On paper, the Browns appear to be the undisputed favorites in their matchup against Arizona. Nevertheless, with Deshaun Watson returning to the field after basically five weeks, there is a degree of uncertainty surrounding whether this offense can pick up where it left off against the Titans. Additionally, stopping the run has been a challenge for Cleveland in the past few games, and Arizona has been a very productive rushing attack. Nevertheless, this is a must-win game for Cleveland to get one step closer to the playoffs.
1. Deshaun Watson Returning
Watson is gearing up for his second comeback from a rotator cuff injury sustained in week 3. He made an attempt to play against the Colts in week 7, but his performance was cut short after just four drives, during which he threw one interception and narrowly avoided another. However, the last time we witnessed Watson playing healthy was during a dominant 27-3 victory over Tennessee. In that game, he completed an impressive 27 out of 33 passing attempts, recording 289 yards and throwing for two touchdowns without any turnovers. It would be fantastic to see him build upon this performance, especially when facing one of the leagues weaker defenses. Watson’s tenure in Cleveland has been marked by highs and lows, but with a critical two-week stretch of divisional games on the horizon, executing on offense and securing a win on Sunday could be a nice boost of confidence.
2. Tillman-Time
By trading DPJ at the deadline, the Browns’ organization displayed their confidence in rookie wide receiver Cedric Tillman. Although DPJ hasn’t played a significant role in the Browns’ game plan, I anticipate that changing for Tillman as this offense finds more consistency. With Walker at quarterback, the passing game primarily relied on screen passes and jump balls to Cooper. However, I expect a shift in strategy with Watson’s return to the field, as he is reading defenses better and finds open receivers. While Tillman may not be the fastest receiver, he possesses speed and acceleration to keep cornerbacks honest, along with the size to win contested catches. Although I don’t see Tillman receiving a lot of targets immediately, I would love to see him make some plays against this relatively weak secondary and start building trust with his quarterback. Additionally, be on the lookout for him in the red zone.
3. Stop the Run
In recent weeks, Cleveland’s defense has struggled to contain chunk plays in the run game. The Cardinals currently average 137.8 yards per game on the ground, ranking fourth in the NFL. However, the running back room in Arizona has been decimated by injuries, compelling them to turn to the relatively inexperienced second-year player Keaontay Ingram. Furthermore, the Cardinals’ offensive line is one of the weaker units in the league, and a significant portion of their rushing production came off individual efforts from their running backs. With the recent announcement of Clayton Tune as Arizona’s starting quarterback, stopping the run will be even more important to put some pressure on the rookie. It will also generate long-distance third downs, and create opportunities for sacks and turnovers. To effectively contain this likely run-heavy offense, I anticipate an increased utilization of 5-man defensive fronts, particularly on early downs.
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