The Cleveland Browns find themselves in a precarious position so early in the schedule. Losing both opening games has them doubting themselves as players as well as coaches. But the good news is that it is just Week 3. No need to panic – just start winning.
Admittedly, their opponent this weekend is a very good team, the Green Bay Packers. They should, in all likelihood, challenge the Philadelphia Eagles for NFC superiority. The Pack is currently unbeaten at 2-0-0 and are big favorites against the Browns.
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If Cleveland can beat the Packers, then the entire schedule opens up with confidence and optimism for the remainder of the year.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. No, sir.
Green Bay is a very good team this year. The Browns have had issues, especially with both slot cornerbacks and at safety. The kicker was horrible one week, then did what he was hired to do the next. Cleveland can’t seem to get the running game going. No receiver is having any sort of banner year. Quarterback play is iffy. The linebackers are being called upon to make too many plays.
And they are being forced to air it out.
What will be the keys to the Browns winning this game? Here are three:
Strong pass rush
With a very good passing attack, the best method to interrupt the Packers’ flow is to get pressure on their quarterback. Starting QB Jordan Love was all out versus the Washington Commanders this past weekend, going 19-31 with 292 passing yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. In fact, Love has not turned the ball over at all so far this season.
He is not as mobile this year as in years past as he has just six rushes for 16 yards in both contests. The Commanders sacked him twice, but that’s been it so far. Love is a much better pure passer, and if he gets into any sort of rhythm and has a clean pocket, he can throw into tight windows and can go through his progressions.
DE Myles Garrett will need to have a good game, as well as DT Shelby Harris and rookie DT Mason Graham. The issue is an inconsistent pass rush from the other outside defensive end spot with either Isaiah McGuire or Alex Wright. Both have been spotty with their pass rush, but are good against the run.
DC Jim Schwartz rarely blitzes, but the Packers feature an offense that needs time for passing lanes to develop. Perhaps Schwartz can send a safety or LB Carson Schwesinger more often and get Love on his heels more. He does not have much downfield vision when flushed and tends to run instead of looking for the open man.
Garrett is currently third in the league in pressures (6) and is tied for most sacks with 3.5, but the greater need is to disrupt the pocket.
Shadow the receivers
Green Bay utilizes a trio of receivers and just Jayden Reed to an injury. Matthew Golden, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks all have good speed and can exploit the soft zones.
The Browns’ defensive backs have got to be on top of these guys, or another four TD pass game will become the norm. Both safeties for Cleveland, Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman, have to be closer to the deep play instead of reacting after the player has already gotten open and is looking for the pass. Make decisions as a safety man, and then start moving that way earlier.
But the Packers are built for the big splash on offense. They dink and dunk, they try to hit the big one. With Love under center, the team can throw it deep because he has the arm strength. Delpit and Hickman will need to seal off the top when the Green Bay offense attempts the long ball. Which they do.
If this Browns defense can keep receiver Wicks in check and take him out of the offensive game plan, it would be a huge plus. The defense will need a good tackler and a pass coverage guy to shadow him.
Successful offensive drives and air it out
To be effective in this game, the Browns’ offense must move the ball. Easier said than done. We admit this.
Cleveland must be able to complete drives. Period. The offense spends too much time in its own end of the field, so drives must be sustained in order to get into Green Bay’s end of the field.
The Browns cannot run the ball. But that’s okay, because the Packers are ranked #2 against the run. The simple solution is to just throw the heck out of the ball for the majority of the contest. Flacco is used to this as he tossed 45 passing attempts against the Cincinnati Bengals and another 45 passes in the Baltimore matchup.
Currently, the Browns are ranked #1 in pass attempts (93) and #1 in pass completions (59). Sacks allowed are way down this year (4), but Cleveland is #2 in tossing interceptions with three.
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As far as run game statistics, the numbers are just awful in every category, so let’s just skip this and move on.
The Browns must collect points and abandon the notion of going for it almost every time after crossing the midfield stripe. If the offense can regularly get inside or near Green Bay’s 40-yard line, trot out K Andre Szmyt and let him rip. The Packers’ defense is one of the league’s best and is currently ranked #3, so settle for field goals and build up the scoreboard.
Cleveland is tied for the most fourth-down attempts with six, and has made just half. The successful teams in the league have gone for it on fourth down as well, but have good conversion percentages, such as the Detroit Lions going 4-5 and the Buffalo Bills 3-3.
The short passing game should be there for Flacco, especially since his favorite targets thus far have been TE David Njoku and rookie TE Harold Fannin. They are both grinders.
And get WR Jerry Jeudy more involved in the game plan. So far, just eight targets in both games with nine receptions. Throw him the damn ball and start getting some longer throws with deeper gains.
Against the Packers, the Browns will need to shut down the run game and air it out at least 50 times.
