CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Cleveland Browns host the Arizona Cardinals on the shores of Lake Erie Sunday afternoon.
With the Steelers beating the Titans 20-16 Thursday night, the Browns, who are in a stretch of playing five of seven on the road, need a win over the 1-7 Cardinals to keep pace in the AFC North.
Here’s what, and who we are watching for against the red birds from Arizona.
Deshaun Watson returns from a right rotator cuff injury to start for the second time since suffering the injury September 24. Watson, who has 13 touchdowns and a 109.3 rating in his last six games combined against NFC opponents, is completing 61.7% of his passes for 683 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions this season.
Tight end David Njoku finally got into the end zone last week where he had a season high 77 receiving yards.
After racking up a combined 155 yards rushing at Seattle, Cleveland’s three-headed running back by committee of Jerome Ford, Kareem hunt and Pierre Strong aim to keep churning out yards and points on the ground. Hunt has rushed for four touchdowns in five games since re-signing in late September and he has scored in three straight. Ford has at least 90 scrimmage yards in two of the last three games while Strong is coming off a season-high 90 scrimmage yards against the Seahawks.
The Browns defense continues to maintain its No. 1 ranking in total defense and defending the pass with an average of 260.0 total yards and 163.3 passing yards allowed per game.
Cardinals rookie and fifth round pick Clayton Tune will make his debut and start for Arizona. The Browns will be without nickel corner Greg Newsome II but Denzel Ward has seven pass breakups this season and Martin Emerson Jr. has an interception in two of the past three games and a pass breakup in five of six. Arizona receiver Marquise Brown leads the team with 38 catches for 416 yards and four touchdowns.
Myles Garrett looks for a sack and forced fumble for the third game in row. Of Garrett’s 8.5 sacks this season, which ranks third leaguewide, 5.5 of them have come in four home games this season. He is the only player with eight or more sacks in each of the past six seasons.
The Cardinals linebackers have played well this season. Kyzir White has a career high eight tackles for loss, Zaven Collins looks for a TFL in his third straight game and Victor Dimukeje has a career-high four sacks in 2023.
Last week – Cardinals lost to the Ravens 31-24; Browns lost to the Seahawks 24-20
The last time – October 17, 2021: Cardinals 37, Browns 14
Series – Browns lead 33-16-3
By the numbers – A look at how the two teams match up statistically.
Cardinals offense vs. Browns defense:
Scoring: Cardinals 18.9, Browns 19.9
Total yards: Cardinals 318.6, Browns 260.0
Passing: Cardinals 180.9, Browns 163.3
Rushing: Cardinals 137.8, Browns 96.7
Cardinals defense vs. Browns offense:
Scoring: Cardinals 26.6, Browns 22.0
Total yards: Cardinals 355.8, Browns 328.6
Passing: Cardinals 225.1, Browns 180.0
Rushing: Cardinals 130.6, Browns 148.6
Defensive stats
Sacks: Cardinals 24, Browns 20
Takeaways: Cardinals 10, Browns 10
Turnover differential: Cardinals +1, Browns -7
Projected Browns starters – Offense: WR Amari Cooper, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C Ethan Pocic, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Dawand Jones, TE David Njoku, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, QB Deshaun Watson
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, DT Jordan Elliott, DE Za’Darius Smith, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Anthony Walker, CB Denzel Ward, CB Cameron Mitchell, CB Martin Emerson Jr., SS Grant Delpit, FS Juan Thornhill
Injury report – OUT: WR David Bell (knee), CB Greg Newsome II (groin), DE Alex Wright (knee); QUESTIONABLE: Dawand Jones (shoulder); EXPECTED TO PLAY: WR Amari Cooper (rest/knee), DE Myles Garrett (rest/shoulder), David Njoku (ankle), DE Za’Darius Smith (rest/neck), LT Jedrick Wills Jr. (foot/ankle), S Grant Delpit (ankle/shoulder), RB Jerome Ford (ankle), CB Mike Ford Jr. (ankle), LB Sione Takitaki (hamstring), LB Anthony Walker (shoulder), QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder), LB Tony Fields (shoulder), CB Cameron Mitchell (shoulder)
Uniforms – Orange helmet, brown jersey, white pants
Broadcast info – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX; TV: WOIO TV-19 (CBS)
Kickoff – 1:03 p.m. Cleveland Browns Stadium; Cleveland, Ohio
Prediction – Browns 23, Cardinals 16
Our prediction record – 4-3