PHILADELPHIA - The Browns' offense hoped for something good to happen in Thursday night's preseason opener. Result: Cleveland came within 2:57 of being shut out by the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.

If the preseason is time to work out the kinks, it's good there are three more games. The Browns' starters didn't fall all over themselves, but they didn't give themselves much to hang their hats on either in a 20-7 defeat.

The Browns' only score came on Lang Campbell's 8-yard pass to rookie Jerome Harrison. Other than that 80-yard drive, put it this way: Dave Zastudil had five punts in the first half, when the Browns played their first and second units. And that's too many.

The first-team offense had moments, but overall gained just 39 yards in 10 plays.

``Once again, we had too many penalties (five in the first half) and put ourselves in bad situations,'' coach Romeo Crennel said. ``We will have to improve on that.''

There was an injury downer for the Browns as well: Cornerback Gary Baxter started despite missing the last few days of practice with a knee strain. But he left the game with a shoulder problem, Crennel said.

A year ago, Baxter's season ended early when he tore his right pectoral muscle.

While the Browns did little on offense, the Eagles scored twice in the third quarter.

Jeff Garcia -- yes, the same one -- took advantage of the Browns' backups to lead the Eagles on two scoring drives.

For the Browns, Charlie Frye didn't embarrass himself at quarterback, but didn't do a lot to establish himself either. And backups Ken Dorsey and Derek Anderson did less.

A team that needed an offensive spark got next to nothing going until Campbell's late scoring drive.

The best news was that center Alonzo Ephraim wasn't noticed. Centers usually are noticed when they make mistakes. But Ephraim, who started after being signed July 29, acquitted himself fairly well.

And Frye got through his first start in one piece.

Frye completed 4-of-7 passes for 23 yards and drew the Eagles offside on the Browns' first third down of the game.

Frye's completions were for 7, 6, 6 and 4 yards.

He was not able to convert a third down when the Browns ran a play (the only conversion was on a penalty), but appeared comfortable.

Reuben Droughns ran well and Kellen Winslow saw his first action, but the starters were not able to score in their two possessions.

And the two tackles trying to replace Ryan Tucker both struggled.

Nat Dorsey could not handle Darren Howard, and Kirk Chambers gave up a sack to Jerome McDougle and seemed to miss an assignment on Jevon Kearse.

The flip side was that the Browns' defense did acceptably well -- especially when the starters were in.

Donovan McNabb was able to complete 7-of-9 for 78 yards, but 33 of those came on a nice throw down the sidelines to Hank Baskett that gave the Eagles first-and-goal at the 2-yard line.

Browns safety Brodney Pool saved a touchdown on first down, and the defense held the Eagles to a field goal.

Philadelphia's offense did little the rest of the first half -- and Browns linebacker David McMillan (who was playing because Crennel gave Willie McGinest the night off) impressed.

McMillan had sacks on consecutive plays, and both came against first-team offensive tackle William Thomas. He finished with three tackles in the first half.

The backup quarterback situation remains muddled. Dorsey completed 5-of-10 for 48 yards, Anderson 3-of-4 for 21 yards.

Neither looked terribly comfortable. Dorsey was sacked twice, Anderson once. And Anderson missed an open Frisman Jackson on what could have been a big play.

Campbell took over in the fourth quarter. His first throw was intercepted, but he came back to make several good throws on the Browns' only touchdown drive.