3 Keys to victory for the Cleveland Browns against Kansas City
By Greg Newland
![Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) looks to make a pass during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns Extras 4](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fhttps-3A-2F-2Fdawgpounddaily-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2018-2F08-2F15421278-850x560-e30942153a3ea02e97ec8e4cc1c0bfc9e9a85143e8cbdbe9271898828e9a018f.jpg "Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) looks to make a pass during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns Extras 4")
The Cleveland Browns are underdogs again
After an impressive win in Pittsburgh last week, the Cleveland Browns are once again huge underdogs as they head to Kansas City to play the Super Bowl favorite Chiefs. No matter what happens, the Browns got two tremendous monkeys off their backs.
They made the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and got the franchise’s first playoff victory since 1995. Both droughts led the league.
But one thing is for certain in the NFL, anyone can beat anyone on a given day. However, the Browns will have to be on top of their game to have a chance in Sunday’s divisional-round matchup. Let’s zero in on three keys for Cleveland to walk away with a win.
3. The coaching battle
The Chiefs rested most starters in week 17 and have had an additional week of rest with a first-round bye as the number one seed. The good news, they likely weren’t looking ahead at a matchup with the Browns. The bad news, all those nagging injuries from a long regular season have had time to heal.
With all the disadvantages for the Browns, Kevin Stefanski must be able to win the coaching battle. That means no mental errors with clock management, no horrible challenges or wasted time outs, and certainly, a few schemes that get the Browns offense in the endzone and the Browns defense off the field.
On offense, this could be a few trick-plays to try and catch the Chiefs off guard and gain some momentum. Maybe it is a reverse or a double pass, but something that can give the Browns offense some confidence.
On defense, this will be mixing up coverage and timing blitzes. Defensive coordinator Joe Woods has hesitated to double cover a receiver, but he may have to give help for Tyreek Hill in this matchup. At times give the corner help over the top to try and jump a route. Kansas City will kill you with screens if you blitz too much, so Woods will have to use effective timing to not give the all-pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes too much time.