PHILADELPHIA: Browns center Cameron Erving hasn’t snapped out of it yet.
The trouble Erving had with shotgun snaps during training camp and the preseason carried over to Sunday’s regular-season opener and created the turning point in the Browns’ 29-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
On first-and-10 at the Browns’ 15-yard line, Erving snapped the ball over quarterback Robert Griffin III’s head. It rolled out the back of the end zone for a safety to give the Eagles a 15-10 lead and all of the momentum with 10:49 left in the third quarter.
“That’s something that I’ve got to live with and I’ve got to deal with,” said Erving, a first-round pick in last year’s draft. “It definitely took a toll on my team’s momentum.”
The Eagles took advantage of the momentum swing during the next series when rookie quarterback Carson Wentz connected with wide receiver Nelson Agholor for a 35-yard touchdown, allowing them to go ahead 22-10 with 6:17 left in the third quarter. The Browns never threatened again.
“That is a concern if it goes over the quarterback’s head,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said. “We can’t do that, obviously. We have to get better at that. You can’t have one. I think we all know that. But Cam will get better, we will get better and there is no question about that.”
It isn’t the way Erving wanted to be remembered for his first NFL regular-season start at center. He started four games at guard last season because of injuries and struggled mightily.
“It’s unacceptable,” Erving said of the high snap. “I can’t let that happen.”
Much respect
Several Browns players commended Griffin for finishing the game after he collided with cornerback Jalen Mills and suffered a sprained shoulder as he ran out of bounds with 3:41 left.
“He’s our leader, our captain,” wide receiver Terrelle Pryor said. “That’s why we picked him. He’s a tough guy, and we respect him.”
Tight end Gary Barnidge blocked Mills a split-second before he braced for Griffin on the sideline. Griffin said Mills surprised him.
“He kind of flashed up on me at the last second,” Griffin said, “and I tried to protect myself.”
Griffin returned to the game for the offense’s next (and final) series after a spirited conversation with medical personnel on the sideline.
“We talked and came to a conclusion,” Griffin said, “and everybody was on board.”
Griffin received a handshake and hug from head of football operations Sashi Brown in the locker room after the game, then a phone call from his mother during a news conference.
“It’s my mother,” Griffin said after silencing the phone. “She’s really worried about me.”
Tipped and picked
Griffin’s pass intended for rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman on second-and-5 at the Eagles’ 28 was tipped by middle linebacker Jordan Hicks, then deflected off cornerback Nolan Carroll before safety Rodney McLeod intercepted it at the 16 with 3:43 left in the second quarter.
“Can’t turn the ball over in the scoring zone,” Jackson said. “That reared its ugly head again.”
Harsh critic
Pryor set career highs with three catches for 68 yards. His 44-yard grab set up the Browns’ lone touchdown, running back Isaiah Crowell’s 2-yard rushing TD with 9:11 left in the second quarter.
“There’s so much more I could have done,” Pryor said. “I put the loss on my shoulders.”
For example, Pryor bobbled the ball on his 13-yard catch midway through the second quarter and thought “if I would have caught it clean, that’s a touchdown.”
Close call
Jackson thought Crowell ran out of bounds with the ball at the Eagles’ 42 with time left on the clock late in the second quarter, but the officials disagreed and ended the first half.
“Obviously, I can’t challenge it,” Jackson said. “There was nothing I can do about it.”
Special guest
Vice President Joe Biden accompanied 120 first responders and several Browns and Eagles players in holding the American flag during the national anthem on the 15th anniversary of 9/11.
When the Browns ran onto the field before the game, left tackle Joe Thomas carried a flag from the Ohio Fallen Heroes Memorial. The Cincinnati Bengals did the same before their game.