The Cleveland Browns host the New England Patriots on Sunday and are in need of a win. Here are three reasons to believe they will walk away victorious.
Week 6 is going to be a challenge for the Cleveland Browns, who look to end a two-game losing skid. Cleveland faces the New England Patriots, who are coming off a victory against the Detroit Lions where they shut them out 29-0. They also ran wild against them with 176 yards on the ground.
That’s not the type of news Browns fans want to hear at this moment after this defense has been shredded by their opponent’s rushing attack the past couple of games. Cleveland has been exposed by giving up 440 yards on the ground in the last two weeks alone.
With that grim look back, it’s difficult to see that despite all of this the Browns still have an excellent chance at scoring the win this week. Let’s take a look now at three reasons they will beat New England
3 reasons the Cleveland Browns will beat the New England Patriots
No. 3: The Browns have been in every game
The mistakes Cleveland has made over the last few weeks to deny them victories have been a difficult pill to swallow. Wins have been there for the taking but every week we see this team beating themselves.
In last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Cleveland had two opportunities late to win. However, quarterback Jacoby Brissett, thought he had wide receiver Amari Cooper open in the back of the endzone but he didn’t account for a defender in between him and Cooper and threw the interception instead.
The Browns got the ball back again in the closing minute already in field goal range but decided to run a series of bizarre offensive plays which left the kicker Cade York a more difficult 54-yard attempt that he missed.
That idea of beating themselves also involves the coaches. Too often it seems they’re trying too hard or getting too cute with the playcalling. In this last game, Kevin Stefanski was facing a 4th down and 1 on their own side of the field. Stefanski has called on Brissett to lean forward on quarterback sneaks multiple times before with success.
Instead of going with what’s worked, he tried a play where he gave a handoff to running back Kareem Hunt on a counter player that was immediately blown up by the Chargers’ defense.
Sticking to what is working is always a good philosophy for a coach so trying something new in those big moments might not be the best plan. If this coach and team can stay focused Sunday and not beat themselves they’ll win.
No. 2: Patriots playing with a rookie QB
Last year, the Browns went up to New England and got beat badly 45-7. It was their worst defeat of the year.
At the time, the Patriots had a rookie quarterback in Mac Jones and he had a solid game against the Browns throwing for three touchdowns. He’s set to miss this game due to an ankle injury and in his place will be Bailey Zappe.
The former Western Kentucky product stepped in two weeks ago and last week he got his first start. The Patriots relied on the run game in their win against the Detroit Lions, but Zappe got off to a good start as he went 17-of-21 for 188 yards and one touchdown. However, he did throw an interception and had a fumble as well.
Zappe obviously isn’t a pushover and the Browns will have their work cut out for them. At Western Kentucky, the youngster threw for an NCAA-leading 5,967 yards and 62 touchdowns in only 14 games. Those statistics are tremendous no matter what division you’re in.
With the Cleveland defense getting exposed most of this season, it’ll be interesting to see how the Patriots use Zappe in this matchup. While he has shown he can throw the ball, New England has a good ground game and hasn’t had to force Zappe into doing too much.
However, going on the road, against a defense like the Browns which hasn’t been playing well — and has more motivation with the spotlight on them — could be a recipe for disaster for Zappe.
It’s wishful thinking but stranger things have happened in the NFL. Also, the fact that this team played New England a year ago and was embarrassed should be enough to motivate them on Sunday.
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
3 mid-level Cleveland Browns who need to play better
To this point, not a lot has gone well for the Cleveland Browns. But if they want to start winning these 3 mid-tier players need to pick it up.