Browns Preview 12/29/17: Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

It's the season finale for the Browns as they try and fend off 0-16 for The Browns will be taking on the Steelers' backups since they've already clinched a first round bye in the playoffs. The Steelers are likely starting Landry Jones at quarterback and won't be playing running back Le'Veon Bell this game either. It's unknown what other players besides Bell, Antonio Brown, and Ben Roethlisberger will be sitting for this matchup so the preview will be even more Browns focused than usual.


Browns Offense vs Steelers Defense

I honestly don't really know what to say when it comes to the Browns offense. We've watched it all year, and it stinks. DeShone Kizer can't play a game where he doesn't turn the ball over and because of his poor decision making teams either bring pressure or shade coverage to Josh Gordon. Kizer needs to spread the ball much better than he has and if he doesn't do it early, Hue Jackson better pull him if he wants any chance to win.

It's also on Hue Jackson to run the ball. I know Isaiah Crowell is in the dog house and is most likely playing his last game in a Browns uniform but it's in Hue's best interest to run the ball with any of the three backs on the roster because of the poor weather conditions. It's unfortunate that it's come down to Jackson's playcalling instead of players on the field, but for once this season Hue has to coach to what he has to work with...



Browns Defense vs Steelers Offense

With the unknown of who's going to be playing on the offensive side of the ball the key for the defense should be simple. Get to Landry Jones and force a turnover or two. The running game for the Steelers shouldn't be much of a factor since Bell and Connor are out for the game so it's time for Gregg Williams to bring pressure and make Jones uncomfortable in the pocket. If Jones beats the Browns defense then good on him.





Five Guys To Watch


1. Myles Garrett: Garrett missed the week one matchup because of an injury. Now I know he isn't going against number 7 but it would be nice to show Pittsburgh what they have to deal with for the next 10 years.

2. Jabrill Peppers: This is another game where we get to see Peppers play near the line of scrimmage more. I wonder if the plan for next year is to have Peppers line up more at the strong safety spot rather than free safety 25 yards away from the snap.

3. Jason McCourty: McCourty has played really well this season. As the leader of the defense he needs to make a huge play in this game. Whether it's an interception or a forced fumble, the Browns haven't really made a huge play on defense this year.

4. Hue Jackson: Hue Jackson should be coaching for his job Sunday. It's pretty simple...How can the Browns honestly bring back a coach who could potentially go 1-31 in two seasons...

5. Jimmy Haslam: Now I know Haslam isn't a part of any of the game day stuff but he's someone everyone is going to be watching once the game is over. Even though he said Hue will be back for 2018 a few weeks ago going 0-16 could potentially change that whether or not it's for the good or the bad.


Weather Report:

Injury Report:

Betting Line (As of 12/28/17): Pittsburgh -8

Prediction:

As hard as it is to go 16-0 it might be just as hard to go 0-16. Terrible teams somehow win a couple game per year, but the Browns haven't which is nuts...That being said the NFL is set up for teams to basically win six games a year which is why I think the Browns are going to somehow win this game. The Steelers are resting most of their players and the Browns are fighting history...only one team has gone 0-16 and each member of the Browns don't want to be added to the list of players that have played on a winless team.

Final Score:
Browns: 17 Steelers: 14

Browns Preview 12/22/17: Cleveland Browns @ Chicago Bears

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The 0-14 Cleveland Browns travel to Chicago to take on the 4-10 Bears on Christmas Eve. This game is likely the Browns final opportunity to pull out a win for the 2017 season. Luck for them Hue Jackson is 2-0 on Christmas Eve and the Bears are 0-7 when they are the favorite.


Browns Offense vs Bears Defense

The key for the Browns this week is for DeShone Kizer to take care of the ball...it really is that simple. Kizer needs to step up and play a turnover free game. The Browns are going to move on from Kizer in the off-season. Unfortunately he hasn't progressed this season but Sunday is another game for him to prove he can at the very least be a backup quarterback.

The Browns running game needs to keep them in the game. Since Kizer is unreliable, Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson need to have 125 yards on the ground between them. They also need to be factors in the passing game. But it's also on Kizer and Hue Jackson to get them in space and put the offense in the best position to win.

The passing game is obviously on the shoulders of Kizer. Hue Jackson could have a short leash with Kizer and bring in Kevin Hogan at any moment during the game. That being said who ever is under center Josh Gordon is going to be the number one target. He's done well in three weeks considering who's throwing him the ball. If Gordon can have a game with over 100 yards and a touchdown or two the Browns can without a doubt win this game.


Browns Defense vs Bears Offense

The pride of Mentor, Ohio is under center for the Bears, Mitch Trubisky. The key for the Bears offensively is to run the ball and protect Trubisky. If the Bears can get Jordan Howard going this week against the Browns run defense, which is one of the better run defenses in the league, they will blow out the Browns. Howard is one of the top young running backs in the game and the Bears run him into the ground. He has 267 total carries and over 1100 total yards of offense.

