The Browns have the Colts on Sunday, who is going to be a tough out for the North Shore boys and these are three ways the Browns can get the win.
The Colts are standing in between the Browns and history. The team has only started 4-1 a few times in their nearly 80-odd years of existence. In order for the team to achieve that rare mark, the Browns are going to need to figure out how to get past the Colts defense, a group that has become one of the NFL’s most efficient units.
The Browns have come out of the gates firing with a dynamic offense that has powered them to an impressive record. A start that hasn’t been seen by many Browns fans over the course of the last 40 years. Now that the Browns seem to have a head coach who knows what he’s doing, the team has seemingly turned around and the offense has become a powerhouse in the NFL.
That doesn’t mean the Browns are going to have an easy time against the Colts. They’re going need to scrap and claw every this week and every week to prove they’re deserving of the fans’ belief that they are a good NFL team. Right now the Browns are in a flux state, where it could go either way. A win over the Colts on Sunday may seal the deal that the Browns are more contender than pretender. A loss leaves things murky.
That’s truly why this Colts game is so important, not only will the Browns be able to start erasing some bad historical records, such as it being 26 years since the Browns last started 4-1. It’ll also let the national media and the Browns fanbase know that this is the year that things finally turn around. Something the city of Cleveland has been waiting on for over 20 years.
Rush Phillip Rivers
The Colts don’t have much of a running game. They don’t have many dynamic playmakers on the outside as well. The offensive line isn’t that great and the only reason this team has done as much damage as they’ve done is because of Phillip Rivers. It seems baffling that so many would put the issues of the offense on his shoulders when he’s still highly accurate and isn’t turning over the ball that often.
It’s not his fault that rookie running Jonathan Taylor is averaging just 3.8 yards a carry.
Getting after Rivers is a point of emphasis because of his value to the offense. He’s never been that mobile and with a compromised offensive line, the Browns should be able to really apply pressure. If Myles Garrett doesn’t have a multi-sack game, it’ll be baffling. Rivers is a sitting duck and back there and the Browns know it.
The problem will be that Rivers is getting better in the offense each week and the Browns secondary and linebackers are suspect in the passing game. If Rivers can turn back the clock some, he could pick apart this defense. Getting pressure ensures that isn’t likely.
Wear down the Colts defense with lots of running.
The Colts’ defense looks to be a problem. They have an impressive front four and that’s going to prove a point of concern for the left side of the line. Joel Bitonio had a rough game against The Dallas Cowboys and it could be the wear and tear finally catching up to him. It could also just be that he’s trying to cover up for Jedrick Wills’ mistakes but that’s hard to tell at the moment. Either way, the Colts front four is going to be a problem for the Browns.
The Browns should try and run those big men off the field by feeding the Colts a steady dose of the Browns running attack and if they can do just that, maybe they can wear out guys like DeForest Buckner. The best way to take Buckner out of the game is to actually take him out of the game. Make Buckner and Co. take breathers and really take advantage of the Colts when their best players are off the field.
A steady dose of running will be the key to victory for most of the games this season, but especially against the Colts. If the defensive line is off getting oxygen, then perhaps Baker Mayfield could do some work against their secondary if he doesn’t have to worry about getting chased down like a gazel in the Serengeti.
Field the dang ball
Donovan Peoples-Jones, this one is for you. Sincerely, read this. Do what the title says. Field the dang ball. Watching Donovan Peoples-Jones botch the kick-off in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys was one of the most nerve-wracking things fans of the Browns have seen in years. Mostly because the team is finally playing competitive football and wins are expected, but still.
Peoples-Jones has shown everyone he was not a good draft selection so far. Sure, it’s only four games in but he wasn’t a starter at Michigan, and he hasn’t really cracked any real playing time otherwise. He quite literally only has one job to do. If he can’t do that, then why is he on this team? The Browns are going to need him to step up, do his job, and not make boneheaded mistakes that could cost a potential playoff team valuable wins. If the team was 0-4, screw it, but leave him in. They’re not, they’re 3-1 and can’t afford to blow games because of botched decision making.
Those types of mistakes tend to follow a player, and if it follows Peoples-Jones into a second game, it’s going to be time to have some hard conversations about what to do with the rookie and the job he does.