CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns travel to Los Angeles to take on Cleveland’s original football team – the Rams, who left for L.A. in 1946 and spent two decades in St. Louis before moving back west in 2015.
Here’s what, and who we are watching for against the Rams.
A mere 13 days after signing a contract to join the Browns practice squad as the emergency quarterback, 16-year veteran Joe Flacco will start Sunday for the Browns against the Rams. Flacco’s last start came in the Jets’ season finale that saw him throw for 149 yards in an 11-6 loss. His last touchdown pass came against the Browns – he threw four in a 31-30 come-from-behind win in Cleveland last September. Flacco says he has plenty left in the tank despite watching this season from his couch until the Browns called. Teammates are raving about his arm. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt called it “elite” this week. We’re about to find out how full or empty Flacco’s tank really is and can he keep the Browns in the playoff race or will this season spiral out of control due to injuries?
With Flacco on the field, look for the Browns to push the pass game vertically again, which means good news for Amari Cooper and possibly Elijah Moore. Cooper, who needs three catches for his eighth straight season with at least 50 catches, leads the team with 47 catches and is 235 yards shy of his seventh 1,000-yard receiving season of his career and second straight with the Browns. Moore, who hasn’t been unable to provide the dynamic punch Cleveland hoped to be adding, has caught at least five passes in two of the last three games.
Running Jerome Ford continues to produce for the Browns in limited opportunities. He led the Browns with 79 scrimmage yards last week in Denver and has at least 75 scrimmage yards in three of the last four games and four of five road games this season.
Cleveland’s defense continues to be ranked No. 1 overall since Week 1 allowing just 247.9 yards per game and a league low 142.0 passing yards per game.
Defensive end Myles Garrett has slipped behind T.J. Watt of the Steelers for the league lead in sacks as he sits on 13 while Watt has 13.5. Garrett plans to play through a left shoulder injury suffered last week in Denver. Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald has 5.5 sacks this season but he has tallied a sack in his two previous meetings with the Browns.
Cleveland will be without Denzel Ward again putting pressure on Greg Newsome II, who had a season-high seven tackles and a pass breakup last week, and the rest of the secondary.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is coming off a career game that saw him lead the Browns with 12 tackles – one for loss, a sack and forced fumble.
The Rams are coming off an explosive performance last week against Arizona that saw them score a season0high 37 points. quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 229 yards with four touchdowns with an interception while completing 75.8% of his passes. Cooper Kupp caught 11 passes for 101 yards and two scores. Tight end Tyler Higbee caught the other two TDs for L.A.
Rams receiver Puka Nacua leads all rookies with 73 catches for 924 yards. He loos to join Anquan Boldin and Justin Jefferson with 1,000 yards in a team’s first 12 games.
L.A.’s defense is also feeling pretty good about themselves after Week 12. Rookie nose tackle Kobie Turner had his first two-sack game. Linebacker Ernest Jones, who has at least 10 tackles in four of five home games this season, need seven for his second straight 100 tackle season. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon broke up three passes last week while Jordan Fuller swatted away four.
Last week – Browns lost to the Broncos 29-12, Rams beat the Cardinals 37-14
The last time – September 22, 2019: Rams 20, Browns 13
Series – Rams lead 12-9
By the numbers – A look at how the two teams match up statistically.
Browns offense vs. Rams defense:
Scoring: Browns 21.7, Rams 21.3
Total yards: Browns 320.6, Rams 331.2
Passing: Browns 181.2, Rams 217.9
Rushing: Browns 139.5, Rams 113.3
Browns defense vs. Rams offense:
Scoring: Browns 19.0, Rams 21.1
Total yards: Browns 247.9, Rams 340.6
Passing: Browns 142.0, Rams 226.6
Rushing: Browns 105.9, Rams 114.0
Defensive stats
Sacks: Browns 34, Rams 25
Takeaways: Browns 16, Rams 9
Turnover differential: Browns -7, Rams -3
Projected Browns starters – Offense: WR Amari Cooper, LT Geron Christian, LG Joel Bitonio, C Ethan Pocic, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Dawand Jones, TE David Njoku, WR Elijah Moore, WR Cedric Tillman, QB Joe Flacco, RB Jerome Ford
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, DT Jordan Elliott, DE Za’Darius Smith, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Anthony Walker, LB Sione Takitaki, CB Greg Newsome II, CB Martin Emerson Jr., SS Grant Delpit, FS Juan Thornhill
Injury report – OUT: CB Denzel Ward (shoulder), QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (concussion), WR Marquise Goodwin (concussion); QUESTIONABLE: C Nick Harris (knee)
Uniforms – Orange helmet, brown jersey, white pants
Broadcast info – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX; TV: WJW TV-8 (FOX)
Kickoff – 4:25 p.m. SoFi Stadium; Inglewood, California
Prediction – Browns 22, Rams 19