ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - The Browns gave a little more reason for hope Saturday night in a last-play win over the Buffalo Bills.

Braylon Edwards returned.

Charlie Frye ran the opening drive like a veteran.

Kellen Winslow was on the field.

The team had some fire.

In short, the first preseason game is looking like an aberration, not the second two.

Coach Romeo Crennel continues to state that the first game against the Philadelphia Eagles was the Browns' first and the Eagles' second, and the evidence of the past two games supports his claim.

The Browns don't appear to be Super Bowl-worthy, but they do appear to be far more competitive than they were in the opener.

At this point, several questions seem closer to answering than not answering:

• Will Braylon Edwards play in the opener?

Consider that during his postgame news conference Saturday, Edwards stopped when receivers coach Terry Robiskie walked by.

``I thought you were going to say something,'' Edwards said.

Responded Robiskie, ``How about if I say something when you do something?''

Edwards promised that would take place in the season opener, when he would play a full game.

His recovery from reconstructive knee surgery borders on the remarkable. That he could be taking part full speed and full time in a game 10 months later defies most odds.

Edwards has yet to do that -- the opener is two weeks away -- but he is to the point where he told trainers and coaches he wanted to remove his brace, which he did in the second quarter.

``I just told them I couldn't do what I fully want to do with it on,'' Edwards said. ``I took it off and they just said, `Hey, congratulations.' ''

• Will Frye continue to develop?

Through three games -- which equals about one game of playing time -- Frye has completed 70 percent of his throws with two touchdowns and one interception.

He has looked comfortable when not forcing a bad throw -- his one interception -- and spread the ball around.

The game will change in the regular season with defenses doing more game-planning and blitzing, but so far, so good.

One concern: The offense was sharp as can be when it ran the scripted plays Saturday night, but went to sleep after.

Teams are not going to win many games scoring seven points in a half -- and shutting down after one touchdown.

It was only one game, but the Browns can't allow that kind of thing to happen consistently.

• How will the addition of Ted Washington and Willie McGinest help the defense?

Washington consistently takes up two blockers, sometimes three. It's no secret Andra Davis has run around more actively this preseason than he has since he was a rookie.

McGinest played for the first time Saturday, and he looked every bit the veteran he is. Made the tackle on the first play. Crashed inside to stuff a running play (though he jumped prior). Chased down the quarterback.

Davis has maintained that the pair's addition has made a huge difference in team morale and outlook.

Time will tell if that matters on the field, but there's reason to think at this point that their contributions will help.

Other positive developments of the past two weeks include:

• The play of Joshua Cribbs at receiver. He clearly seems to be the team's fourth-best wideout, and perhaps could challenge for the third spot. Coaches talk about ``explosion,'' having a guy who can ``explode'' and make plays. It sounds odd, but it's a big tackle, a burst that leads to an interception, a run that goes from four yards to 14.

Cribbs ``exploded'' after he caught a pass in the fourth quarter and scored. It's been a long time since a Browns receiver showed that ability after the catch.

• The play of rookie running back Jerome Harrison. He's averaging 6.8 yards per carry, and brings an element the team has lacked -- quickness and elusiveness at running back.

• The play of first-round pick Kamerion Wimbley. He looks, plain and simply, like a football player.

Concerns remain.

Edwards and Winslow have to prove they can get through a season. Frye has to grow and stay healthy. The offensive line has to hold up.

And someone has to step forward at cornerback in the absence of Gary Baxter and Daylon McCutcheon.

Ralph Brown gave up a big play in the first half, and that has been the defense's preseason Achilles' heel.

Finally, the progress that has been made in two games has come in practice games. So that must be tempered.

But if the Browns were not showing good signs, the stories would be negative and critical.

If the negative can't be ignored, the positive can't either.

And the preseason is more about impressions and feel than specific wins or losses. The past two games, the Browns have carried themselves much better.

The Browns have a ways to go to show they are what Davis said they are -- a playoff team -- but at least the signs in the second and third games were better than they were in the first game.