CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The 3-8 Cleveland Browns hit the road to Denver where they have won just four times against the 7-5 Broncos in Week 13.
Here’s what we are watching for.
Rarified air – The Browns have won just four times at Denver with their last victory coming in 2018, just their second in nine games since 1990. Head coach Kevin Stefanski flew the team out a day early on Saturday to help them get acclimated to the thin air.
High Mylestone – Myles Garrett, coming off his second three-sack game of the season, is 1.5 sacks shy of 100 for his career. It would make Garrett fourth-fastest since 1982, when sacks became a recorded statistic, to reach the milestone and the first ever to do it before turning 29. Garrett would also become the fifth player to do it in his first eight seasons.
Win with Winston – Jameis Winston is 2-2 since taking over as the starting quarterback. Winston, who is completing 66.7% of his passes with seven touchdowns and four interceptions, has two starts throwing for over 325 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a rating of over 105.0.
Jaded Jeudy – Receiver Jerry Jeudy returns to Denver, where he asked to be traded after four seasons with the Broncos, who drafted him 15th overall in 2020. Jeudy leads the Browns with 45 catches for 645 yards and two touchdowns.
Nix of time – Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix is completing just under 65% of his passes and has thrown 16 touchdowns against six interceptions this season.
Sackmasters – Denver leads the NFL with 44 sacks this season and boast four players with at least 5.0 sacks – Zach Allen (5.0), John Franklin-Meyers (5.0), Jonathan Cooper (7.0) and Nik Bonitto (10.0). Allen and Bonitto also have 12 tackles for loss while Cooper and Franklin-Myers each have seven. Cleveland has allowed the most sacks in the NFL – 47.
Seeing red – The Browns rank 10th in red zone offense, scoring touchdowns 57% of the time but Denver is allowing opponents to score a TD just 39% of the time, best in the NFL.
Last Time – November 26, 2023: Broncos 29, Browns 13
Series – Broncos lead all-time 22-7
Last week – Browns beat the Steelers 24-19, Broncos beat the Raiders 29-19
How they compare – Here’s a look at how the two teams match up statistically.
Points scored: Browns 16.91, Broncos 22.0
Yards: Browns 292.5, Broncos 313.5
Rushing: Browns 88.2, Broncos 111.6
Passing: Browns 204.3, Broncos 201.9
Points allowed: Browns 24.3, Broncos 16.8
Yards allowed: Browns 345.0, Broncos 296.0
Rushing yards allowed: Browns 130.6, Broncos 96.2
Passing yards allowed: Browns 214.4, Broncos 199.8
Turnover ratio: Browns -7, Broncos +12
Probable Starters – Offense: WR Jerry Jeudy, LT Germain Ifedi, LG Joel Bitonio, C Ethan Pocic, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Jack Conklin, TE David Njoku, QB Jameis Winston, RB Nick Chubb, TE Jordan Akins, WR Cedric Tillman
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, DT Shelby Harris, DE Ogbo Okoronkwo, LB Mohamoud Diabate, LB Devin Bush, CB Denzel Ward, CB Greg Newsome II, CB MJ Emerson, S Ronnie Hickman, S Rodney McLeod
Injury report – OUT: LT Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee), CB Myles Hardin (tibia), DT Sam Kamara (head), WR Cedric Tillman (concussion), S Juan Thornhill (calf)
Uniforms – White 1946 throwback jersey, white pants, white alternate helmet
Broadcast – 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals radio network; ESPN, WOIO TV-19
Kickoff – 8:15 p.m. Empower Field at Mile High; Denver, Colorado
Our prediction – Broncos 24, Browns 19