The passing game for the Bears is lead by Kendall Wright and running back Tarik Cohen, who is basically like Duke Johnson out of the backfield. The passing game for the Bears shouldn't be that huge of a factor, unless the Browns get a lead and end up forcing the Bears into passing situations.



Five Guys to Watch

1. Hue Jackson: It's going to be really hard for Jimmy Haslam to bring back Hue for 2018 if he ends up going 0-16. This game is honestly the last realistic game the Browns could win and because of that Jackson could be coaching for his job. Now, whether or not his heart is in it or in Cincinnati is a whole other question.

2. DeShone Kizer: Kizer needs to take care of the football. A Browns win is completely up to him, even if that means he gets benched for Hogan.

3. Josh Gordon: He's the number one weapon of offense for the Browns and the only elite player the Bears should gameplan for. He's exciting to watch and honestly at this point one of the only bright spots of the team.

4. Carl Nassib: Nassib has played the majority of the first team snaps with Ogbah being out. He also plays on the strong side of the run game. Nassib needs to improve a bit in order to keep the Bears running game in check.

5. Jabrill Peppers: Peppers could be playing near the line of scrimmage more with Derrick Kindred being out the last two games. It could be interesting to see Peppers near the more, at a more natural position for him.


Injury Report

Weather Report


Betting Line: (As of 12/22/17) Bears -6.5


Prediction:
Bears 17 Browns 10

The Browns lose a close one and are one step closer to 0-16. It's hard to believe the Browns would go winless in 2017 but unfortunately it is becoming a reality. This game could also be the nail in the coffin for Hue Jackson...1-30 in two season and potentially 1-31...It's all bad bros, it's all bad.

Browns Preview 12/15/17: Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The still winless Cleveland Browns host the Baltimore Ravens in their last home game of the season this week. The Browns lost a heartbreaker last week to the Green Bay Packers in overtime. The Ravens also lost last week in a shootout with the Pittsburgh Steelers.


Browns Offense vs Ravens Defense


The last time the Browns played the Ravens the offense had a tough time. Kizer turned the ball over four times and as a team, the Browns turned it over five times total. That game was when Kizer exited the game with a migraine and then returned not at full health.

For the Browns offensively they need to take care of the football, it is that simple. And it starts with Kizer. The Ravens are going to bring pressure and force Kizer to beat them. Yes, the Browns have Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman but in the second half of the game last week they had issues with getting them the ball. A win or a loss is going to be because of Kizer's play.

The Ravens aren't going to let the running game get going. Crowell had his first 100+ yard game of the season last week but don't expect the same this week. The Browns running game will need get 100 yards total, between Crowell, Duke Johnson, and Kizer in order to keep the Browns in the game.



Browns Defense vs Ravens Offense

Joe Flacco hasn't had a great year so the Browns should force him into difficult throws under pressure. The Ravens have a solid running game led by Alex Collins who has 825 rushing yards this season. Joe Schobert and Christian Kirksey are the keys guys on defense this Sunday. They need to keep containment and not allow the big running play. Also it is on Gregg Williams to put guys in a the best position, which didn't happen in the fourth quarter last week.

The Browns desperately need to stop the run this week, The weather conditions won't be that great and hopefully the Browns can bait Flacco into some bad throws like he's prone to do.




Five Guys to Watch


1. DeShone Kizer: It's all on the quarterback, and Kizer hasn't shown the ability to take care of the football. Let's hope last weeks mistakes are a turning point in his young career.

2. Josh Gordon: Two games into his return Gordon has five catches, over 100 yards and a touchdown. He should have had a better game statistically last week but " no calls" on apparent penalties cost him and the Browns points.

3. Isaiah Crowell: Crowell needs to build upon a solid week last week. With not ideal weather conditions the Browns need someone to carry the rock and carry it well.

4. Nate Orchard: Orchard is getting more playing time with the first team since the Ogbah injury. He's not the run stopper Ogbah is but Orchard needs to step up since he playing on the run heavy side. Also it wouldn't hurt for him to pressure Flacco into some bad passes.

5. The playcallers: Hue Jackson and Gregg Williams need to improve on their second half play calling. Hue went super conservative last week, which is fine as long as he sticks with it. Williams did the same thing, he basically went to a prevent defense with the defensive backs lined up seven yards off of the line of scrimmage. That's one of the main reasons the Browns lost the lead last week. Allowing free jumps off of the line of scrimmage.


Injury:

Weather:

Betting Line (As of 12/14/17) Baltimore -7


Prediction

Baltimore 27 Browns 10

Another terrible loss, and the Browns will finishes winless at home this year. It really is getting harder to write these previews knowing the Browns have only a slim chance to pull up the upset. Next week it's onto Chicago on Xmas Eve...

