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. 

Leadoff with Lee 2.1.16

By @cleeverizon

Calvin Johnson reportedly told the Lions that this past season was his last. If this is true it's the best kept secret in the NFL that never leaked. Johnson hasn't announced anything publicly yet but according to ESPN's Adam Schefter retirement is what's in store. Calvin Johnson made $113.8M on the field in his NFL career. This is the money Calvin Johnson walked away from: 2016: $24 million, 2017: $21.3 million, 2018: $17 million, 2019: $18.25 million. Calvin Johnson is Detroit's all-time leader in receptions (731), receiving yards (11,619) receiving TD (83) & receiving yards per game (86.1). Johnson has made the Pro-Bowl six times 2010-2015 and was All-Pro three times 2011-2013.

Even though I thought Cleveland's own Travis Kelce should have won MVP, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson throws three touchdown passes as Team Irvin beats Team Rice 49-27 in the NFL Pro Bowl. Teddy Bridgewater finished  6 of 8, 129 yards, 2 TD's & 1 INT.

Here are the key dates you need to know about the Browns and your favorite team, so make sure you keep this handy.

Teams are already in draft preparations, scouting the East-West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl in the last two weeks. Teams have also been able to trigger the fifth-year option on their 2013 first-round picks since January 4, and have until May 3 to do so.

February 8 is the first day teams can cut players and the day the waiver system begins. Teams can start signing CFL players with expired contracts on Feb. 9

The period to designate franchise tags and transition tags is February 16 - March 1. Seven teams used the franchise tag in 2015.

The NFL Combine is back in Indianapolis from Feb. 23-29, where the athletes perform the 40-yard dash, three-cone drill, and other performance tests, but most importantly get checked out by each team’s doctors.

The “legal tampering” period for NFL free agency lasts from March 7-9. Free agents can negotiate with other teams, but cannot sign a contract until March 9. But they can re-sign with their current team at any time, including now. The Browns have 17 free agents this year including FS Tashaun Gipson, LB Craig Robertson, RT Mitchell Schwartz, CB Johnson Bademosi, WR Travis Benjamin, LB Scott Solomon, G Austin Pazstor, LB Tank Carter, DT Jaime Meder, K Travis Coons, FS Don Jones, WR Terrelle Pryor, tackles Darrian Miller and Kaleb Johnson, RB Raheem Mostert, WR Darius Jennings and QB Pat Devlin.

The NFL calendar officially flips to 2016 on March 9 at 4 p.m. At this point, free agents can sign with any team, players can be traded, and each team has to be compliant with the new salary cap.

Teams have 90 players on the roster in the offseason, but only the top 51 contracts count against the salary cap. Early projections from the NFL Management Council have estimated the 2016 salary cap at $154 million (plus whatever unused cap space each team rolls over from 2015), but based on previous years the cap could reach $160 million or even higher.

There are two sets of owners meetings this spring. From March 20-23 in Boca Raton, Fla., the owners and Competition Committee will vote on new rules for the 2016 season. And from May 23-25 in Charlotte, N.C., NFL owners will vote on the sites for Super Bowls 53 and 54 (2019 and 2020). The candidates are Miami, Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa, and Los Angeles (2020 only).

Teams with first-year head coaches can begin their offseason program April 4, and teams with returning coaches can begin April 18. Offseason workouts are strictly defined for the type of contact and type of drills that are allowed, and last nine or 10 weeks.

The NFL Draft is April 28-30 in Chicago. The Rookie Symposium is June 19-25 in Aurora, Ohio. The deadline for franchise-tag players to sign long-term extensions is July 15, and training camps will open around July 28.

Sunday afternoon kicked off with the two Eastern Conference teams facing each other. The Atlantic Division got the win over the Metropolitan in a close game which ended with a score of 4-3. You can see Dylan Larkin's winning goal on Cory Schneider.

Next up were Brent Burns, Joe Pavelski, John Scott, and the rest of the Pacific division taking on the Central. This game was much more high scoring, with a final of 9-6 for the Pacific. Scott had two goals and fought Patrick Kane.

The third and final game of the tournament was the Atlantic vs. the Pacific and the lowest scoring of the three, ending 1-0 after no goals were scored in the first twenty minutes. Unfortunately, Corey Perry had the only goal of the match.

