The West Coast trip didn't start on the right foot for the Cleveland Browns as they lost in Denver to the Broncos 29-12. This week, they go to Los Angeles for a clash with the Rams. One piece of good news in Cleveland's favor is that Kevin Stefanski is 19-8 after a loss.
Injuries have played a major role this season for the Browns from the get-go; now, there are even more the team is dealing with. Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson is in concussion protocol. Denzel Ward is dealing with a shoulder injury and after last week, so is Myles Garrett.
When will it end?!
Regardless of who is or isn't on the field, the NFL does not pity any team and the games must go on. The next-man-up mentality will have to be utilized yet again, but this team has shown it can handle adversity. The fact this team is sitting at 7-4 with the number of crucial injuries is simply remarkable. We've seen Browns' teams in the past just pack it in, but not this group, led by their head coach. Here are the top 3 keys to victory for the Browns vs the Rams in Week 13.
3. Competent quarterback play
The Browns have continued to watch the quarterback merry-go-round keep on going and this week seems no different. With DTR in concussion protocol, Cleveland will turn to 38-year-old Joe Flacco, who used to torment this franchise for years while he was in Baltimore and even last year when he was with the Jets.
Even if DTR was cleared, Flacco should be the starter. There was never a need to put the rookie out there and risk further head injury. While the former Raven isn't who he used to be, he is still a veteran with a Super Bowl. He's easily the quarterback that best reads NFL defense on this roster, so that should help.
Whether it's Flacco or DTR who suits up at any point going forward, all this team needs is competent quarterback play. Essentially, this team needs whoever is under center to simply manage the game. Neither have to play hero ball by any means. Keep drives alive, find the open receiver, and limit the turnovers. That is not much to ask, and we've seen this team win with P.J. Walker.
2. Establish the running game early
With the starting quarterback in question, it would be wise for the Browns to establish the running game early, which will allow whoever is snapped the ball to be able to ease into the flow of the game. Despite missing Nick Chubb since Week 2 and being banged up all over the offensive line, Cleveland is still third in the NFL at rushing the football.
Jerome Ford has been mostly solid for the Browns, trying to fill in as much as he can with the massive hole left when Chubb was lost for the season. He has 628 yards on 145 attempts, with a 4.3 yards per carry average, and three touchdowns. He has shown glimpses of being a good NFL running back, and other times, not so much.
Kareem Hunt, who the Browns moved on from in the offseason, found a way back to his hometown team in the wake of the Chubb injury. The move was met with some skepticism, but Hunt has provided sparks to this offense and has scored six touchdowns on the season, including one in five straight games.
He's nowhere near who he once was, and he likely won't return to the team in 2024, but he has shown he can get short yardage to extend drives or cap them off with touchdowns. He might want the ball more, but he has to average more than 3.2 yards per carry. If he can continue to be the power back in short-yardage situations, then that's all that would be needed.
The Rams are hovering around the middle of the pack, allowing 113.3 yards per game on the ground, something the Browns should look to take advantage of. Now, there are nuances to every game, and if Cleveland finds itself down 10 or more points early on, establishing the running game will be that much harder. With that said, run the opposite way of Aaron Donald and please, I'm begging you, remove the reverse from the play sheet.
1. The defense needs to carry the load yet again
Since the return of the franchise in 1999, Cleveland has not had a better defense than it does right now. They lead the league in giving up the fewest yards this season and that is due to how this unit was reconstructed in the offseason. There were a lot of key moves made that are paying off nicely for Andrew Berry and company.
With the additions of Dalvin Tomlinson, Za'Darius Smith, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, and Shelby Harris, Myles Garrett has lined up with the best defensive line of his career. In turn, Garrett is in contention for NFL Defensive Player of the Year and should be in MVP talks, even if he doesn't win the award. He hasn't practiced this week but is looking to play after a shoulder injury. He was doing pushups on a medicine ball at practice with no visible discomfort, so that's a good sign.
Here’s #Browns Myles Garrett doing pushups on an exercise ball and not appearing to favor his left shoulder much: pic.twitter.com/m0nfn0elXd
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) November 30, 2023
If Garrett doesn't go on Sunday afternoon, this team has plenty of quality depth that can help pick up the slack. This team will also be motivated - both galvanizing around Garrett should he play or play for him in his absence - and the fact they gave up 29 points to a not-so-great Denver defense. The last time the Browns thought they played a bad game was in Seattle when the Seahawks marched down the field with ease for a game-winning drive.
Grant Delpit, who is having a Pro Bowl season, acknowledged that this unit hasn't played that well on the road, but vows they'll be better. One reason he has confidence in that is the fact that the Browns stayed out west this week, as opposed to coming home and then flying right back out. This allows the team to further cement bonds and chemistry, as well as having fresh legs.
The Rams have weapons galore on offense, including wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nakua, but the key matchup in this game will be linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah vs running back Kyren Williams. Typically, JOK would be used as a spy for opposing mobile quarterbacks, and since Matthew Stafford is not that, Williams fills that role nicely. JOK is third in the NFL in tackles for loss, only behind Maxx Crosby and Danielle Hunter, and that could be a major x-factor if he can get to Williams early and limit his gains.