Browns Preview 12/8/17: Green Bay Packers @ Cleveland Browns

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The 6-6, Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay Packers travel to Cleveland this week to take on the 0-12 Browns. If at the beginning of the season someone told you the Packers would be 6-6, the Browns were winless but still had a chance no one would have believed you. Its also been a fun Thursday as a Browns fan, Sashi Brown was fired and Hue Jackson will remain the Head Coach in 2018. *insert Mike Polk "Fun times in Cleveland Again". But on to actual game...


Browns Offense vs Packers Defense

I know this is crazy to say but the Browns might be able to put up some points against the Packers defense. Their passing defense isn't that good, and DeShone Kizer could actually throw an accurate pass to Josh Gordon we could see Gordon go for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Again, I know it sounds nuts, but what Gordon did last week against Casey Hayward isn't really anything to take lightly. The guy shut down all the other top receivers he's gone up against this year and is ranked as the top cornerback this year. Gordon against a struggling Packers secondary screams Kizer's first 300 yard game.

The running game needs to keep on keeping on. And that means Isaiah Crowell, Duke Johnson, and DeShone Kizer. Last week they had just under 100 yards against a really tough defense in the Chargers. Now the Packers run defense is better than their pass defense because of Mike Daniels and Blake Martinez. If the Browns can get a lead and use the run game to win the time of possession it could be a recipe for success.



Browns Defense vs Packers Offense

The Packers will have to start Brett Hundley for one more week. With the help of two defensive touchdowns last week the Packers beat the Buccaneers 26-20 in overtime. In that game Hundley threw for 84 yards and threw one pick. Its fairly obvious that Green Bay misses Rodgers. The key for the Browns this game is to let Hundley beat you with his arm. He's thrown for only five touchdowns in the eight games he's played. And he's also prone to turnovers, throwing eight picks and fumbling three times.

The Browns should key in on stopping the run this week. The Packers have a running back by committee with Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones as their leading rushers. The Browns also can't forget about Hundley scrambling out of the pocket. He has good speed and ran for 66 yards last week in the overtime win.



Five Guys To Watch

1. Josh Gordon: In his first game in almost three seasons Gordon went for four catches for 85 yards. He also went up against the best corner in the league. It should be exciting to see how he plays against a struggling secondary.

2. DeShone Kizer: If it weren't for Kizer the Browns probably would have won last week. Multiple terrible throws to a wide open Josh Gordon and a sack-fumble in the redzone. That's exactly why we lost. But Sunday is another chance to redeem himself.

3. David Njoku: Njoku had a career game last week. Four catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. Hopefully this means we get to see Njoku on the field more.

4. Joe Schobert: In a game where the Browns need to stop the run Schobert seems like an obvious pick for a guy to watch.

5. Hue Jackson: Let's be 100%...Hue Jackson won the power struggle against Sashi Brown. And with that he has security for 2018.  I'm curious if Jackson starts to change up his playcalling knowing his job is safe going forward. I expect him to go into his bag of tricks this week and have a good game overall.

Injury Report:

Weather Report:

Betting Line (As of 12/7/17)
Packers -3


Prediction:
Browns 24 Packers 14

I know, I'm crazy for picking the Browns but with everything that's happened this week it seems like a game the Browns could accidentally win...the stars are lining up. The Packers are struggling on defense, they don't have Aaron Rodgers, and the Browns have Josh Gordon and a head coach who really doesn't have any pressure on him to win a game since 2018 is already guaranteed.

Browns Preview 12/1/17: Cleveland Browns @ Los Angeles Chargers

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


The Cleveland Browns travel to LA to take on the Chargers Sunday. The Browns are still winless after losing to the Bengals last week. But good news for the Browns...Josh Gordon will play and start this Sunday! Gordon will play in his first regular season game since week 16 in 2014.



Browns Offense vs Chargers Defense

The Browns are going up against an interesting team defensively. The Chargers are the 7th best pass defense but rank last when it comes to rush defense. The Browns offensively had a solid game last week. And they need to repeat that success the next five games in order to win. Isaiah Crowell finally showed up last week with 95 yards on the ground and needs to carry the team this week against the worst run defense. Duke Johnson is going to be a huge threat this week also. With the return of Josh Gordon, and Corey Coleman playing well since returning from injury, Johnson should have plenty of space to catch the ball out of the back field and make something happen.

The passing game for the Browns will have its hands full this week preventing Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram out of the backfield. The Browns need to get the ball out of DeShone Kizer's hands as quickly as possible. They need to scheme up plays to keep the pass rush on edge. I expect Hue Jackson to call a few screens in this game to make sure the rush isn't always coming up field.

The return of Josh Gordon is super exciting. Even though he hasn't played in almost three seasons he is without a doubt the best receiver on the roster and outside of Corey Coleman, the only player who would make it on another teams roster.



