3 reasons the Cleveland Browns will beat the Patriots in Week 6
By John Suchan
No. 1: Browns will use Nick Chubb more
Cleveland running back Nick Chubb has done it all this season. He’s having his most productive campaign to date and shows no signs of slowing down — unless the coaching staff continues to restrict his carries and time on the field. Over the last two games, his carries have diminished from 23 in their last win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, down to only 17 carries last week, despite running for 134 yards and two touchdowns.
It’s time for Kevin Stefanski to stop limiting his running back’s time on the field in hopes of trying to save him for the end of games. The oddity in this whole philosophy is that Stefanski hasn’t had Chubb on the field in those crucial closing moments.
Some contend that those closing drives, where the Browns have made critical mistakes were passing situations and Kareem Hunt was more suited for those plays because he’s a better pass catcher. This is all nonsense because the team is leaving their best offensive weapon on a cold and lonely sideline.
Having Chubb out there, at least as a decoy makes the defense account for what he can do on any given play, which is score touchdowns.
When you look at Chubb’s career, when he’s been given 22 carries or more in a game, the team has a 7-3 record. His maximum carries in his career have been at 27 and 28 carries a piece and in both those games they won going away from AFC North Division rivals Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers.
If Stefanski can step away from all the analytics and just see for himself that giving Chubb more time on the field will likely produce a win and right now he needs that victory in a bad way.
Game prediction: Browns 24, Patriots 22
