4. Cleveland’s secondary vs. Tyler Lockett
No one matchup between wide receiver and cornerback stands out. Partially because the Browns are without their two starting cornerbacks: Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams. Williams and Ward returned to practice today, but two corners are listed as questionable yet again.
Terrance Mitchell and T.J. Carrie have filled in well during their absence, but there is no question the Browns’ defense is much better with all four cornerbacks in the rotation. Whoever starts at cornerback this week has a tough task ahead: figuring out how to stop the Wilson-to-Lockett connection.
Wilson had a perfect quarterback rating in 2018 when targeting Tyler Lockett. This season Lockett has 30 receptions on 36 targets (83 percent catch rate) for 379 yards, 12.7 per catch, and three touchdowns. Wilson’s passer rating this season when targeting Lockett: 138.3.
If healthy, the ability to have Ward or Williams shadowing Lockett would be an ideal scenario. In the chance that the two are still unavailable, the Browns secondary will have to execute a game plan that knows where Lockett is at all times. If Cleveland can slow down that connection and contain Lockett, they’ll have a good chance of slowing down Wilson’s unbelievably efficient season.