Browns Defense vs Chargers Offense


This is could be a long day for the Browns defense. They've had issues stopping the run the past couple weeks and will go up against one of the top young running backs in Melvin Gordon. If the Browns key on stopping the run, the Chargers have one of the top quarterbacks and receivers in the game to counter.

Philip Rivers is incredible and one of the top quarterbacks the past 15 plus seasons. This season with Keenan Allen healthy, Rivers is having another great season. Allen is Rivers favorite receiver recording 67 catches for over 900 yards already this season. The Browns will also have to focus on tight end Hunter Henry who has 31 catches on the season. The tight ends have given the Browns issues this season.

Again it could be a long day defensively but Rivers is prone to throw the ball into coverage so it is extremely important for the Browns to force multiple turnovers in order to stay in the game.



Five Guys To Watch


1. Josh Gordon: Arguably the most talented receiver in the past five years is finally playing a regular season game. It will be interesting to see how often the Browns use him and how they use him going forward.

2. DeShone Kizer: The return of Gordon goes hand in hand with Kizer playing to be the guy next year. Kizer has an opportunity to show that his mistakes all aren't on him. Kizer having Gordon could be like Deshaun Watson having Hopkins.

3. Joe Schobert: Schobert is second in tackles this season. The Browns need him to show up and force the Chargers offense into either passing or running. If the Browns can make the Chargers one dimensional the Browns could force a turnover or two.

4. Myles Garrett: Basically the opposite of Schobert. If Garrett can get to Rivers multiple times it could really be the difference in a blow out or a close game.

5. Spencer Drango: Drango has had a tough go of it after playing well against the Vikings. He needs to keep Kizer upright. Its going to be a tough task for Drango go up against the elite pass rush of the Chargers.


Injury Report

Weather Report

Betting Line (as of 11/30/17) Chargers -14


Prediction: Chargers 35 Browns 14

Unfortunately I think the Browns will get blown out this Sunday. They've had problems against good passing teams and they don't match up well against this team.

Browns Preview 11/17/17: Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cleveland Browns

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The still winless Cleveland Browns host the (6-3) Jacksonville Jaguars. The weather is going to be cold this weekend and the running game is going to be extremely important for both teams. The Browns lost pro-bowl linebacker Jamie Collins for the season last week.


Browns Offense vs Jags Defense

The Browns need to have success running the ball this week and they can't give up on it. The Jags defense is the best when it comes to defending the pass but against the run they are ranked 25th. The running game for the Browns actually had some success last week. Isaiah Crowell ran for 90 yards and a touchdown and both DeShone Kizer and Duke Johnson ran for just over 50 yards. This is how the Browns are going to have to play offensively going forward. They need Crowell and Johnson to average around 120 yards between them and then also take what the defense gives them when it comes to Kizer.

The passing game is getting some help with the return of Corey Coleman. Coleman will be active for the first time since breaking his hand against the Ravens. Kenny Britt finally decided to show up last week even if it was just for two catches and a touchdown. The issue with passing game is guys like Duke Johnson and Seth DeValve are first and third on the team in catches. Second is Ricardo Lewis who has 25 catches but let's be 100...He's barely a NFL receiver.



Browns Defense vs Jags Offense

The Jags offense could be without a number of playmakers this week. Rookie Leonard Fournette has missed some games due to injury and has been limited in practice this week. Also for the Jags, both starting receivers Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee have been absent from practice due to injuries. Even if one of the receivers can't go expect for Fournette or Chris Ivory to get plenty of snaps. Sunday won't be kind to the quarterbacks. And with Kizer and Blake Bortles under-center each team should just play it safe.

For the Browns defensively, expect James Burgess to get the bulk of the snaps with Collins out. Also Jabrill Peppers' role on defense could expand a bit more with the Collins injury. It will be interesting to see if Gregg Williams puts Peppers in at linebacker like the Cardinals do with Deone Bucannon.




Five Guys to Watch


1. DeShone Kizer: I'm curious to see if Hue Jackson continues to put Kizer in favorable positions. He's done so the last two games and it's worked out for the most part. Now if only someone playing receiver can go out and actually make a big play consistently.

 2. Emmanual Ogbah: Ogbah is actually one of the best run stoppers in the game and he is one of the big reasons the Browns rank 4th in rush defense. With terrible weather Ogbah need to be on the field as much as possible in order to limit Fournette or Ivory.

3. Joe Schobert: If I would have told you that Schobert would be leading the Browns in tackles this season last year no one would have believed me...but its true. Schobert cutting weight and moving to middle linebacker has given him a NFL career. Again with a run heavy game plan Schobert will have his name called multiple times.

