The Cleveland Browns return home for the first time in three weeks when they play host to the Jacksonville Jaguars in a crucial AFC clash in Week 14. This game could have major playoff implications and could even be a preview of a postseason contest. While they did themselves no favors last week or the week before, the AFC North is still within striking distance for the Browns.
Baltimore added to their divisional lead and they didn't even play as they were on their bye week. The Ravens sit at 9-3 while the Browns and Steelers are 7-5, and after beating Jacksonville in Week 13 on Monday Night Football, the Bengals find themselves sitting at 6-6. This is the only division in football where every team is .500 or better.
Here are the three big storylines to watch in Week 14 when the Browns host the Jaguars.
3. Browns hope home cooking will get them back on track
The Browns played the last two games out west and stayed out there for the entirety of the trip, but sadly could not find a win. Cleveland lost in Denver and then in Los Angeles in games that seemed winnable for three-fourths of the game and then the wheels fell off. The team dropped to 2-4 on the road.
This week, the Browns return home where they are 5-1 in front of the Cleveland faithful. The team, especially the defense, plays better with the Dawg Pound pouring energy inside the stadium, and coming home at this point in the season could prove to be big for the orange and brown.
Being able to play the next two games in front of the home crowd could play a key factor and get this team one, or even two steps closer to the playoffs. From here on out, the Browns can only focus on what they do and hope they get some help along the way. Not only do the Browns play the next two at home, but three of the final five games are at home with no more back-to-back road games.
2. Battle of the Backups
The quarterback position has taken a massive hit during this NFL season with a bevy of names either going down for the season or missing weeks at a time. The Browns have dealt with this for much of the season as Deshaun Watson was lost for the season with a shoulder injury. Regardless of whether it is Joe Flacco - who should start this week and beyond - or Dorian Thompson Robinson, Cleveland will utilize another backup QB.
For the Jaguars, they are now experiencing what the Browns already have. Trevor Lawrence suffered a high-ankle sprain in Monday's loss to the Bengals, and his availability to play Sunday is in doubt. Should he not make the start, C.J. Beathard will get the call, and that could benefit the Browns pass rush, especially since he is dealing with a shoulder injury.
This game once had a lot of promise and now it will come down to the battle of the backups. The game will likely be an ugly affair, especially if the forecast is correct with and 80 percent chance of rain. Whichever backup can play the best will lead their team to a crucial late-season victory.
1. Denzel Ward is eyeing a return to the lineup
The defense of the Browns has led the way for a bulk of this season and is one of the better units around the NFL. The team goes as they go, and for whatever reason they don't play well on the road. Injuries played a part in that, and now, help is (likely) on the way.
Denzel Ward, who has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, returned to practice Wednesday in a limited capacity. That is a good sign that he will return to the lineup on Sunday, barring any setbacks. While the guys alongside Ward did alright, you could tell they missed Ward and will gladly welcome him back.
Much like Myles Garrett leads the way on the defensive front, Ward is the go-to guy in the secondary. The rest of the defensive backfield is able to play more freely and in their natural positions with Ward on the field as he often times doesn't have many passes to defend.
If Lawrence is unable to play on Sunday, then that is a big boost to this defense who needs to get back on track. Beathard does not pose a threat like Lawrence does, so maybe this is the football gods being on the Browns side for once.