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Cleveland Browns: Keys to victory against Cincinnati

By Jonathan Goehring

Oct 23, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnidge (82) makes a catch against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Darqueze Dennard (21) in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 31-17. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnidge (82) makes a catch against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Darqueze Dennard (21) in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 31-17. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 30, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins (16) runs with the ball after a catch during the second quarter against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins (16) runs with the ball after a catch during the second quarter against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Third down is the key down on both sides of the ball in a game like this. For a Browns team that has been beaten up in every facet of the game lately, opportunities to get off the field and situations in which they need to extend drives must not be wasted.

Coming off of the bye week, something that Cleveland needs desperately is confidence. There is nothing more demoralizing than missing opportunities to get off the field. There is also little more encouraging than coming up with the necessary third down yardage to move the sticks on offense.

If the Browns can combine both of these, they will have belief that they can pull this one off.

Third-down efficiency on offense is a product of the receivers’ ability to find the sticks, and put themselves in a position to make key grabs. Andrew Hawkins and Gary Barnidge are Cleveland’s most natural third down targets, but Pryor is of course an option as well.

Depending on how well the team is able to run the ball, third downs may be manageable. This would be a significant boost for the Browns, as their passing game has been doing very well in third-and-short situations.

Defensively, Cleveland will have to guard against Brandon LaFell and screen passes to Hill and Bernard. The play of the secondary is key on third down, and the absence of Derrick Kindred for this game will make matters more difficult. As a result, players like Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Joe Haden, and Ed Reynolds will have to step up.

Next: Browns must win Sunday to avoid 0-16

If the Browns can win third down, they will win this game. It won’t be easy against a desperate Bengals team, but gaining confidence and making a few of the game’s most critical plays will be enough to get it done.

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