4. Corey Coleman: I am so glad Coleman is back. Yes, he probably won't get 12+ targets this week but with Coleman back the Browns have a reliable receiver going forward. And I'm sure Kizer can't wait to use his favorite toy again.

5. Jabrill Peppers: Peppers is on the list because of what I said above. He is really good near the line of scrimmage and its something to keep an eye out for if Gregg Williams starts using him as the linebacker hybrid he really is.




Injury Report:

Weather Report:

Betting Line (as of 11/16/17): Jacksonville -7.5


Predictions: Jacksonville 17 Browns...20!

I have a weird feeling about this game. With the terrible weather and all the shit talking the Jags have said this week, it seems like the perfect game for the Browns to win. IF they can take care of the football and not have any stupid mistakes in the redzone...The Browns have a really good chance of upsetting the Jaguars.

Browns Preview 11/10/17: Cleveland Browns @ Detroit Lions

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


The winless Cleveland Browns travel to Detroit to take on the (4-4) Lions this week. The Browns are coming off of their bye week and what an eventful bye week it was. A botched trade which would have sent AJ McCarron to Cleveland and the reinstatement of Josh Gordon (who isn't eligible to play until week 13). The Lions on the other hand beat the Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football 30-17.


Browns Offense vs Lions Defense

It should be interesting to see how Kizer reacts going forward. The potential trade for McCarron only proves that the Browns aren't sold on Kizer being the future for this team. It doesn't mean he can't improve but he has a lot to prove in the next eight weeks.

The game plan should be simple. Run the ball and throw quick passes. Just like the Browns last game vs the Vikings the game plan was to get the ball out of Kizer's hands as fast as possible. Whether it was on a screen pass or quick drag routes to the receivers it seemed to have worked. Kizer didn't have a turnover that game...baby steps.

The running game on the other hand had its ups and downs. Crowell had a solid game for the first time this year but had a costly fumble to start the second half. The game plan of giving Crowell the ball more than Duke Johnson probably won't change unfortunately. What we can hope for is Crowell to have some type of game like he did last week. That's the only way the Browns can have success against the Lions, and keep this game relatively close. 




Browns Defense vs Lions Offense

The Lions are lead by one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Matt Stafford. The Lions offensive revolves around the passing game. Golden Tate is their leading receiver with 50 catches, Marvin Jones is second with 33 and Theo Reddick is third on the team with 29 catches. Reddick is predominantly their third down back and isn't a huge threat to run the ball with only 27 attempts on the season. The Lions passing offense ranks 7th and they are 8th when it comes to points per game.

The Browns defense on the other hand has had issues when it comes to pass defense this year. But which Myles Garrett coming back this week, along with Jabrill Peppers and potentially Jason McCourty the Browns defense might be able to limit the powerful passing game of the Lions.

The running game for Detroit is non-existent. They rank 29th in the league with Ameer Abdullah as their leading rusher with just over 400 yards on the season. The Browns rank in the top five when it comes to rush defense so their is going to be a lot of passes thrown in this game.




Five Guys To Watch

1. DeShone Kizer: I'm curious to see how he plays going forward. Kizer is playing for his opportunity to start in 2018.

2. Myles Garrett: Garrett is exciting to watch...when he plays. He should be as close to 100% missing the London game with a concussion. Expect Garrett to play majority of the snaps this week.

3. David Njoku: Another young rookie who has played well this year. The Browns need to use him as a third down/red zone threat. He's a big target for Kizer and has pretty good hands.

4. Christian Kirksey: Kirksey will be in charge of covering Reddick out of the backfield. It is extremely important for the Browns to keep the Lions passing game in check this week. They can't afford to let backs break free while checking down to the receivers.

5. Spencer Drango: Drango is taking over for the injured Joe Thomas at left tackle. This week he is going up against Ziggy Ansah, who is without a doubt one of the better pass rushers in the league. Drango had a solid game against the Viking and their elite pass rush. Hopefully he can continue to build on the solid outing.


Weather: Dome

Injury Report:

Betting Line (as of 11/9/17)
Detroit -10

Prediction: Lions 28 Browns 13

This game could be close for the majority of the game. But in the forth quarter is when the Lions pull away. The Browns offense will continue to struggle with the lack of playmakers and fans will be patiently waiting for Corey Coleman to get back (next week vs JAX) and the return of Josh Gordon. 

Browns Preview 10/27/17: Minnesota Vikings @ Cleveland Browns, In London

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The Cleveland Browns and the Minnesota Vikings travel to England to play their game this week. The Browns still winless on the season after losing in overtime to the Tennessee Titans. The Browns will also be without Joe Thomas in the starting lineup for the first time since the 2006 season. Kevin Shaffer was the last guy not named Joe Thomas to start at left tackle for the Browns. The Vikings are leading the NFC North with a 5-2 record.


