Cleveland Browns: 5 Questions With Chowder & Champions

Could Week 5 be the game where the Cleveland Browns win their first game of the season and in turn ruin a superstar’s return?

Plenty of story lines surround this week’s New England Patriots versus Cleveland Browns game. Of those topics, one now is not even a story as Browns’ wide receiver Josh Gordon‘s impending return is now no more. However, New England does gets back their franchise quarterback Tom Brady after a four-game suspension.

Although this game seems to be a one-sided affair, Cleveland has played New England very tough in recent games. From Brady to coaching ties and more, FanSided’s Chowder & Champions‘ Site Expert Tarringo Basile-vaughan answered some questions about the upcoming game.

Cleveland beat New England in 2010 and nearly beat them again in 2013. Given that Sunday is quarterback Tom Brady’s first game and tight end Rob Gronkowski is still getting into the swing of things, what’s the level of concern a loss could happen again?

Most people think that Patriots fans are never worried about losing. But it is a very real possibility that the Pat’s go into Cleveland and lose the football game. But the thing with Brady is motivation. He is very driven to go out there and destroy everyone in his path, and for that reason the Patriots will win that football game.

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Coming off a loss at home, (New England head coach Bill) Belichick will have the boys ready. Brady is pumped, the team is pumped. I don’t think there will be a let down vs the Browns, nor do I believe the Browns have enough discipline to stay in the game throughout.

Hue Jackson is the (Browns) head coach. He did have some success when the (Cincinnati) Bengals beat the Patriots a couple of years ago, but in 2014, the Patriots were very successful against his defense with the Bengals. I expect something similar to that Patriots-Bengals game following the embarrassing loss to the (Kansas City) Chiefs 41-14 that year.

Due to the Patriots’ coaching staff ties to Cleveland (whether actually coaching the Browns or were seriously considered), could they want this win even more than Brady?

Belichick is downplaying his connection. What people forget is that his first head coaching job was actually with the (Baltimore) Ravens (who were the original Browns). If anything, there will be some Patriot players out to get back at their old team. (Such players include defensive end/linebackers) Jabaal Sheard, Barkevious Mingo…(running back Dion Lewis is on IR).

Cleveland does not have much on offense. Are they more likely planning to stop wide receiver Terrelle Pryor or their running game and why?

I think the Patriots concern defensively would be stopping the running game because they would want to put the ball in the hands of (quarterback Cody) Kessler. They also do a good job of taking away the opposing team’s top offensive player. I wouldn’t be surprised to see (cornerback) Logan Ryan on Pryor with safety help.

New England lost last week to Buffalo in a game where they were shut out. What weaknesses then would the Browns need to focus on to help with their chances of securing a win this week?

The Patriots weakness is the conservative play calling on the defensive side. It could change this week, but the Browns could take advantage of the Patriots scheme. Offensively, Tom Brady may have a little rust, but his motivation will probably cure that rather quickly.