Last thoughts heading into the Browns game

History

The Cleveland Browns lead series 35-12-1.

Look back game:

Week 17 of the 2022 NFL season and the Browns won out 24-10. DeShaun Watson connected with Amari Cooper that day – two TD passes to Cooper – for 46 and 33 yards. Washington’s solo TD was run in by Carson Wentz – a name now consigned to the past! That version of the Commanders really does seem a lifetime ago and underlines the importance of the QB position.

Nick Chubb is a welcome absentee from a Washington POV – he has run over the Commanders twice with 100-yard games in both his match ups vs the burgundy & gold.

Keys to win?

OFFENSE

Handle the blitz.

Both Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jnr are decent receiving RBs and Jayden’s legs and ability to get the ball out quickly are the key here to negate the pass rush ability of Myles Garrett (4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles already in 2024).

I do think Noah Brown is a real miss as he has a way of finding those sweet spots plus his physicality in the Commanders hurry-up OFF.

The only Washington loss this season was the week one defeat on the road in Tampa Bay vs. a blitz heavy DEF. Cleveland, whilst having a number of high-profile OFF guys like Jerry Jeudy and Amari Cooper and if healthy TE David Njoku, have not been high scoring in 2024 with DeShaun Watson far from hitting his early career heights.

Daniels seems more in tune with his receiving core than Week 1 as he naturally makes strides in the QB position. This might be a lower yards game for Terry McLaurin as he goes up against Denzel Ward, but McLaurin is a good receiver vs man coverage.

Can we continue to see the ball nicely spread around the receiving group? I feel McCaffrey, Olamide Zaccheaus and even Dyami Brown will all be needed today.

DEFENSE

Play as a unit, not as individuals.

The Cleveland OL has been banged up, but it seems a few guys might return to help keep Watson upright. Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin are likely back on the field plus Ethan Pocic at Centre. That’s instantly a much-improved OL for the Browns.

If Watson is given time, he does still have decent pocket awareness and obvious scramble ability (plus weapons as listed already) to hurt a DEF.

Important that the DEF can pressure DeShaun and avoid him getting into a rhythm. Despite their 1-3 record the Browns have been scoring consistently on opening drives, would be a scene setter for the Commanders to halt the early Browns scoring.

Another tough match up potentially for the Commanders CBs, but if they can play to the level, they showed vs the Cardinals, then St Juste and Forbes might be going some ways to trending up as NFL quality-level players in the backfield.

Spotlight players

The Commanders are very much a team first group, all are important across both sides of the ball. But two for the spotlight this week are firstly the RB duo of Robinson Jnr and Ekeler against a good Cleveland DEF. Can they still hit those gaps against the likes of Garrett and JOK?

Second spotlight player: Dorance Armstrong

Can he put together consecutive games and be a real sack-threat on Sunday? Again, this would go some way for Armstrong to be trending upwards as a legitimate threat off the edge. The run game for the Browns without Chubb might present more Watson pass attempts/drop backs ergo more sack opportunities.

Prediction

The Commanders offense moderately hums along for Kliff and co this week – certainly not to the Cardinals road trip level.

A narrow Win at the Northwest Stadium for Washington – 24-21.

Might we see Seibert kick another winning FG as I could see this being a game more like the Giants win given that both New York and Browns have a good DEF on paper.