CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns host the Patriots in a battle of 2-3 clubs Sunday afternoon.
Cleveland has lost their last two games and their three losses this season are by a combined six points.
The game features a battle between the Browns top ranked rushing offense and struggling defense against future Hall of Fame coach Bill Belichick.
What to watch for – Through the first five games Nick Chubb is the best running back in football. Chubb leads the NFL in rushing yardage with 593, rushing touchdowns with seven, 42 broken tackles and 20 explosive runs according to NFL research. He’s also the first player in NFL history to amass 575 yards and at least seven scores on less than 100 carries through five games. Chubb has rushed for 100 yards in four of five games and he’s also the only player in the league this season with at least 100 scrimmage yards in every game.
As a team, Cleveland enters Week 6 with the league’s top rushing attack, averaging 192.4 rushing yards per game. They also rank second in the NFL with 10 rushing touchdowns. With 150 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, the Browns can join the 1971 Oakland Raiders as the only teams in the Super Bowl era to record at least 150 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in each of their first six games of a season.
Jacoby Brissett’s three interception this season have come in the final three minutes of losses. The Browns are 3-0 when he doesn’t throw a pick.
Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon is coming off a season-high two sacks and his first forced fumble of the season last week. It was his ninth career game with two or more sacks. He is the only player in the NFL with a sack in each of the first five games and can become the first player since 2018 with sack in each of a team's first six games of season.
It looks like the Browns will face Patriots rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe Sunday. Zappe completed 17 of 21 passes with a touchdown and interception. He’s taken over after starter mac Jones and backup Brian Hoyer went down with injuries although Jones is officially listed as questionable.
New England receiver Jakobi Meyers leads the team with 20 catches for 261 yards and a score. Like the Browns, the Patriots have scored more touchdowns (5) on the ground than through the air (4) this season.
Myles Garrett, who is still recovering from various injuries including a shoulder sprain and biceps strain as the result of a one car accident September 26, will be without his reliable bookend Jadeveon Clowney. Garrett hasn’t had a sack since Week 2 and remains a sack shy of passing Clay Matthews Jr. for the official club record for sacks.
The Browns activated cornerback Greedy Williams from injured reserve on Saturday. Williams will be counted on to help fill the void left with Denzel Ward out due to a concussion suffered last week.
Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson is coming off a career afternoon that saw him put up 161 yards on the lions in last week’s blowout. He ran for 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns last year against the Browns in a 45-7 blowout in New England.
Browns rookie kicker Cade York missed a pair of field goals with 11 seconds remaining in each half from 45 and 54 yards in last week’s loss. The fourth round pick is 7-of-9 on field goals and 13-of-15 on PATs this season.
Last week – Patriots beat the Lions 29-0; Browns lost to the Chargers 30-28
Last Time – November 14, 2021: Patriots 45, Browns 7
Series – Patriots lead 13-12-0; 9-2 since 1999
Rankings – Points: Patriots T-19 (20.6), Browns 6 (26.6)
Yards: Patriots 17 (345.8), Browns 4 (396.4)
Rushing: Patriots 9 (138.0), Browns 1 (192.4)
Passing: Patriots T-21 (207.8), Browns 24 (204.0)
Points allowed: Patriots 12 (19.6), Browns T-23 (25.0)
Yards allowed: Patriots 15 (339.8), Browns 19 (353.8)
Rushing yards allowed: Patriots 22 (128.8), Browns 28 (138.2)
Passing yards allowed: Patriots 11 (211.0), Browns T-14 (215.6)
Turnover ratio: Patriots T-23 (-2), Browns T-17 (0)
Projected starters for Browns – Offense: WR Amari Cooper, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C Ethan Pocic, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Jack Conklin, TE David Njoku, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, QB Jacoby Brissett, RB Nick Chubb, TE Harrison Bryant
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Jordan Elliott, DT Tommy Togiai, DE Alex Wirght, SAM Sione Takitaki, MIKE Jacob Phillips, WILL Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, CB Greedy Williams, CB Greg Newsome II, SS Grant Dept., FS John Johnson III
Injury report – OUT: DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle, knee, elbow), OT Joe Haeg (concussion), CB Denzel Ward (concussion); EXPECTED TO PLAY: RT Jack Conklin (not injury related-rest), DE Myles Garrett (shoulder, biceps, hand), LG Joel Bitonio (elbow), DT Taven Bryan (hamstring), WR Amari Cooper (not injury related-rest), RB Demetric Felton (wrist), S Ronnie Harrison (illness), DT Perrion Winfrey (ankle)
Uniforms – Brown jerseys, white pants.
Broadcast – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns radio network. TV: WOIO-TV 19 (CBS)
Kickoff – 1:05 p.m. FirstEnergy Stadium – Cleveland, Ohio
Prediction – Browns 27, Patriots 24
Our record – 2-3
