Raiders Opinion: Trip To The DawgPound

 On Monday, December 20^th, I embarked from my Metro Detroit residence on a venture to Cleveland for the Raiders rescheduled games against the Browns. Upon my arrival, I was shocked to see Browns fans significantly outnumber the typically well-traveling Raiders fans. I was seated across the stadium from the Dawg Pound (conveniently the only portion of the stadium shielded by the Lake Erie wind gusts), but was still outnumbered by what felt like a 15:1 ratio of Browns fans.

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Enemy Territory

From the moment I was seated, I was reminded of what it was like to be a part of the masses back in Oakland; but now I stood alone, drowning in a sea of detesting orange and brown. Other than the severely overserved Browns fan a few seats away, the first half went off without a hitch, and the Raiders secured a 10-point lead.

Loud Locals

However, as the temperature dropped heading into the second half, the blood-alcohol content rose from those around me. Chants of “(Expletive) the Raiders” and the never-ending wave of “Chubb! Chubb! Chubb!” calls enveloped the stadium. Every decent play performed by the home team led to a st adium of various barking noises.

Intense Finish

Heading into the fourth, the lead change as the Browns powered ahead 14-13 inspired those seated behind me to direct their barking noises directly into my ears. My last road Raiders game, Indianapolis, had not prepared me for that, but a lifetime of knowing how ruthless RaiderNation can be, I expected nothing less.

Cleveland Rocked

The cheers grew as Derek Carr launched a deep ball just past the outstretched hands of DeSean Jackson, falling into the aptly-named Greedy Williams’ hands for what the home fans believed to be the game-sealing interception. With a little over three minutes left in the game, the “Chubb” chants rained down and I began to wonder if I should switch my focus to making it out of the stadium before the inebriated mob began its departure as well.

Growing Quiet

Never being one to quit, and knowing how the Carr-diac kids operate, I stuck it out. I heard the cheers dwindle more and more as the Raiders stopped the Browns’ glorified Chubb on a third-down rush. The increasing silence was addictive as the Browns fans watched with bated breath as Carr and the Raiders knocked off yards, moving ever closer to Daniel Carlson’s range.

Cleveland Sobs

Upon the making of his “second” field goal at the buzzer, the defeated silence lasted mere seconds as the few and proud Raiders fans cheered, avenging the three hours of barking that had been laid upon them.  Also, as a Silver and Black tradition, the heavenly “Raaaaaiiiddeeerrrsss” filled the corridors of FirstEnergy Stadium, and I felt at home. I had not known Cleveland fans had a reputation of being rough, but I am grateful for this experience. Cheers to you Cleveland, thanks for the win.