CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – When the schedule makers picked the Browns and Broncos for the Thursday Night Football triple-cast on FOX, NFL Network and Amazon Prime, they thought they were getting a game featuring Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr., Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.
When the Broncos and Browns kick off, none of them may be on the field.
Mayfield, Chubb and Hunt are definitely out. Beckham is questionable with a sprained shoulder.
The 3-3 Browns are the NFL’s walking wounded and their season could be pushed to the brink with a loss to 3-3 Denver, who comes to town losers of three straight.
What to watch for – Backup quarterback Case Keenum makes his first start for the Browns since signing on in 2020 to be Mayfield’s backup. Keenum spent the 2018 season in Denver and his last NFL start came in 2019 for Washington.
Receiver Jarvis Landry has been activated in time for the game, which should provide a boost to what has become a depleted offense. Landry, who saw his streak of consecutive games with at least two catches snapped when he got hurt, missed the previous three games after suffering a sprained MCL against the Texans in Week 2.
D’Ernest Johnson, who has averaged 5.0 yards per carry on 40 carries, will be the primary back in place of Chubb. While Demetric Felton is working more as a receiver than running back, it’s possible he could get work out of the backfield.
With the status of Beckham uncertain, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rashard Higgins and Anthony Schwartz along with Felton will be counted on to help Keenum carry the passing game. Peoples-Jones was the lone bright spot from the loss to the Cardinals that saw him catch both touchdown passes, one of them a 57-yard Hail Mary to end the first half.
With the offense banged up, all eyes will be on the defense, which has allowed 84 points combined the last two weeks.
Teddy Bridgewater, who is coming off a season-high 334 yards and three touchdowns passing for the Broncos, is banged up dealing with foot and quadriceps injuries. His anticipated slowed mobility with the injury should help Myles Garett, who has 8.0 sacks, and the defensive line keep him contained.
Broncos linebacker Von Miller said he plans to “kill” whoever the Browns trot out at tackle in front of him earlier in the week and the odds may be in his favor assuming Jedrick Wills Jr. or Jack Conklin don’t play. Both are questionable. Blake Hance and James Hudson would replace both players, Hance if one is out. Miller has 4 ½ sacks this season but hasn’t recorded one in the last two games.
Last week – Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24; Browns lost to the Cardinals 37-14
Last Time – November 3, 2019: Broncos 24, Browns 19
Series – Broncos lead 21-6, 3-0 in playoffs.
Rankings – Points: Broncos T-22 (21.0), Browns 9 (26.0)
Yards: Broncos 13 (368.3), Browns 9 (393.3)
Rushing: Broncos 14 (117.5), Browns 1 (168.5)
Passing: Broncos 13 (250.8), Browns 26 (227.8)
Points allowed: Broncos 4 (18.3), Browns 22 (25.2)
Yards allowed: Broncos 14 (314.7), Browns 2 (307.2)
Rushing yards allowed: Broncos 5 (85.5), Browns 7 (87.0)
Passing yards allowed: Broncos 11 (229.2), Browns 9 (220.7)
Turnover ratio: Broncos T-17 (-2), Browns T-23 (-3)
Projected starters for Browns – Offense: WR Jarvis Landry, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C JC Tretter, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Blake Hance, TE Austin Hooper, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, QB Case Keenum, RB D’Ernest Johnson, FB Johnny Stanton IV
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Malik Jackson, DT Malik McDowell, DE Jadeveon Clowney, WILL Malcolm Smith, MIKE Anthony Walker, DB Troy Hill, CB Denzel Ward, CB Greg Newsome II, SS Ronnie Harrison Jr., FS John Johnson III
Injury report – OUT: RB Nick Chubb (calf), QB Baker Mayfield (shoulder), CB A.J. Green (shoulder, groin); QUESTIONABLE: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder), RT Jack Conklin (knee), DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle, chest, knee), DE Malik Jackson (knee), LB Malcolm Smith (abdomen), C J.C. Tretter (knee), LT Jedrick Wills Jr. (ankle), LB Mack Wilson (calf); EXPECTED TO PLAY: DE Takkarist McKinley (ankle), TE David Njoku (knee), DE Myles Garrett (knee, ankle), Malik McDowell (elbow, foot), CB Greg Newsome II (calf), CB Denzel Ward (neck), CB Greedy Williams (knee)
Uniforms – White jerseys, orange pants
Broadcast – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns radio network. TV: WJW Fox 8 (FOX), NFL Network. Streaming: Amazon Prime.
Kickoff – 8:25 p.m. FirstEnergy Stadium – Cleveland, Ohio
Prediction – Browns 23, Broncos 20
Our record – 4-2
