5 Cleveland Browns players who are key to beating Packers

Cleveland Browns Key player No. 5: Baker Mayfield

Having sat out of last Monday’s game, due to Covid, Baker Mayfield will be back in the starter’s role barring any unforeseen issue that arises before Saturday. He’ll be going against a Green Bay team that’s pretty good against the pass, as the Packers are 9th overall only giving up 217 yards a game.

Interestingly, Cleveland is listed at 8th with 216 yards. Mayfield’s average yards are right at 217 yards as well this season. He’s only thrown for over 300 yards twice this season, once at the Kansas City Chiefs and the other at the Los Angeles Chargers.

For the Browns to have any chance at victory in this game, they’re going to need Mayfield to play a good game, keeping his mistakes limited, not overthrowing the ball to his open receivers, and staying under control. He needs to take some chances though and try and get the Green Bay defense stretched out and guessing at times. He’s had success on rollouts off of play-action in the past and I’m hoping the Browns coaches give Mayfield opportunities like that Saturday.

Cleveland Browns Key Player No. 4: Denzel Ward

Cleveland’s Pro Bowl cornerback is having a nice season. He’s already had three interceptions this season, including a 99 pick off of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, that he scored a touchdown on. He’s been consistently getting three to four tackles a game and has made numerous knockdowns of balls thrown his way as he’s defending the receiver.

The Packers have one of the best wide receivers in the league in Davante Adams. He’s already at 1,248 yards receiving on the year to go along with his eight touchdowns. A year ago, Adams had 18 touchdowns receiving. Last weekend Green Bay escaped Baltimore with the win, but Adams was shut down by the Ravens because they were double-teaming him much of the game.

Do the Browns do that Saturday? It’s important that Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods has his corners playing man-to-man coverage. If they don’t and go into a prevent, zone look then the Packers will have easy pickings all afternoon. Denzel Ward needs to be ready to play his best. I expect he will.

Cleveland Browns Key Player No. 3: Myles Garrett

Does he or doesn’t he play Saturday? The Browns star defensive end suffered another groin injury in the game against the Raiders on Monday night. It limited his opportunities at getting to the quarterback. His season-best 15 sacks didn’t increase in that game, but maybe they will in this game. Garrett will be a game-time decision by the team.

With his fellow teammates like Takk McKinley(Achilles injury) and Jadeveon Clowney (Covid) being sidelined it’ll be a tough road for Garrett to get support in chasing after the quarterback in the backfield for additional sacks. Regardless, if I was a betting man, I’d put my money that he’ll be out there playing his hardest and bringing home a Browns victory.