CLEVELAND — The last time the Browns preseason opener was delayed by lightning, the year was 2005, Romeo Crennel was making his debut as a head coach and fans were still trying to recover from the Butch Davis years.
In that atmosphere, the storm could only be viewed as a bad omen.
Three years later, a dramatic lightning show, torrential downpour and one-hour delay in the first quarter Thursday night couldn’t dampen enthusiasm as the 2008 season got under way.
Neither could a 24-20 loss to the New York Jets.
While the rest of the sporting world — at least the television networks — was more interested in the Brett Favre soap opera stop at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Browns fans were anxious to get a look at their team.
They liked what they saw for three-plus quarters, until the Jets hit a 70-yard touchdown pass and 62-yard punt return to pull out a win. Browns third-string quarterback Ken Dorsey tried to lead the winning drive, but failed three times, the last ending on a fourth-down incompletion from the 5-yard line on the final play of the game.
“We did some good things and some bad things,” Crennel said. “Ultimately we didn’t do enough to win the game. We needed to make a play at the end and didn’t make it.”
The rain and lightning came with 4:11 left in the first quarter, sending the Browns starters to the showers a little earlier than expected. But not before they took a 7-0 lead after a series for each team.
Shaun Rogers, the biggest acquisition of the offseason, started at nose tackle and made the first tackle on Thomas Jones’ 3-yard run over right guard. The Jets picked up two first downs and moved to the Cleveland 37-yard line, but quarterback Kellen Clemens was stuffed on a sneak on fourth-and-1.
“The run defense showed signs of improvement,” Crennel said.
The Browns offense wasted little time picking up where it left off last season.
Jamal Lewis continued to show the quickness he brought to training camp, rushing for 11 yards over left guard on the first play. Quarterback Derek Anderson hit new receiver Donte Stallworth on a slant for 8 yards, then on an out for 6 yards and a first down.
Braylon Edwards ran by Justin Miller on a double move as Anderson pump-faked, and Miller’s only option was to grab Edwards. The 25-yard pass interference took the ball to the 13-yard line, and Anderson scrambled up the middle and dived headfirst for 6 yards on third-and-6.
Then came the catch of the day.
On second-and-goal from the 2, Anderson took a three-step drop, turned to his right and delivered a dart toward the sideline. Edwards stopped on a dime and turned just in time to grab the ball in his left arm. He cradled the ball in one arm and got both feet inbounds for the touchdown.
“It was a nice catch,” Stallworth said. “He’s been used to doing that all preseason.”
Edwards quickly sprang to his feet and did a jumping high-five with Anderson, who was 4-for-5 for 20 yards and a 122.9 rating.
After the rain delay and a Brady Quinn interception, the Jets tied it at 7 with a 71-yard touchdown pass from Brett Ratliff to David Clowney on a post. Clowney beat rookie cornerback A.J. Davis, who got no help from safety Nick Sorensen, who bit on the play-fake.
Quinn, who was cheered loudly when he entered the game, got the lead right back with a nine-play, 65-yard drive that consumed 4:55.
Quinn ducked out of a sack and scrambled 11 yards on third-and-3. He then hit running back Jason Wright for 12 yards, tight end Brad Cieslak for 7 and a sliding Travis Wilson for 18 on a pretty skinny post to the 6-yard line. Wright capped the drive with a 1-yard plunge.
“It had been awhile,” said Quinn, who hadn’t played more than a series since last preseason. “It felt good. It felt like it was supposed to feel.”
Quinn was lifted with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter and finished 13-for-17 for 133 yards, a 73.9 rating and 10 points. His interception was a slant for Syndric Steptoe that bounced off Steptoe’s outstretched hand and into the arms of linebacker Eric Barton.
The Jets cut the lead to 20-17 with 12:05 left in the game with Ratliff’s second deep strike of the day — a bad sign for the rookie cornerbacks fighting to make the Cleveland roster.
This time, Clowney streaked past Mil’Von James down the sideline and safety Steve Cargile didn’t get over in time to prevent the 70-yard touchdown.
The game came to a stop on the ensuing kickoff, as Jets tight end J.J. Schable lay on the field after colliding helmet-to-helmet with Browns offensive lineman Cliff Louis. Both teams knelt on the field as Schable was attended to by medical personnel.
He gave a thumbs-up as he was wheeled off the field on a stretcher with his neck held in place. Louis was in a neck brace after the game, but Crennel said the team suffered no major injuries.
The Jets took a 24-20 lead on rookie cornerback Dwight Lowery’s 62-yard punt return for a touchdown with 10:02 left. He started up the left sideline, reversed field and outran punter Dave Zastudil.
Rookie tight end Martin Rucker led the Browns with five catches for 70 yards.
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

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