Browns Offense vs Vikings Defense

The Browns will be starting DeShone Kizer at quarterback after benching him in the second half of last weeks game. The Browns game plan this week is pretty simple, protect the ball. Kizer needs to take care of the ball especially in the redzone. The Browns will start Spencer Drango at left tackle in place of Joe Thomas this week.

The Browns running game is probably the most important key to the game this week. The Browns need some type of a running game to protect Kizer from throwing the ball too much. In my opinion Duke Johnson should get the majority of the carries but that's unlikely because we know Hue Jackson likes to run Crowell instead. Johnson and tight end David Njoku need to be on the field more and those are the only two consistent playmakers Kizer has had this year.



Browns Defense vs Vikings Offense

The Browns will be without Myles Garrett who is suffering from a concussion. The Browns could be without Jabrill Peppers and Jason McCourty this week too.

The Browns will be going up against Case Keenum this week. The goal for the Browns defensively is to limit Adam Thielen. Thielen is one of the leading receivers on the year. If the Browns can limit him and force Keenum to dink and dunk his way down the field the Browns defense could have a pretty good day. The Vikings running game isn't really a threat after rookie Dalvin Cook injured his knee and is out for the season.

The Browns are going to have a tough time getting pressure on Keenum and forcing him into bad throws so I almost expect for them try and force him into quick throws like they did week one against Pittsburgh.




Five Guys to Watch


1. DeShone Kizer: This one is pretty simple. Like every other week he starts he is the number one guy fans should watch. Kizer hasn't really developed as we all hoped and with the injury to Joe Thomas he will probably get hit a lot more.

2.  Duke Johnson: Johnson is the only dynamic playmaker on the team. It is inexcusable that Johnson doesn't get the ball more. I say this every week. Duke needs to be the number one running back going forward for this team.

3. Carl Nassib: With Garrett out this week Nassib will be starting in his place. Nassib has played okay when Garrett was out. The Browns need him to get pressure on Keenum in order to create a potential turnover.

4. Jamar Taylor: With McCourty being questionable this week Taylor is the number one corner again this week. Taylor did a good job last week against the Titans but with have a tough challenge this week with the weapons the Vikings have.

5. Any Receiver: The Browns need one of their receivers this week to step up. Britt has been a cancer on this team, but if Bryce Treggs or Kasen Williams can have a decent game hopefully it will be something Kizer and his receivers can build upon.


Injuries

Weather


Prediction: Vikings 35 Browns 10

With a potential blowout in England, Hue Jackson going 1-23 in his tenure, and the bye week next week this could be Hue Jackson's last game as the Browns head coach. Unless the owner and front office come out and say we are going to keep Hue Jackson for the rest of the season and go into 2018 with Hue also. This upcoming bye week could be interesting for a number of reasons. A fired head coach and/or a potential new hire to the front office...Stay Woke.

Browns Preview 10/20/17: Tennessee Titans @ Cleveland Browns

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The winless Cleveland Browns host the Tennessee Titans this Sunday. The Browns will be starting rookie Quarterback DeShone Kizer. Kevin Hogan played terrible last week and sustained a rib injury. Cody Kessler will be Kizer's backup this week. The Titans will be starting Marcus Mariota after coming back from an injury last week in which he played well. The Titans defeated the Colts last week 36-22 to give themselves a 3-3 record.


Browns Offense vs Titans Defense

There is no question the Browns offense has had its struggles in the first six weeks of the season. The issues are simple. Inconsistent quarterback play, the lack of weapons at receiver, and Isaiah Crowell. The Browns this week and going forward should do a few things different.

First, get Duke Johnson more touches. Whether it is 15 rushes and another seven targets in the passing game. Duke Johnson need the ball. His the only reliable playmaker on this team. Now that doesn't mean Hue Jackson shouldn't use Crowell. Crowell should be used when they are running the ball straight up the middle in between the tackles.

The Browns offense also might want to tone it down with the deep ball. I understand the lack of playmakers makes it hard build drives but getting Kizer in second or third and long doesn't help anyone. With that being said, Kizer is still going to have to throw the ball down field to keep the defense honest.   

The final major key for the Browns this week is to trust Kizer. I know that might seem a bit difficult but Hue Jackson has no choice. The benching of Kizer was a knee-jerk reaction. And playing Hogan after a terrible first half was pain stubbornness by Hue. What ever happens Kizer needs to play through it. Yes, it could be another Baltimore game where he throws multiple interceptions but this was the hand Hue was dealt and how he played it.

The Titans defense is a middle of the road defense. This easily could be the week Kizer has a breakout game. But in order for the Browns offense to run their gameplan the Browns defense will need to keep the game close.



Browns Defense vs Titans Offense

The Titans will have Mariota at quarterback but is unlikely to have running back DeMarco Murray. Derrick Henry will likely get the start for the injured Murray. Henry and Murray have identical stats, both running for over 300 yards so far. Henry ran for 131 yards last week against the Colts and Mariota threw for 306 and one touchdown.

