Browns: 3 Commanders to watch out for in Week 17
Player for Browns to watch No. 2: Jonathan Allen, DT
If Pro Football Focus doesn’t like Daron Payne, the rest of the pro football universe has recognized Jonathan Allen with his second career trip to the Pro Bowl. Drafted out of Alabama with the 17th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, Allen has been a mainstay of the Washington defense ever since.
Allen is second on the team with 7.5 sacks, giving the Commanders two tackles who can get after the quarterback. They might remind Browns fans of the duo of Walter Johnson and Jerry Sherk, who used to terrorize opposing quarterbacks back in the day.
Thank you to everyone who voted for me and helped me get to my second pro bowl! I appreciate all the support and am proud to represent this city! God is good
— Jonathan Allen (@jonallen93_) December 22, 2022
Overall, the Commanders may have the toughest front four in the NFL. That core has kept them in the playoff hunt even if their quarterback play hasn’t been at the superstar level. There’s more than one way to win in the NFL, apparently, even in a division that features the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and the resurgent New York Giants.
The Browns offensive line will have their work cut out for them. They have four stud defensive linemen that they will have to keep away from Deshaun Watson. Plus, somehow they will have to establish running lanes for Nick Chubb through those pillars of the community. It’s not going to be easy.
Perhaps it will fall upon the shoulders of the defense to keep Carson Wentz and the Washington offense in check. If it’s tough to score points against Washington, they are not always an offensive juggernaut, either. In fact, they have a tough time deciding who their quarterback is.