Cleveland Browns: 5 matchups to watch for vs Kansas City

Matchup No. 2: Denzel Ward vs Tyreek Hill

The Chiefs have no shortage of offensive weapons. Chief among them, see what I did there, is Tyreek Hill. The dynamic wide receiver is the literal definition of a speed demon. To think of the Chiefs’ passing attack in fighting terms, Travis Kelce is the jab and Hill is the overhand right.

The last time these two teams met, Denzel Ward was tasked with covering Kelce for large chunks of the game. Due to a lack of adequate personnel, defensive coordinator Joe Woods could not afford to play an attacking style of defense. Woods chose to play it safe and let the Chiefs offense have as many paper cuts as they wanted. While it allowed the Chiefs to control the clock, it did limit them to only 22 points.

Woods now has the defensive weaponry to play things a little differently this time around. The Browns will be able to bracket Kelce with their linebackers and safeties allowing Ward to lock down his side of the field. The Chiefs will move Hill around, but when the Chiefs put Hill out wide expect to see 21 shadowing him whenever possible.

For Ward, who is looking for a contract extension, opportunities like these are the proving grounds to establish himself as an elite cornerback in the NFL. Hill is widely regarded as the league’s premier game-breaking wide receiver, and Ward possesses the instincts and physical gifts to keep Hill in check.

If the Warden can put the clamps on the Cheetah, the Browns likelihood of leaving Kansas City with a win increase immensely.