Cleveland Browns: Week 16 predictions against the Chicago Bears
2. Defense holds Bears running back Jordan Howard under 100 yards on the ground.
The strongest unit for the Browns this year has easily been their run defense. Cleveland currently ranks seventh in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game with 96.1 yards. Since giving up 100+ yards to Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon, the Browns have had three solid weeks in a row.
- Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon – 19 carries, 77 yards
- Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams – 15 carries, 49 yards, one touchdown
- Baltimore Ravens running backs Alex Collins and Buck Allen – 25 carries, 89 yards (total)
On the other side of the ball, Howard has had a successful season for Chicago. He is the fourth-leading rusher in the league with 1,069 yards on the ground. However, it has been a season of inconsistency for the second-year pro.
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While he has five 100-plus yard games, he has been held under 40 yards four times. In just his last four games, his rushing totals are 6, 38, 147, 37.
It is tough to predict someone so inconsistent – which is why Howard will probably run for 184 yards and make me look like an idiot. However, with defensive tackle Danny Shelton in the lineup, the Browns run defense has been really good. He is not listed on the injury report this week, which is a good sign for Cleveland.
The Browns run defense is hot as of late, unlike Howard. As a “what have you done for me lately” kind of guy, it seems much more plausible the Browns keep Howard under control on Sunday, limiting his output to less than 100 yards on the ground.