CLEVELAND — For those unfamiliar with “Monday Night Football” — it has been five looooong years since the Browns played on the unique stage — Hank Williams Jr. opens every telecast by screaming: Are you ready for some football?
When it comes to the Browns’ matchup with the Giants tonight on ESPN, he should tweak the lyrics: Are you ready to save your season?
The Browns are 1-3, and the lone win was an ugly come-from-behind effort against the winless Bengals. They are 7½-point underdogs to the 4-0 Giants. The offense ranks last in the league, and fans are fed up with quarterback Derek Anderson, who’s thrown twice as many interceptions (six) as touchdowns (three).
While the odds appeared stacked against Cleveland tonight, and for the rest of the year, those within the locker room see it differently.
“It could definitely turn the season around to beat the Super Bowl champs and do it on national television,” linebacker Andra Davis said.
The Browns and Giants finished the 2007 regular season with 10-6 records. The Browns missed the playoffs in a tiebreaker, while the Giants made it as an NFC wild card, won three road games and shocked the unbeaten Patriots in the Super Bowl.
Yet the schedule-makers gave the Browns five prime-time games in 2008, including three Monday nighters, and the Giants four. After a month of the regular season, the Giants are playing like a team with something to prove, while the Browns have yet to show anyone that they’re anything but the same old also-rans.
They’re 0-2 at home, including a 10-6 loss to Pittsburgh in prime time. Long snapper Ryan Pontbriand is the only one of the six Pro Bowlers whose performance hasn’t fallen off drastically. And the playoff expectations suddenly seem laughable.
The disintegration started Aug. 18 on a Monday night in the preseason when the Giants humbled the Browns while taking a 30-3 lead.
“It gave the world a false sense,” Davis said. “It’s an opportunity for guys to showcase what Cleveland Browns football is about.”
“We’ve been getting our butts kicked in prime-time games,” receiver Braylon Edwards said. “We have a lot to prove to the outside world as well as to ourselves.”
The Browns are 17-24 in prime time, including 13-12 on Monday night. They are 10-8 at home on Monday night, and 5-1 versus NFC teams. The only loss came in the Browns’ last Monday nighter, 26-20 to the Rams in 2003.
“You don’t want to go out there and lay an egg, and we’ve done it a few times,” Anderson said. “It’s a great opportunity for us. I feel wholeheartedly everybody’s going to be prepared and ready to go.”
The Browns will need to be at the top of their game to compete tonight. The Giants have the greatest yardage and point differentials in the NFL. They rank No. 1 in scoring offense, yardage offense and rushing offense. Their defense isn’t too shabby, either, ranking third.
“They’re a disciplined, solid, sound football team, so that’s why they’re No. 1 and undefeated,” coach Romeo Crennel said. “They’re probably the best team in the NFL right now.”
The Giants have won 12 straight away from the Meadowlands, including the neutral-site Super Bowl. The 11 road wins in a row match the second-longest streak in NFL history, behind San Francisco’s 19 straight from 1988-90.
“We know that they’re probably not too concerned about coming up here to Cleveland to play, but we’re going to try to get ready and give them some concern,” Crennel said.
The Browns finished 2007 with seven straight wins on the lakefront, but are still looking to break through in 2008. The fans will surely be amped for a prime-time meeting with the champs, but they could also turn quickly — especially on Anderson — if things don’t go well early.
However, the Browns say it’s too early to give up on them, and they’re using the 2007 Giants as Exhibit A. New York lost its first two games and needed a second-half rally and goal-line stand to avoid an 0-3 start.
“The way they started and the way they finished gives everybody hope,” linebacker D’Qwell Jackson said.
If the Browns could pull the shocker, it would restore hope in Browns Town and bring the Browns full circle from the preseason debacle in New Jersey.
“Everybody’s going to be watching. The lights are on,” Jackson said. “If you want to proclaim yourself as a superstar or that big-time player, Monday is the time to do it.”
And save the season.
“It’s going to be a battle,” special teamer Joshua Cribbs said. “We’re going to be up for it.”

Winslow out of hospital, but doubtful for game

Tight end Kellen Winslow was released from the Cleveland Clinic on Sunday, but was downgraded to doubtful for tonight’s game with the New York Giants, the team announced.
Winslow was admitted to the hospital Thursday with an undisclosed illness.
Steve Heiden would start in his place, and Darnell Dinkins would be used in two-tight end formations.
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

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