Raiders hold off Browns to win 20-16 behind defense and newfound running game

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Raiders entered their matchup against the Browns with the NFL's worst running game and without star players Maxx Crosby and Davante Adams.

Plus, Las Vegas was coming off a loss to the previously winless Panthers that drew the ire of coach Antonio Pierce.

But the Raiders found a balanced running attack and overcame a Cleveland rally to win 20-16 on Sunday.

“Yeah, a lot of adversity this week, there's no doubt about it,” Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew said. “I was happy to see how we responded. Coming in Friday's practice, we kind of turned the corner and the overall mood of the team changed and everybody was feeling really it again.”

Cleveland drove to the Raiders 9-yard line with the chance to walk out with the victory, but Charles Snowden sacked Deshaun Watson on fourth down with 35 seconds left.

The Raiders (2-2) found enough offense without star wide receiver Adams (hamstring) and held the Browns to 241 yards without Crosby (ankle).

“We all had to take a step up,” Snowden said. “I have to thank Maxx. He was engaged all week coaching us up, being a very present figure.”

Alexander Mattison rushed for 60 yards for the Raiders, who totaled 152 on the ground and had five players with runs of at least 10 yards, their most since 2010 against the Seahawks. The Raiders got rushing touchdowns from receivers Tre Tucker and DJ Turner, becoming the first team since the Jets in 2010 to get two TD runs from wideouts.

Las Vegas hadn't rushed for more than 55 yards in a game this season.

“It felt really good to be able to operate on all cylinders like that to get the run game going,” Mattison said. “The O-line did an amazing job. We have to keep it going because we know what we're capable of.”

Minshew was 14 for 24 for 130 yards. He was sacked twice by reigning AP Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, who is dealing with an assortment of injuries.

Watson completed all eight passes in leading the Browns to a touchdown on an opening drive that lasted 9:22, but he finished 24 for 32 for 176 yards.

He entered the game having taken a league-high 16 sacks, and the Raiders took him down three times. Cleveland's offensive line was missing four starters for much of the game.

Although it's not yet October, the Browns (1-3) took a blow to their playoff chances. Only 42 teams since the 1970 merger have made the postseason after opening 1-3.

A week earlier, Las Vegas lost 36-22 to the Panthers, prompting Pierce to question some players' effort. Then the Raiders found themselves in a 10-0 hole in the first quarter.

Las Vegas scored the next 20 points to seemingly take control.

“I knew what group I had,” Pierce said. “That wasn't the team (last week) that we're accustomed to seeing. It was a trying week. It probably started with me and my comments and I apologized to (the players) for that. I don't want to be a distraction in that way.”

Zamir White fumbled on the first play of the fourth quarter, and Browns safety Rodney McLeod returned it for a 25-yard TD to give Cleveland life. Dustin Hopkins missed the extra point, leaving the Browns down 20-16.

“They had the momentum at that point and we really needed to step up and get a takeaway,” Garrett said. “That's what we were calling for in the huddle, and we answered the bell. That was an adrenaline shot.”

Cleveland appeared to take the lead on an 82-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Amari Cooper, but backup center Nick Harris was called for holding, and the Browns eventually punted.

On their last-gasp drive, with the Browns forced to go for the touchdown, Watson couldn't attempt a pass on the decisive play.

Browns: C Ethan Pocic (ankle) went into the locker room in the first quarter, returned in the third and then left again. .... Cleveland was already missing RG Wyatt Teller (knee) and OTs Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) and Jack Conklin (hamstring). ... LB Jordan Hicks (elbow) left in the second quarter. ... TE David Njoku (ankle) did not play.

Raiders: LB Divine Deablo (oblique), T Thayer Munford (knee/ankle), CB Decamerion Richardson (hamstring) and TE Michael Mayer (personal reasons) did not play. ... Return specialist Tyreik McAllister (shoulder) was hurt in the fourth quarter.

Browns: At Washington next Sunday, the second of a three-game trip.

