Hot Topic and Player Notes

A double-reverse? Not likely, but with the Oakland Raiders, who knows? In the wake of a 9-7 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at McAfee Coliseum, coach Norv Turner wasn't of a mind to disclose his starting quarterback for Oakland's Christmas Eve game against the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field.

"I'm not going to get into that. I would imagine that's the way we'll go, but we'll look at it," Turner said. "We're struggling as an offensive football team. There are things that make us struggle. Sometimes it's Kerry (Collins), sometimes it's other things that aren't getting done."

Collins has avoided making waves all season. Sunday wasn't any different.

"I'm a professional and I've been around this game for a long time," sad Collins, who started the season's first 12 games, sat out against the Jets, then returned Sunday against Cleveland. "I get ready to play regardless of the situation, and I'm always ready to go. I approach every week the same way."

A week after Marques Tuiasosopo led the Raiders to one touchdown in a 26-10 loss to the Jets, Collins led the Raiders to one touchdown in the loss to the Browns.

Collins completed 14 of 30 passes for 132 yards with one interception and a 28-yard touchdown toss to Randy Moss.

He finished with a 56.5 passer rating, which was his second lowest of the year, although that number took a dive in part because wide receiver Jerry Porter let a perfect short pass bounce off his hands and into the hands of Cleveland cornerback Leigh Bodden.

Considering the events leading up to the Collins-for-Tuiasosopo switch and then the flip-flop the other way, it's difficult to read too much into Turner's reaction Sunday.

When Turner named Tuiasosopo the starter heading into the Jets game, he said it was because Tuiasosopo's mobility gave the Raiders the best chance at victory.

When Turner switched back to Collins, he said it was because Collins gave the Raiders the best chance of victory.

The reversal on Tuiasosopo came as a surprise, given that Turner said in the aftermath of the Jets game that he expected Tuiasosopo to start against Cleveland.

It wasn't until an hour after his Monday press briefing that Turner sent word through his media relations staff that the position was "under evaluation."

There was speculation that the change was because Turner was given word by Al Davis to reinstate Collins. Turner said it was his call.

Given all the confusion, Turner wasn't about to make any grand proclamations following the Browns loss.

"I was asked that question last week and I'm not going to get into that," Turner said when pressed. "Just like we've done with a number of positions, we'll look at it."

Running back LaMont Jordan said he could function with either one.

"It makes no difference," Jordan said.

REPLAY

The Raiders held an opponent without a touchdown for the first time since shutting out the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2002 season finale, but they still lost 9-7 to the Cleveland Browns at McAfee Coliseum.

There was just one touchdown in the game -- a 28-yard touchdown pass from Kerry Collins to Randy Moss with 1:16 left in the first quarter.

Oakland immediately gave back some of that with a 46-yard kickoff return by Joshua Cribbs, which helped set up a 44-yard field goal by Phil Dawson before halftime.

Dawson added field goals of 24 and 37 yards in the second half, the last one coming as time expired after a Reuben Droughns fumble was overturned on instant replay.

PLAYER NOTES

--TE Courtney Anderson suffered a knee injury Sunday that coach Norv Turner said could be serious in nature. The closest thing the Raiders have to a prototype tight end is Zeron Flemister, who was inactive. Randal Williams, who plays tight end in some sets, is a slender 220 pounds and is a converted wide receiver.

--CB Fabian Washington hit his knee on the helmet of Cleveland quarterback Charlie Frye. He left in the first quarter, attempted to come back twice, then didn't play at all in the second half.

--CB Stanford Routt, a rookie second-round draft pick, subbed for Fabian Washington (knee) and had his best game as a Raider with two pass deflections and a sack against Cleveland.

--DB Renaldo Hill had his first interception as a Raider on Sunday against Cleveland and the ninth of his career. It was the fourth interception of the season for the Raiders, an NFL low.

--C/G Jake Grove was inactive against Cleveland with a sore right knee, with Brad Badger taking over as the starting left guard.

--RB LaMont Jordan rushed for a career-high 132 yards on 25 carries against Cleveland and has 272 carries for 1,025 yards.

--PK Sebastian Janikowski missed a 51-yard field-goal attempt and had a 46-yarder blocked against Cleveland. Janikowski is now 19-for-29, his most missed field-goal attempts since missing 10 as a rookie.

--DE Derrick Burgess had a sack of Cleveland QB Charlie Frye, his 14th of the season. The club record is 15.5, set by Sean Jones in 1986.