The Associated Press

BEREA, Ohio - One day after bumbling their way to a humiliating home loss to the previously winless Cincinnati Bengals, the Cleveland Browns had their team photo taken Monday.

"Great day, a lot of smiles," guard Shaun O'Hara said sarcastically. "It was like a funeral."

Frustrated by another bad loss, the Browns (1-3) are regrouping following Sunday's 21-14 disaster. They were sloppy, committing a season-high 11 penalties for 101 yards. They couldn't run the ball effectively on offense. And Cleveland's defense made Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna look like Johnny Unitas.

With the loss, the Browns fell to 0-2 at home this season. They've gone just 3-9 in their last 12 home games and, since returning to the league in 1999, Cleveland is 9-25 at Browns Stadium.

It's become a case of home-field disadvantage.

On Sunday, the Browns held their pregame warmup on the east end of the stadium for the first time, hoping to change their home-field jinx. No luck.

They played so poorly that eternally optimistic coach Butch Davis didn't even bother putting his usual positive day-after spin on things in his weekly news conference.

"We looked at the film thoroughly," Davis said. "Clearly, the performance we had yesterday in several areas was unacceptable."

The postgame wasn't much better.

As they left the field, quarterback Tim Couch and offensive tackle Ryan Tucker confronted angry Browns fans who profanely berated the players on their way to the locker room.

Couch, who has had a rocky relationship with Cleveland fans the past few years, threw an interception in the final minute while trying to rally the Browns.

The embattled QB yelled back at a heckler, challenging him to come down on the field before being pulled away and led to the locker room by offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.

"We're frustrated," Davis said. "The team wants to play better. It's understandable that the fans are frustrated. These guys all have high expectations of their own abilities to play and to perform. No one is more frustrated than the players and the coaches."

In losing three of their first four, the Browns are putting themselves in the same hole as last season, when they started 2-4 before recovering to make the playoffs.

Davis thinks one reason for the slow start may be his players are putting too much pressure on themselves.

"One of the things that has to change is that they have to quit playing every play like it's the end of the season," Davis said. "Play hard. Play light's out, and when the play is over, rehuddle and don't allow that funk. If it's a bad play, it's a bad play.

"Bad things sometimes happen when you try too hard."

Coming up for the Browns

Sunday	at Pittsburgh (2-2)
Oct. 12	Oakland (2-2)
Oct. 19	San Diego (0-4)

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