Raiders: At Denver next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Cleveland Browns tight end Blake Whiteheart, right, celebrates his touchdown with teammate tight end Jordan Akins during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew hands off to running back Zamir White during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scrambles during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew celebrates after the Raiders defeated the Cleveland Browns during in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden, center, celebrates after sacking Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, below left, during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) is sacked by Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Cleveland Browns safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) celebrates with teammates and fans after scoring a touchdown off a fumble recovery during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyreik McAllister, celebrates a touchdown by teammate wide receiver DJ Turner during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao celebrates after a sack of Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden, center, celebrates after sacking Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, left, during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris poked at Republican Donald Trump during a fancy fundraiser on Sunday, telling donors that as she campaigns around the country her “crowds are pretty big" — before heading to Nevada for a rally at the same venue where the GOP nominee appeared two weeks ago.

During the presidential debate, Harris appeared to get under Trump's skin when she said people were leaving his rallies early because of his rambling speeches. And she's kept it up on the campaign trail.

She also has moved into what Trump considers his terrain — immigration — with a Friday visit to the border town of Douglas, Arizona. It was her first trip to the U.S.-Mexico border since taking over for President Joe Biden atop the Democratic presidential ticket.

Harris’ four-day West Coast trip has been crafted with dual purposes: She was opening and closing with stops in Sun Belt battlegrounds — Arizona and Nevada — where the vice president is trying to shore up support as Trump pounds her relentlessly over illegal migration. And her mid-stay in California was devoted to hauling in campaign contributions from donors in her blue home state.

Harris’ border visit in Arizona seemed to irk Trump. The GOP leader has spent two days railing about the vice president during his rallies, upping his personal attacks against her, claiming she was responsible for a border “invasion,” and stirring up unfounded fears that she’d usher in lawlessness if elected.

Harris gave the same response she usually does to his insults, even despite Trump calling her “mentally impaired.”

“We just see the same old tired show from the same old tired playbook,” she told a Los Angeles crowd of donors, some who shouted “boring!” in response.

Harris has warned the race is as close as it could possibly be, a “margin-of-error” race. But on Sunday in Los Angeles, she added: “The election is here and let me be clear. We are going to win.”

The fundraiser was full of celebrities: Stevie Wonder, Kegan-Michael Key, Sterling K. Brown, Demi Lovato, Jessica Alba and Lili Tomlin. Performing for the crowd: Halle Bailey and Alanis Morissette.

The vice president is continuing to notch Republican support. Former Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake became the latest to endorse her. He credited Harris with a “fine character and love of country” and said he wants a president who does not treat political adversaries as enemies or try to subvert the will of voters.

Flake, a longtime critic of the former president, joins a list of anti-Trump Republicans who have said they will vote for the Democratic ticket, including Dick Cheney, the deeply conservative former vice president, and his daughter, Liz.

But Maryland Senate candidate Larry Hogan, a former Republican governor and a sharp critic of Trump, said Harris has yet to earn his vote, though Trump won't get it.

In Nevada, where Harris was holding a rally Sunday night, all voters automatically receive ballots by mail unless they opt out — a pandemic-era change that was set in state law. That means most ballots could start going out in a matter of weeks.

Harris will be back in Las Vegas on Oct. 10 for a town hall with Hispanic voters. Both she and Trump have campaigned frequently in the city, highlighting the critical role that Nevada's six electoral votes could play in deciding an election expected to be exceedingly close.

Trump held his own Las Vegas rally on Sept. 13 at the Expo World Market Center, where Harris was to speak on Sunday. She's also held events at the same venues that Trump used in Milwaukee, Atlanta and suburban Phoenix.

During a campaign stop in Las Vegas in June, Trump promised to eliminate taxes on tips received by waiters, hotel workers and thousands of other service industry employees. Harris used her own Las Vegas rally in August to make the same promise.

Fully doing away with federal taxes on tips would probably require an act of Congress. Still, Nevada's Culinary Union, which represents 60,000 hospitality workers in Las Vegas and Reno, has endorsed Harris.

Ted Pappageorge, the culinary union's secretary-treasurer, said the difference between the dueling no-taxes-on-tips proposals is that Harris has also pledged to tackle what his union calls “sub-minimum wage," where employers pay service industry workers small salaries and meet minimum wage thresholds by expecting employees to supplement those with tips.

“That shows us she's serious,” Pappageorge said.

Long reported from Washington.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she arrives in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)