Cleveland Browns vs Bucs: Predictions vs the finger eating franchise
By Randy Gurzi
Writer: Elliot Kennel
Game: Cleveland Browns (2-3-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3)
Summary: Week 6 was a reality check as a Charger team without Joey Bosa dominated the Browns, exposing the lack of reliable experienced receivers, as well as an O-Line that struggled to protect Baker Mayfield. Mayfield is obliged to run for his life and has been sacked 10 times in the past two games. Tyrod Taylor had a concussion in Game 3, hopefully, Mayfield can avoid such injuries.
Tampa Bay has some great talent at skill positions. Jameis Winston does a great job spreading the ball around to the likes of DeSean Jackson, Mike Evans, O. J. Howard and Chris Godwin, but also spreads a few to the opposition, too–5 in his 2 starts this year. The running attack has struggled, however, with Peyton Barber leading the Bucs with a scant 230 yards rushing and 3.7 yards rushing. Nevertheless, Winston and backup Ryan Fitzpatrick have upright for the most part, with only 11 sacks allowed the entire season. Neither Winston nor Fitzpatrick are escape artists when it comes to avoiding the rush, so most of the credit goes to the Offensive Line.
On Defense, former Giant Jason Pierre-Paul has lived up to his billing as a sackmeister, with five sacks already this season. The rest of the team combined has only four. Partly because of the lack of pressure, Tampa Bay has only one interception for the entire year.
The combination of brilliant but erratic offense, plus poor defense can produce wins. But losses are more likely.
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The Browns also have problems, though some of it is more psychological than anything else. The Browns have to do without Rashard Higgins for a few weeks. He will be missed, but honestly, the Browns don’t get awesome production from the extra wide receivers even when they are healthy. Higgins is averaging 50 yards per game, so he’s had good production but not exactly a Pro Bowl seasons. Antonio Callaway is set to move into the #2 position anyway. Derrick Willies looked great in the Baltimore game, but he has only 61 yards on the season, and Rod Streater has not had an NFL reception in two years. In one game Damion Ratley has more yards in the season than Willies and Streater combined. So the Browns receiver corps wasn’t that great to begin with, and it’s not weakened that much by the injuries to familiar faces. The main concern is that they recover fully.
There are plenty of ways to line up with two or three wide receivers rather than four or five. The Browns roster is deep in other positions. They have three good tight ends (David Njoku, Darren Fells, Seth Devalve) and a fullback (Orson Charles), plus two running backs in Duke Johnson and Nick Chubb. Johnson, Njoku, and DeValve routinely line up as a split end.
The loss of Higgins, Willies, and Streater may be more acutely felt in Special Teams, which have been weak all year. The top two tacklers from 2017 were Matthew Dayes (cut) and Danny Vitale (IR), meaning that they can scarcely afford to lose three more from the coverage teams.
The prediction is that the Browns will play dominant defense against Tampa Bay, with occasional big plays by Tampa to stay in the game. The Browns will move the ball on the ground and with short passes. Duke Johnson will be rediscovered. But Tampa Bay will get some big returns on Special Teams to make it close
Final score: Cleveland 26, Tampa Bay 24