Five reasons the Cleveland Browns will ravage the Raiders in Week 8.
There’s people in this world who have no idea what it’s like for the Cleveland Browns to finish out October with a record above .500.
That chances in 2020, as the Browns will have won more than they’ve lost heading into their Bye in Week 9.
First things first, though, as the Raiders stand in Cleveland’s way of going an unbelievable 6-2 to start the season.
To get there, they’ve got to be beat Jon Gruden, the coach every prognosticator had been tying to Cleveland’s head coaching job for the better part of a decade. The Sandusky native never found his way to the Cleveland’s sideline, but will be at home on the sidelines come Sunday.
Gruden is 4-0 in his lifetime against the Browns. After taking several years off to call Monday Night Football, Gruden returned to beat Baker Mayfield in his debut start, a game in which the Browns lost 45-42 in Week 4 of the 2018 campaign.
Gruden’s never faced a Browns team riding this high, though. Here’s five reasons our beloved orange helmets will get it done on Sunday.
1. Scoring chances will be there
Call ’em the “Raiers,” because there’s no “D” on John Gruden’s squad. Las Vegas ranked 26th overall in defense (15th rushing, 28th passing), while posting a turnover differential of minus-5.
Additionally, the Raiders haven’t exactly putting pressure on quarterbacks, as field generals are able to lead their offenses to points almost at will. The Raiders are 31st in points allowed per game.
The Browns have put up 30 or more points against everyone not named the Steelers or Ravens, so the offense should continue to roll, even with Cleveland banged up at running back (Nick Chubb) and wide receiver (Odell Beckham).
Kareem Hunt isn’t getting a lot of run after his performance in Cincinnati, but former rushing champ ran strong against the Bengals and should continue to be a nice safety valve as Chubb works his way back from his sprained knee.
2. Baker without OBJ
The Browns Twitteratti wants it both ways. They tell us the Browns offense is not the same without OBJ, but. Mayfield does seem freer in his decision making when No. 13 isn’t out there.
So which one is it? Browns fans will get to test the Baker Theory on Sunday, and Baker without Beckham should be one of the big storylines brought up throughout the game.
Browns fans who’ve watched the last 23 games know Mayfield was a different quarterback in 2018 when he wasn’t tasked with getting a superstar the ball.
And that’s the Mayfield who showed up last week in Cincinnati, spreading the ball to six different receivers, while throwing touchdown passes to four different targets.
John Gruden wil have an entire week to gameplay for the Browns without OBJ, though, and it remains to be seen what kind of impact that will have on the offense, OBJ didn’t make the weekly eye-popping plays we all thought he would after coming to Cleveland, but the threat was always there and defensive coordinators always had to account for him.
Look for Donovan Peoples-Jones to get more of a shot in Week 8. Obviously, he’s no Beckham, but he has speed that can stretch the field. Otherwise, Mayfield should be able to utilize all his targets, just as he did against Cincinnati.
3. Raiders daring Myles
Let a quarterback like Derek Carr sit around the pocket all day, and he’s going to compile a lot of stats, which is why it’s imperative the Browns amp up their pass rush on the former second-round pick.
Myles Garrett should continue his sack streak, as the Raiders offensive line is hot mess coming into Cleveland. The unit is dealing with injuries, in addition to COVID problems.
Starting right tackle Trent Brown missed last week due to Covid, while left guard Richie Incognito was put on IR. Las Vegas’ line was dealt another blow when backup Patrick Omameh was a game day inactive.
Unfortunately for the Browns, Cleveland’s not getting a complimentary pass rusher to assist Garrett among the front four defensive lineman. If someone other than Garrett records a sack, it’s usually due to a corner blitzing out of the secondary.
Joe Burrow put on a clinic on how to beat the blitz, as it seems defensive coordinator Joe Woods dialed up one too many. Remember, quarterbacks like our beloved Bernie Kosar loved facing the blitz because it meant someone was open.
Again, that’s an indictment on the front four.
The Browns don’t have a great defense, but they do have two players on the unit capable of altering the game in Garrett and corner Denzel Ward. With those players in the fold, the Browns have a fighting chance.
4. Turnover differential
Nobody in their right mind would call Cleveland’s defense “good,” that said, they’re doing something right, as the Browns rank fourth in the NFL in turnover differential (+6), trailing Kansas City, Tennessee and Baltimore.
Overall, Cleveland’s forced an NFL leading 14 turnovers, with seven interceptions and seven fumble recoveries.
It’s an intriguing stat, because the Titans and Ravens are considered to be a couple of the handful of teams that can legitimately play defense on a week-in and week-out basis.
As you just read, Myles Garrett is a big reason the Browns are where they are in the rankings. Garrett has four fumbles on the season–all of which were the result of strip sacks.
Picking off Carr is tough. He’s thrown 13 touchdowns against just two interceptions. That said, the Browns have recovered as many fumbles as interceptions they’ve accumulated, so the idea that the orange helmets can get some takeaways can’t be discounted.
On the flips side, the Raiders are 28th in turnover differential. If Cleveland can score points off a takeaway or two, it could be the difference in game in which some gambling sites list the Browns as three-point favorites.
5. Mining those TE riches
The Browns may not have Odell Beckham, but the win against Cincinnati reminded the rest of the league as to how potent the Browns could be at tight end.
That’s saying something, considering the top player on the depth chart, Austin Hooper, missed Week 7 after undergoing an emergency apendectomy.
Harrison Bryant caught two of Mayfield’s five touchdown passes and posted the highest rookie grade (90.8) in PFF’s analytics book.
Even David Njoku came alive, scoring the biggest touchdown of his Browns’ career on a 16-yard strike early in the fourth quarter. At the time, the touchdown gave the Browns a 24-20 lead.
This is the type of production from tight ends the media told us we were supposed to see in Kevin Stefanki’s offense.
How much did these player benefit form OBJ’s injury? The experiment will play out against the Raiders, but look for Bryant to play well. It seems the more game experience he gets, the better he gets.