John Scott was voted MVP. Scott won a Honda Pilot and a share of the one million dollars that will be split between the winning team.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman signs deal through 2022, according to a person familiar with the situation and which Bettman confirmed prior to the NHL All-Star game.  Financial details were not disclosed, the deal would run through the term of the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NHLPA. Bettman, who has served as commissioner since 1993, earned about $9.6 million during the 2013-14 season. He has been the league's leader since 1993, when it had 24 teams. Now it has 30 franchises and there may be one or two more in a couple of years.

TV Tonight 9.8.14

By @neveRWilliams

NFL
Monday Night Countdown (ESPN, 5 PM)
Giants @ Lions (ESPN, 7 PM)
Chargers @ Cardinals (ESPN, 10:15 PM)

MLB
Cardinals @ Reds OR Braves @ Nationals (MLB Network, 7 PM)
Cubs @ Blue Jays (WGN, 7 PM)

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WWE Raw (USA, 8 PM)
Running Wild with Bear Grylls, SEASON FINALE (NBC, 8 PM)
Bachelor In Paradise (ABC, 8 PM)
MasterChef (FOX, 8 PM)

A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY (HBO, 9 PM)
American Ninja Warrior (NBC, 9 PM)
Dallas (TNT, 9 PM)

Anger Management (FX, 10 PM)
Teen Wolf, SEASON FINALE (MTV, 10 PM)
Under The Dome (CBS, 10 PM)

TV Weekend 8.8.14 - 8.9.14

NFL
Saints @ Rams (Friday, NFL Network, 8 PM)

Preseason, Browns @ Lions (Saturday, NBC/WKYC/NFL Network, 7:30 PM)

MLB
Indians @ Yankees (Friday, STO, 7 PM)
Cardinals @ Orioles OR Tigers @ Blue Jays (Friday, MLB Network, 7 PM)

Indians @ Yankees (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 1 PM)
Cardinals @ Orioles (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 4 PM)
Nationals @ Braves OR Dodgers @ Brewers (Saturday, MLB Network, 7 PM)

GOLF
2014 PGA Championship, Third Round (Saturday, CBS, 2 PM)

TENNIS
ATP Tennis, U.S. Open Series, Rogers Cup, Quarterfinal (Friday, ESPN 2, 7 PM)

WTA Tennis, Rogers Cup, First Semifinal (Saturday, ESPN 2, 1 PM)
ATP Tennis, U.S. Open Series, Rogers Cup, Semifinal (Saturday, ESPN 2, 3 PM)
ATP Tennis, U.S. Open Series, Second Semifinal (Saturday, ESPN 2, 8 PM)

OTHER SPORTS
Little League World Series, Southeast Regional, Final (Friday, ESPN, 7 PM)
Little League World Series, West Regional, Second Semifinal (Friday, ESPN, 9 PM)
SOFTBALL: Big League World Series, Second Semifinal (Friday, ESPNU, 7 PM)
WOMEN'S SOCCER: FIFA U-20 World Cup, Brazil vs. United States (Friday, ESPNU, 9:45 PM)

SOFTBALL: Senior League World Series, Final (Saturday, ESPN, 12 PM)
WOMEN'S SOCCER: FIFA U-20 World Cup, England vs. Mexico (Saturday, ESPNU, 12:45 PM)
NASCAR RACING: Nationwide Series, ZIPPO 200 at The Glen (Saturday, ABC, 2 PM)
Little League World Series, Great Lakes Regional, Final (Saturday, ESPN, 2 PM)
MOTORCYCLE RACING: Pro Motocross Championship, Unadilla National (Saturday, NBC, 3 PM)
SWIMMING: U.S. National Championships (Saturday, NBC, 4 PM)
Little League World Series, Northwest Regional, Final (Saturday, ESPN, 4 PM)
SOFTBALL: Big League World Series, Final (Saturday, ESPN 2, 5 PM)
Little League World Series, New England Regional, Final (Saturday, ESPN, 7 PM)
Little League World Series, West Regional, Final (Saturday, ESPN, 9 PM)
WNBA: Minnesota Lynx @ Phoenix Mercury (Saturday, NBA TV, 10 PM)

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WWE Friday Night Smackdown (Friday, SyFy, 8 PM)
Girl Meets World (Friday, Disney Channel, 8:30 PM)
The Knick, SERIES PREMIERE (Friday, Cinemax, 10 PM)

Hell On Wheels (Saturday, AMC, 9 PM)
Outlander, SERIES PREMIERE (Saturday, STARZ, 9 PM)