This Sunday, the Cleveland Browns take on the Miami Dolphins. Below, we analyze a few advantages, disadvantages, or general thoughts about the two teams before getting to our predictions for the game.
The Sad State of Affairs We’ve Come To
I’ll still get excited if the Browns win, sure. But I don’t blame Myles Garrett one bit for picking his nails and being critical of the offense this past week. When he requested a trade earlier this offseason, I understood the sentiment, but thought the Browns should hang on to him for what he meant
to the defense. And now, I feel defeated, just like I’m sure Garrett is.
The whole reason he made that pitch during the offseason was because he saw this coming and didn’t want to experience it again: seeing an offense that was incapable of doing anything. How many years are we going to waste a good defense with an incompetent offense? Just like I think back to when this team had a young offensive line, Nick Chubb, and Baker Mayfield, all set to be in their prime. And now, they’re either gone or aged, and there are so many positions that need to be upgraded in the future that it’s crazy how behind this offense is.
This week, the Browns take on the Miami Dolphins, and it’s a bad 1-5 team against a bad 1-5 team. Sure, something has to give, but gone is any sense of confidence I have in this club. Even if you look at all of the weaknesses the Dolphins may have, I can’t even, as a writer, get excited about breaking down those things because Cleveland’s offense is such a mess that anyone can stop them. This team needs to play sharp on all cylinders just to even try to squeeze out two touchdowns in a game, but they have issues catching the ball, Dillon Gabriel was rattled in his second start, and it seems like someone is missing a key block on every play. David Njoku as also been ruled out this week, and who knows what the offensive tackle position will bring us.
Rain is expected to play a factor during the game, and the wind should also play a factor. I don’t think highly of Tua in those situations, so I think both teams will have issues trying to move the ball. Will it come down to which team has the ball slip out of or through their hands in the conditions, setting up a short field for the other? Perhaps. Even if the Browns got something together this week that was positive, the weather conditions will make it challenging for us to really be able to say, “We saw some improvement,” as opposed to just chalking up to the conditions going our way this week. A sad state of affairs indeed.
Quick Hitters
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz talked about trying to figure out their inability to stop teams in the red zone from scoring touchdowns:
“No, I mean, we’re working really hard, and it’s come from different places. I think the double move was just outside of the red zone. Generally, the best run teams play good red zone defense, and we’ve allowed some rushing touchdowns in there close, like Minnesota (Vikings), just shoved it right up in the A gap. And then early in the year, I thought there were sometimes where, it’s hard to stop them in the red zone, but we took the field after some turnovers or things like that, and we played like three really good plays, they go for it on fourth down and make it. We just got to keep grinding it, we got to play physical down there, we got to take the run away and get back on the right side of that, because having a chance to hold them the field goals or force long field goals is paramount to keeping the score down, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees was asked about throwing with the windy conditions:
“Yeah, I mean, you gotta spin it in the wind. Dillon does that pretty well. Throws a pretty tight ball. Obviously, you got to play on time, you know, some balls that maybe get away with late, but if you’re playing on time, playing on rhythm, hopefully you’re pretty efficient still. And then there’s probably some things, if the wind’s really blowing, and you’re going into it, maybe you’re waiting until the field flips, but try not to focus too much on the exterior factors there.”
Special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone talked about the Browns’ running into the punter penalty last week:
“Yeah. I mean, on the actual, like was the penalty, the right call? Yeah, I think so. I mean, it was, look, here’s the thing. Like, I would have made the same call. I mean, they cut a guy free to the punter. We’ve got to do a better job of being able to avoid the contact there. It’s either get the block, get the ball or get away, so.”
Some other notes to look forward to:
- I am typically an optimistic guy, though, so I’ll offer up one note that is positive: Cleveland has the softest schedule in the NFL, including games against the Dolphins, Jets, and Titans. If somehow, the Browns got their act together, there is certainly still a chance to make a comeback in this weakened AFC North. But the weeks can’t keep going on with the loss column getting bigger and bigger.
- Cleveland likes running two tight end sets, so Blake Whiteheart should see a bigger role this week. We’ll see if he gets any receptions too.
- If you thought the Browns were predictable with short passes before, then Miami’s defense should really be ready to bring everyone up to the line in this game. Of course, knowing the Browns, this will be the type of game where they try to trick everyone and come out attempting to throw bombs down the field.
Predictions
Here are predictions from multiple staff members at DBN:
Chris Pokorny: “I really do think Miami is a bad team too, and that they won’t play good in the weather conditions either. Then again, Miami was supposed to be a bad December road team, and last year, they walked Tyler Huntley into Cleveland and beat us 20-3. Ugh. I’m taking the Browns here off of a coin flip of bad football and turnovers that end up going our way.” Browns 14, Dolphins 7
Jared Mueller: “It is just no fun to assume the Browns will lose, so I might as well assume that the betting lines have been accurate and the home team will come out on the winning side. The pending weather, at least forecasted, could make things difficult for both teams but, to some extent, the Browns should have the advantage in wind and rain.” Browns 21, Dolphins 17
Curtiss Brown: “I don’t know how this game is going to go. I don’t. Both teams are 1-5, but the Miami Dolphins 1-5 feels different than the Cleveland Browns 1-5. The vibes around Miami have been bad since training camp and with Tua calling players out for not attending or showing up late to players only-meetings, that just speaks how bad things are for them. As for Cleveland, the vibe is more frustration if anything. Surprisingly enough, the locker room hasn’t turned on each other but when you lose, it takes a toll on you. Especially with how they have been losing.
It’s hard to be positive about the team when they are losing, and if even if you are people will make assumptions. I’m assuming whoever loses this game will likely lose their coach and the weather is going to be bad. Who knows how this is going to go? Coin flip I guess.” Dolphins 22, Browns 20
Barry Shuck: “Oh my gosh. A winnable game for the Browns! Two wins combined for both clubs. At this point, neither team seems headed to a playoff berth, but the goal should be to get eight or nine wins and call it a day. Actually, Cleveland has a favorable schedule coming up: Dolphins, Patriots, bye week, Jets, Ravens, Raiders. Every single one of these games, the Browns can win. But it takes getting the “W” over Miami first. Actually, scoring more than 20 points would be a victory, eh?” Browns 17, Dolphins 6
Ezweav: “Now is the autumn of our discontent. It’s just been lousy all year, and even heading into a game where it all seems pretty favorable, it still just seems futile. Miami’s defense is awful, but then so is our offense. This is the quintessential ‘resistable force versus moveable object’ matchup. Defensively we probably hold the advantage, albeit the last two weeks have been rough.
Hard to see a loss but also hard to see a win.” Browns 16, Dolphins 16
Who do you think will win, Browns fans? Let us know in the comments section below.
