HEADING INTO the final minute of last night's game, the Soul was in such control of its game at Cleveland that the team bus was warming up and the proverbial female opera singer was rehearsing.
This is 2014. We don't call her the fat lady anymore.
Anyway, faster than you can say Lake Erie, the Soul bobbled away two onsides kicks, gave away three touchdowns and left Quicken Loans Arena with a stunning 54-52 loss.
"Disgusting," is how one Soul executive put it.
Thyron Lewis caught his third touchdown of the evening at the buzzer as Cleveland (9-0) essentially dashed any hopes the Soul might have had to challenge for the division title. Philadelphia is 5-5, but still in position to win a wild-card berth.
Dan Raudabaugh threw four touchdown passes and no interceptions and Derrick Ross ran for 44 yards and a pair of scores to lead the Soul. Ross' second touchdown came with just over 3 minutes remaining and gave the Soul a 52-35 lead.
Philadelphia was without leading wide receiver Ryan McDaniel, who had a left calf injury. He is expected back for the Soul's next game, Sunday, June 1 against visiting San Antonio.