The Browns secondary might have some struggles against the receivers of the Titans. Rishard Matthews is their leading receiver with veteran Eric Decker lined up opposite of him. Where the Browns will have issues is covering Delanie Walker, who leads the Titans in catches.



Five Guys to Watch


1. DeShone Kizer: Kizer was benched last week and he had to suffer like the rest of us through a terrible game last Sunday. Hopefully Kizer response positively. And again let's all remember the kid is only 21 years old and has only played in three full games as crazy as that sounds.

2. Jamar Taylor: While Jason McCourty is having a really good year, Jamar Taylor on the other hand hasn't. The Titans will probably target Taylor most of the day and with Taylor dealing with an injury this could be bad news for the Browns.

3. Myles Garrett: With all the speculation of a new front office taking over and them constantly passing on franchise quarterbacks, the pick of Garrett at one has been a home run. Garrett in two games has put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, forcing turnovers and sacks. Garrett is one of the lone bright spots so far this season and he's only played in two games.

4. Duke Johnson: Like stated above, Johnson needs to get the ball a lot more. Of all the things I've had issues with offensively this season the limited touches by Duke is number one. He's the only guy on the field who can take a screen pass or a drag route for a touchdown. He's the lone playmaker on this team the Hue need to feed Duke more.

5. David Njoku: Outside of Johnson, Njoku has been a surprise. A lot of fans didn't think he would make this type of an impact on the team this early. But with is ablity to out run linebackers and out jump safeties, Njoku should be Kizer's favorite target this week in the redzone after have a lot of redzone issues the first five weeks of the season.


Injury Report

Weather Report

Betting Line (As of 10/19/17): Tennessee -6



Prediction: Titans 27 Browns 14

The Browns will fall to 0-7 on the year this week. It will become more and more difficult to defend Hue Jackson as season moves on. I expect Kizer to play better than he has but the lack of playmakers will really show this week. The defense should keep the game close but again like they have in weeks before give up a touchdown drive to put the game out of hand late in the fourth quarter.

Browns Preview 10/13/17: Cleveland Browns @ Houston Texans

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


The winless Cleveland Browns travel to Houston to take on the (2-3) Texans this week. The Browns will be starting a new quarterback this week. Kevin Hogan gets the start in place of the struggling DeShone Kizer. The Texans could be without four starters on their defense and JJ Watt is out for the season with a broken leg. The Texans will start rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson, who the Texans traded up in the draft (with the Browns) to acquire.


Browns Offense vs Texans Defense

The Browns will be starting their 28th different quarterback since returning in 1999, and Hue Jackson will be on his fifth different starter since week one of last year. Kevin Hogan will be under center for the Browns this week. In three games this season, Hogan has thrown three touchdowns and two interceptions. But more importantly, he has a 68.4% completion percentage vs Kizer's 51%.

This week the Browns must rely on the run this week and it should be headlined by Duke Johnson. Johnson is averaging almost five yards per carry and is the leading receiver for the Browns, with 23 catches. Isaiah Crowell has struggled this year. He seems to have issues when he gets the ball on stretch plays. And even when he has gotten running room it seems like he misses the hole or the run blocking doesn't hold up. It should be interesting to see the snap count for each back at the end of this game. Also the Texans can't forget about Hogan as a runner. Hogan is someone who can run a read-option effectively. Last season Hogan ran for over 100 yards after replacing Cody Kessler against the Bengals.

The receiving situation will be interesting this week. Kenny Britt is expected to be back, along with Sammie Coates. But it does seem like Hogan and rookie tight end David Njoku have a lot of chemistry. Two of Hogan's touchdown passes were to Njoku including one last week in relief of Kizer. Ricardo Lewis was the leading receiver last week with five catches for 71 yards. With Britt on a snap count, Lewis will probably get the majority of the snaps.



Browns Defense vs Texans Offense

Contrary to the 0-5 record, the Browns have a top five defense in the NFL. On the other hand...the Texans have been good in their own right. They don't pass the ball as much, ranked 20th in yards per game, but they hold onto the ball and run the ball with a lot of success, ranked 4th in rushing yards per game.

Rookie Deshaun Watson has thrown 12 touchdowns and only four picks this season. He also has almost 200 rushing yards on the season and two rushing touchdowns. Watson's top target is DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins leads the Texans in catches with 35 and second on the team is Lamar Miller with 12. So the Browns desperately needs to shut down Hopkins this week in order to have success.

Miller is the leading rusher for the Texans with 331 yards and one touchdown. They also use rookie D'Onte Foreman who has 148 yards on the year and is averaging 3.8 yards per carry.

