (shades of Delonte West, anyone?), no top receiver, not enough snaps for Evan Moore, yada yada yada. Play football. Win a game in an extremely hostile environment, and leave the other team as the one who questions everything for a week. We'll see if it happens.

Final prognosis: I just have a feeling that Hillis is going to get the best of his former Razorback teammate Darren McFadden. Two touchdowns for Hillis, and the Browns win 21-13.