The Cleveland Browns are fresh off a big, shocking victory over the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 but, in the NFL, things move quickly. We may not be on to Week 4 in totality yet, the NFL playoff race and NFL draft positioning were more important already this morning, but a quick look ahead to the next team on the Browns schedule on this Victory Monday.
The Detroit Lions came into the season with high expectations and were seen as one of the toughest games on Cleveland’s schedule. The two teams have
had some memorable games in the past and, after Week 3’s shocking win on the shores of Lake Erie, we could be in for another fun matchup.
There is no “Battle of the Barge” this week but we could be in for an important game in Week 4 with six reasons for optimism for the visitors:
Browns Defense
There are still ways to beat the Cleveland defense but DC Jim Schwartz has the defensive line humming, LB Carson Schwesinger all over the field and has basically nullified the run game of all three teams they’ve faced. As Brian Baldinger noted, “the best defense in football” can carry the team.
Lions Coordinators
Detroit is still finding its way after losing OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn. A storyline that Lions media and coaches are probably sick of already, the team must prove they have things figured out with new OC John Morton and DC Kelvin Sheppard before this question will go away.
Quinshon Judkins and Game Control
Through three weeks of the NFL season, Cleveland has averaged the fifth-most time of possession despite not running the ball well, overall, especially in Week 1 without Judkins. The Browns rookie back is showing flashes of finding his footing already and, paired with Kevin Stefanski’s ball control offense, has allowed Cleveland to control the clock and game flow for two whole games and the early parts of Week 2 versus the Baltimore Ravens.
Short week for home team, short travel for visitors
The Lions have not played their Week 3 game yet, facing the Ravens on Monday Night Football on the road. With the Browns sitting at home after finishing their Week 3 victory around 4 PM on Sunday, Detroit will land back home sometime early Tuesday morning (between 2 AM and 3 AM) and are likely only to have a walk through on Wednesday, instead of a practice. The Lions are a veteran team, but could feel the effects going into the fourth game of the season, especially with the Browns having about 36 hours more rest.
Detroit vs Green Bay Week 1
A small thing but still interesting to look back at the team Cleveland just beat and the team they play next, matching up just a couple of weeks ago. The Packers held the Lions to just 46 yards rushing on 22 attempts and held QB Jared Goff to 225 yards with one TD and one INT despite 39 pass attempts.
On the other side of the ball, Green Bay was able to be meticulous, giving RB Josh Jacobs 19 carries, which he contributed 66 yards and a touchdown with. (For comparison, Cleveland’s defense held Jacobs to 30 yards rushing on 16 attempts.)
Momentum plus London trip
There may not be a team coming out of Week 3 with more momentum, energy and excitement than the Cleveland Browns. The team also knows they have a trip to London the following week that will feel like a small victory trip if they can pull off two straight upsets. While the Browns have some momentum, they also have a lot of veterans on the team who know they need to focus on every detail to win games. With stars like Joel Bitonio playing despite barely being able to walk, Cleveland knows it can’t take their eyes off the goal right in front of them.
As Stefanski says quite often, it’s time to go 1-0 this week.