The Browns will have Jamie Collins back after missing the last three weeks with a concussion. The Browns defense will be a full strength for the first time this season. It should be interesting to see how everything plays out for the Browns and Gregg Williams.





Five Guys to Watch


1. Kevin Hogan: Hogan is making his first career start this week. Honestly I don't really know what to expect from Hogan besides him running the ball at times and throwing to Njoku.

2. David Njoku: Speaking of Njoku, he seems like an obvious guy to highlight this week. Hogan is comfortable throwing the ball his way and Njoku has come up big at times for the Browns in his young career.

3. Isaiah Crowell: I think this might be Crowell's last chance before he gets demoted to RB2. The Browns are going to run the ball a ton this week and Crowell is needed for this offense to have any sort of success. If he doesn't, Duke Johnson becomes the starter sooner rather than later.

4. Jamie Collins: Collins is one of the best linebackers in the league. Paired with Kirksey and Schobert the Browns should have more than enough to limit the running game of Houston's.

5. Myles Garrett: Speaking of helping the running game, Garrett playing more snaps this week is going to help too. Also with the Texans offensive line struggles, Garrett will need to capitalize on it in order to limit big plays from DeAndre Hopkins.


Weather Report

Injury Report

Betting Line: Houston -9.5


Prediction: Houston 20 Browns 14

The Browns fall to 0-6 and Hue Jackson record falls to 1-21 as the Browns Head Coach... All in all I think this team plays well but the limitations at quarterback and receiver will show its head this game. Hopefully I'm wrong again and the Browns end up helping themselves out by defeating the Texans.

Browns Preview 10/6/17: New York Jets @ Cleveland Browns

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


The 0-4 Cleveland Browns host the 2-2 New York Jets in week five of the NFL season. The Browns are coming off of a terrible loss against the Bengals last week. The Jets on the other hand, are coming off of a overtime win against the Jaguars.


Browns Offense vs Jets Defense

This is going to be an interesting week for the Browns offense. The Browns running game is going up against one of the worst rush defenses in the league. Duke Johnson is going to play a big role this week. Johnson has been the only consistent playmaker on the Browns. Johnson is a weapon in both the running game and the passing game. Johnson is averaging 5.7 yards per carry in only 10 attempts and has two rushing touchdowns. Johnson is also the leading receiver for the Browns with 20 catches through four weeks.

DeShone Kizer has had his ups and downs in four weeks. He also hasn't had much help from his receivers. Kenny Britt has been horrible this season and might be out this week with multiple injuries. Kizer will have a new group of receivers to throw to this week. Ricardo Lewis, Sammie Coates, Kasen Williams, Rashard Higgins, and new Brown Bryce Treggs who was signed off of the Eagles practice squad.

This week its important to be a more balanced offense. Of course, that means the defense has to keep the game close in order to be able to run the ball which is easier said then done.



Browns Defense vs Jets Offense

The return of the Mc...Cown. Yes, Josh McCown will be starting for the Jets. This year McCown has basically been what he's always been. He won't light up the stats but he's a serviceable quarterback who won't win you games but won't necessarily lose them. His leading receiver is Jermaine Kearse and Jeremy Kerely.

The running game is the strength of the Jets and the strength of the Browns defense. The Jets will be running three backs at a time. Bilal Powell is their leader rusher and is spelled by vet Matt Forte and Elijah McGuire. The Jets are ranked eighth in rushing yards per game and the Browns are tied for eighth in the least amount of rushing yards given up per game.

The Browns should finally have Myles Garrett make his season debut this week and will hopefully have Danny Shelton back who missed last week with a calf injury. The Browns are still projected to be without Jamie Collins who is likely to miss his third straight game because of a concussion.







Five Guys To Watch


1. DeShone Kizer: Rookie quarterback will always be someone to watch. I've seen growth from week one, but it is getting a bit hard to grade him with the inconsistent receiver play.

2. Myles Garrett: FINALLY. The number one overall player will play. He will probably have some type of a snap count but its going to be good to see him on the field in Browns and Orange.

3. Joe Schobert: With the Jets strength being able to run the ball. Schobert's ability to stop the run will be extremely important this week. The Browns need to force McCown to beat them.

4. Ricardo Louis: Louis will likely get the start this week with Coleman out and Britt possibly being out because of poor play...Lewis will likely get most of the snaps at receiver and Kizer really needs someone on the outside to step up.

5. Trevon Coley: Coley is going to get most of the snaps at defensive tackle with Shelton coming back from injury. Coley is going to have to set the tone for the run defense to allow guys like Kirko and Schobert to come in and make the play.


Weather Report

Injury Report


Betting Line:  Cleveland -1


Prediction: Browns 24 Jets 23

I know they've burnt me the past couple weeks, but I think the Browns will sneak out a victory on Sunday. Myles Garrett's impact against Josh McCown, who is turnover prone, will be the force to put them over the edge.