By @mrgroce
This Sunday at 1:00, the 2-5 Cleveland Browns will host the 1st place 5-2 Arizona Cardinals. The Browns are coming off of a another loss, 24-6 to the St.Louis Rams. The Cardinals on the other hand are coming off of a win against the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns, already a team that lacks play makers continue to turn the ball over and commit stupid penalties two things that they absolutely cannot do against a Cardinals team that ranks fourth overall in offense AND defense. Plenty of folks, myself included, believe that the season is already over and we're starting to wonder what direction the team will go in once the season ends. Safety Donte Whitner still feels that since the team has five division games remaining, winning the division is still a possibility. I appreciate his optimism. How about I pretend I'm a coach and do this "one game at a time".
Leading the Cardinals is head coach Bruce Arians. Normally I don't mention head coaches but for some reason I really like Arians. Maybe it's the Kangol hats, or maybe it's the affection he has for the city of Cleveland and its loyal fanbase. Maybe it's the fact that as a man who's worked with some of the best quarterbacks in the game it didn't take long for him to turn things around in Arizona. He traded for Carson Palmer, drafted Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu, signed RB Chris Johnson, Jermaine Gresham, Dwight Freeney, and convinced Larry Fitzgerald to stay. The Cardinals have what is considered the recipe for success: a franchise QB, a running game, wide receivers who can stretch the field, and a top rated defense.
The Browns on the other hand still don't have a true "feature" running back, still don't know who's starting at quarterback on Sunday, and with wide receiver Andrew Hawkins ruled out with a concussion aren't sure if Dwayne Bowe will be active after missing the last four weeks. Basically, the Cardinals have the edge over the Browns at every position other than punter and place kicker. Coach Pettine won't announce who's starting at quarterback until Sunday, but if McCown is able to play I think it's safe to say that's who the staff will go with. The offensive line has played better, but the Browns have yet to have a 100 yard rusher this season.
Whatever issues the Browns have on offense they're not nearly as woeful as the defense. Against the Rams last week, the Browns defense played fairly well for awhile, but eventually four yard runs turned into nine yard runs and 9 yard runs turned into 17 yard runs. I think you get my point. Defensive backs Joe Haden and Tashaun Gipson return to the line up after missing the last few games, but that probably won't be enough unless they're able to rush the quarterback then get back in coverage to defend their man because the defensive lineman can't seem to do it.
This seems like the type of game that since no one is giving the Browns a chance to win, they would somehow find a way to win using the old "any given Sunday" slogan. Not this week. The only factor that I believe keeps this game from getting out of hand is the fact that it's a road game for the Cardinals and it's expected to be a tad bit chilly on Sunday. My prediction, Cardinals 31 Browns 13.
What: Cleveland Browns vs Arizona Cardinals
When: 1:00 PM Sunday Nov 1, 2015
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium Cleveland, Ohio
TV/Radio: FOX/ WKNR 850 Cleveland, WKRK 92.3 The Fan, WNCX 98.5 The Fan
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