Four reasons the Cleveland Browns will jump all over the Jaguars in Week 11.
The Cleveland Browns get another winnable opportunity on the lakefront at FirstEnergy Stadium as the Eagles come to town. Philadelphia is 3-5-1, but playing in the dreadful NFC has the Eagles in playoff contention.
Philadelphia’s been decimated by injuries for much of the first half of the season, but the names are starting to return
The Browns have placed three players on the COVID-19 list, and those names include Jack Conklin, Charley Hughlett and Cody Parkey. It appears that all three can play on Sunday, though, as long as they continue to test negative.
Just as they were last week, the Browns are 3.5-point favorites, which is a little closer than you’d like to see. However, until Baker Mayfield thrives against a team that’s not the Bengals, you can expect these types of spreads.
Here’s four reasons the Browns can flatten Philly when the Eagles come to town on Sunday.
1. Wentz stock down
The 2016 season is when analytics put its imprint on the Cleveland Browns. Sashi Brown and Paul DePodesta’s first big move? Trade out of No.2, move down to 15 and collect a bunch of other picks in the process.
Mission accomplished, except the Browns picked Corey Coleman, who was off the team by 2018.
Meanwhile, Wentz looked like he’d make the Browns rue the day they passed him bye. He beat Cleveland in his rookie season, and then had the Eagles charging toward the Super Bowl the next season until an injury.
He’s dealt with other injuries, but is back full time now, and the results are bad. He’s trending toward career lows in completion percentage (58.2), yards per attempt (6.1) interceptions (12) and passer rating (73.1).
And those 12 picks? He leads the league in the category.
With the game in Cleveland and Wentz trending the wrong way, the Browns defense should be able to come up with a couple plays that can help turn the tide of the game.
2. Line can neutralize Philly’s strength
The Eagles biggest strength defensively is getting after the quarterback. The defensive line has tallied 21.5 of the Eagles 31.5 sacks.
Fortunately, the Browns have been stout against the pass, and Wyatt Teller is now back in the mix after a stellar outing last week.
Even rookie Jedrick Wills, who’s struggled somewhat in run blocking, is drawing high marks for protecting Baker Mayfield’s blindside.
Of course, setting up Mayfield for success in the passing game depends on the Browns ability to run the ball, and as long the Browns’ front five doesn’t get completely “out-toughed” by the Eagles’, front, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt should be able to take care of the rest.
The Browns invested heavily in the offensive line by drafting Wills and signing Jack Conklin. Conklin should play, assuming he keeps testing negative for COVID-19.
Cleveland’s investment in their offensive line should pay off in Week 11.
3. Best weapons on the field
Speaking of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, the Browns’ backs should be in store for another great game at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The Eagles defense allows 133 yards per game, which ranks 26th in the NFL.
If Cleveland’s victory over the Texans taught us anything, it’s that the Browns are at their best when Chubb and Hunt are both active.
As the Browns bring along Baker Mayfield under his third coach in three years, Kevin Stefanski’s best bet may be to ride Chubb and Hunt as far as his backs will take the team in 2020.
The next step will be getting both on the field, together. He got a small taste of it when Stefanski flashed the pistol formation with both Hunt and Chubb on the field against Houston.
With a defense that excels in quarterback hunting, both Browns backs will be needed to carry the day.
4. Another playmaker
Nope, the Browns don’t have a classically great defense. Heck, they’re average, ranking 15th in the NFL in allowed yards per game.
And while no one will be giving the defense any cool nicknames, a la the Steel Curtain, the unit has three players that can be classified as game changers.
Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward’s exploits are well known. Garrett’s rushing toward the single-season sack record, while his ability to generate strip sacks has changed games this season.
Ward is capable of of covering anybody in a secondary that needs help…but he’s getting it. Which leads me to Ronnie Harrison. The strong safety has been stellar since taking over the starting gig permanently three games ago.
According to Pro Football Focus, Harrison’s 79.1 defensive grade ranks fifth among all qualifying safeties through 10 weeks.
It took a little while for Harrison to crack the lineup, but now that he has, he’s making Andrew Berry look pretty smart.
Now, if they can just figure something at free safety.