Cleveland Browns: 3 keys to a win vs Washington
By Grant Puskar
No. 2: Keep feeding the two-headed monster
Just as we all expected it to be, having Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in the same backfield is very scary for opposing defenses. The Browns arguably have two No. 1 running backs in the same backfield.
According to Jake Trotter of ESPN Cleveland, Hunt leads the league in yards per rush after contact with 4.3, and Chubb is not far behind at No. 3.
Kareem Hunt leads the NFL averaging 4.3 yards per rush AFTER contact. Nick Chubb is third (3.6 yards). Small sample size, to be sure. But for context, those would be the highest averages since at least 2009, when ESPN began tracking yards after contact. https://t.co/LZgQ6xbXJH
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) September 22, 2020
Even with Mayfield at quarterback and having all the weapons through the air that they do, I think it is pretty safe to say that the Browns are a run first offense. If you think differently, ask yourself why?
When the Browns get things going on the ground in the beginning of the game, it opens everything else up, enabling the Browns to use the classic Kevin Stefanski play action and also enabling Stefanksi to open up the playbook more. Controlling the clock and time of possession is going to be key for the Browns all year long.
If you can run the ball as a football team, I strongly believe that you can beat anyone. Take the Raiders against the Saints as a solid example. Josh Jacobs starts to run around and get loose, enabling Derek Carr to out-perform Drew Brees on Monday Night Football. Again, if you run the ball and control the clock, you can beat anybody. Look for the Browns to run early and often this Sunday.