CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns aim to head into the bye week on a high note with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Cleveland is off to its best start since 1994, when they were 6-1.
With a win, the Browns would match their win total from 2019 and they are looking to go 4-0 at home for the first time since 1963.
What to watch for – The weather. Temperatures are expected to drop into the low 40s throughout the afternoon with rain, sleet and possibly snow in the forecast which could alter both teams’ game plans.
Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield made his first career NFL start against the Raiders in 2018. He completed a franchise-record 21 straight passes at Cincinnati last week and threw for five TDs to match another franchise record after starting the game 0 for 5. His final TD with 11 seconds to go capped a five-play, 75-yard drive that began with 1:06 left and the Browns out of timeouts.
Mayfield will be without top receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who suffered a season-ending torn left ACL last week against the Bengals. The loss of Beckham will likely give Rashard Higgins and rookie Donovan Peoples-Jones more playing time and touches. Higgins led the Browns with six catches and 110 yards last week while Peoples-Jones caught three passes, including the game-winning touchdown. Jarvis Landry, who has caught at least two passes in 102 consecutive games, returns to the No. 1 receiver role.
The Browns are also without tight end Austin Hooper, who had his appendix removed last week, for a second straight game. Rookie Harrison Bryant had two touchdown catches and David Njoku caught another score in the win over the Bengals.
The Browns are one of three teams to score at least 30 points in five games this season while the Raiders have allowed 190 points, the second most through six games in franchise history. Las Vegas is the only team to allow at least 24 points in every game.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who leads the NFL with 9.0 sacks this season, seeks a sack in his seventh consecutive games. Garrett, who is playing with an ankle injury, has also forced four fumbles on strip-sacks in 2020.
Cleveland's defense leads the league with 14 takeaways.
The Raiders have trailed by double digits in five of six games but rallied to win twice. They were 1-26 after falling behind by at least 10 points in 2017-19.
Las Vegas running back Josh Jacobs had 10 carries for 17 yards and no first downs last week. Jacobs is averaging 3.4 yards per carry this season.
Quarterback Derek Carr has thrown at least two TD passes in five straight games, tied with Rich Gannon (2001) and Jim Plunkett (1986) for the third-longest streak in Raiders history. Carr, who has seven runs for first downs which is tied for the most he’s had since getting 10 as a rookie in 2014, has thrown only two interceptions this season.
Las Vegas receiver Nelson Agholor had five catches for 107 yards for his fourth career 100-yard game last week. He has a TD catch in three straight contests and is tied for the league lead with three TD catches of at least 20 yards.
The Raiders have just seven sacks, two less than Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
Last Week – Raiders lost to the Buccaneers 45-20; Browns beat the Bengals 37-34
The last time – Sept. 30, 2018: Raiders 45, Browns 42 F-OT
Series history – Raiders lead 13-10, Browns lead 6-5 since 1999
Rankings – Radio.com Week 4 NFL Power rankings: Raiders No. 15, Browns No. 9
Points per game: Raiders 11 (28.5), Browns 10 (28.6)
Total yards per game: Raiders 9 (390.7), Browns 18 (364.4)
Rushing yards per game: Raiders 17 (113.5), Browns 3 (157.0)
Passing yards per game: Raiders 7 (277.2), Browns 27 (207.4)
Points allowed per game: Raiders 31 (32.8), Browns 29 (31.6)
Total defensive yards allowed per game: Raiders 26 (403.7), Browns 21 (380.3)
Rushing yards allowed per game: Raiders 15 (119.8), Browns 5 (92.1)
Passing yards allowed per game: Raiders 28 (283.8), Browns 30 (288.1)
Turnover ratio: Raiders 28T (-5), Browns 4T (+5)
Probable starters for Browns – Offense: WR Jarvis Landry, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C JC Tretter, RG Chris Hubbard, RT Jack Conklin, TE Harrison Bryant, WR Rashard Higgins., QB Baker Mayfield, RB Kareem Hunt, FB Andy Janovich
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Sheldon Richardson, DT Larry Ogunjobi, DE Olivier Vernon, MIKE B.J. Goodson, WILL Malcolm Smith, CB Denzel Ward, CB Terrance Mitchell, SS Sheldrick Redwine, FS Andrew Sendejo, DB Tavierre Thomas
Injury report – OUT: TE Austin Hooper (abdomen), RG Wyatt Teller (calf), LB Jacob Phillips (knee); EXPECTED TO PLAY: DE Myles Garrett (ankle), C JC Tretter (knee), RT Jack Conklin (knee), RB Kareem Hunt (ribs), WR Jarvis Landry (hip/ribs), Larry Ogunjobi (hamstring), CB M.J. Stewart (back), TE David Njoku (knee), S Sione Takitaki (hand)
Uniforms – Brown jersey, orange pants
Broadcast – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns radio network. TV: WJW-TV 8 (FOX)
Kickoff – 1:03 p.m. FirstEnergy Stadium – Cleveland, Ohio
Our prediction – Browns 26, Raiders 22
Our prediction record – 5-2
