This Sunday, the Cleveland Browns take on the New York Jets. Below, we analyze a few advantages, disadvantages, or general thoughts about the two teams before getting to our predictions for the game.
Blind Confidence in Cleveland
As a fan, for weeks, I’ve been looking at the upcoming game against the New York Jets and chalking it up as a win. Even as we are less than 24 hours away from kickoff, my brain can’t fathom an outcome in which the Browns lose this game. And yet, at the same time, I ask myself, “How is it possible to have that type of blind confidence?”
Coming out of their bye, the Browns are a 2-6 team that has featured one of the worst offenses I’ve ever seen. Somehow, Cleveland is actually averaging a little more points per game than three other teams in the NFL (Titans, Saints, Raiders). I think the season has been such a disappointment so far that I have to assure myself the Browns are certainly going to win this week, in order to stay invested in the season. Therefore, let’s take a look at all the positive spins:
- The Browns are coming off the bye, with their biggest change being that Kevin Stefanski gave up the playcalling duties. At this point, a change literally can’t make the offense work, so maybe there will be some plays that are more to the strengths of Dillon Gabriel.
- This week, Cedric Tillman returns to the wide receiver position. Not that he lights the world on fire, but it didn’t seem like the offense was getting better with Isaiah Bond out there. Even though I love the Browns’ tight ends, there absolutely has to be a concerted effort to get the ball in the hands of these receivers. There needs to be a threat of intermediate range passes to open up some of the shorter plays that are intended to gain yards after the catch. It’s up to Gabriel to rise to the challenge.
- I think the biggest reason I’m optimistic this week, though, is that I’m going back to the Miami Dolphins game and how the Browns’ defense created so much havoc that the offense couldn’t possibly screw up the short fields they were presented with. We’ve also seen Justin Fields struggle against the Browns before, and Myles Garrett could (no kidding) go back-to-back with five sack games — it could be that type of day for the defense.
- You also have the cherry on top that the Jets traded away their top two defenders during their bye week in CB Sauce Gardner and DT Quinnen Williams. Now, granted, the Browns’ offense hasn’t shown anything to even take advantage of a defense missing those types of players, but we’re trying to stay optimistic here.
- The Jets don’t throw the ball well, but they’re near the top of the NFL in rushing. They don’t throw interceptions, but they’re among the leaders in getting sacked....
Dawgs By Nature
