CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns and Cardinals meet Sunday for just the fifth time since 2000 as Cleveland completes the NFC West portion of the schedule.
Cleveland has won four of their last five following a 2-6 stars, but they are 0-3 against the NFL West this season with losses to the Rams, 49ers and Seahawks.
The game marks a return to Arizona for Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
Kitchens was a member of the Cardinals staff from 2007-17 and Wilks was Arizona’s head coach last season.
With a win Sunday, the Browns would secure seventh victory in back-to-back years marking the second time – and the first since going 7-9 in 2001 and 9-7 in 2002 – in the expansion era they were able to win at least seven in consecutive years.
What to watch for – Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray are the headliners of Sunday’s duel in the desert. The former Oklahoma Sooner teammates won Heisman Trophies in consecutive years and followed the award up by becoming the No. 1 pick in consecutive NFL Drafts. Murray has tallied franchise rookie records in yards passing (3,060), TD passes (16), completions (293) and attempts (457) this season. Meanwhile Mayfield has struggled in his sophomore year completing less than 60% of his passes and throwing more interceptions (16) than touchdowns (15).
Nick Chubb continues to lead the NFL in rushing with 1,281 yards, which is the most since Jamal Lewis ran for 1,304 in 2007. Chubb’s 98.5 yards rushing per game are the best for a Brown since Hall of Famer Jim Brown averaged 110.3 in 1965. Chubb is also the first Browns back with six 100-yard games since Hall of Famer Leroy Kelly’s seven in 1968, the year Kelly last won a rushing title for Cleveland. Chubb rolled up 99 yards in the second half of last week’s win over the Bengals and he faces Arizona’s No. 24 rushing defense.
Receiver Jarvis Landry is 5 yards shy of reaching 1,000 for the first time since 2016. He leads the Browns in catches (69) and yards (995) this season.
Defensive end Olivier Vernon is out for the fifth time in six weeks meaning Sheldon Richardson will see time at defensive end. Richardson started there last week against Cincinnati.
Kendall Lamm will likely start his second straight game at left tackle with Chris Hubbard dealing with a knee injury. Cardinals defensive end Chander Jones has 14.0 sacks and forced nine fumbles this season. Jones has 18 QB hits, three fumble recoveries, three pass breakups and seven tackles for loss.
Both Cardinals specialists are former Browns – kicker Zane Gonzalez and punter Andy Lee. Gonzalez has made 27 of 30 field goal tries this season for Arizona, including both from beyond 50 yards. Lee is averaging 48.5 yards per punt with a 41.5 net average with 16 downed inside the 20.
Last week – Browns beat the Bengals 27-19; Cardinals lost to the Steelers 23-17
Last Time – Nov. 1, 2015: Cardinals 34, Browns 20
Series – Browns lead all-time series 33-14-3 but Arizona has won 4 of the 5 in the expansion era.
Rankings – Points scored: Browns 21 (21.0), Cardinals 22 (20.9)
Yards: Browns 19 (346.8), Cardinals 24 (324.4)
Rushing: Browns 9 (124.5), Cardinals 15 (110.8)
Passing: Browns 20 (222.3), Cardinals 24, (213.6),
Points allowed: Browns 15 (22.4), Cardinals 30 (28.8),
Yards allowed: Browns 16 (346.0), Cardinals 32 (414.7),
Rushing yards allowed: Browns 26 (128.2), Cardinals 24 (120.5),
Passing yards allowed: Browns 8 (217.8), Cardinals 32 (294.2),
Turnover ratio: Browns 22t (-5), Cardinals 11t (+2),
Probable Starters – Offense: WR Odell Beckham Jr., TE Demetrius Harris, LT Justin McCray, LG Joel Bitonio, C JC Tretter, RG Eric Kush, RT Kendall Lamm, QB Baker Mayfield, WR Jarvis Landry, RB Kareem Hunt, RB Nick Chubb
Defense: DE Chad Thomas, DT Larry Ogunjobi, DT Eli Ankou, DE Sheldon Richardson, WILL Mack Wilson, MIKE Joe Schobert, CB Denzel Ward, CB Greedy Williams, CB TJ Carrie, FS Juston Burris, SS Sheldrick Redwine
Injury report – OUT: DE Olivier Vernon (knee), S Eric Murray (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: C JC Tretter (knee), RT Chris Hubbard (knee)
EXPECTED TO PLAY: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (groin), WR Jarvis Landry (hip), LB Sione Takitaki (illness), TE Demetrius Harris (shoulder), RB Dontrell Hilliard (knee), CB Greedy Williams (shoulder), CB Denzel Ward (ankle), TE David Njoku (knee), WR KhaDarel Hodge (Achilles)
Uniforms – White jerseys, white pants
Broadcast – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns radio network. TV: WOIO TV-19
Kickoff – 4:05 p.m. – State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Our prediction – Browns 27, Cardinals 23
Our prediction record – 7-6
