The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Browns can play role of Grinch rest of the way
Beginning with the Panthers, final foes all have playoff aspirations
The Browns still have a mathematical chance of making the playoffs as an AFC wild card team. In reality, they can be the Grinch the last quarter of the season and spoil the playoff hopes of their final four opponents.
The spoiling starts Dec. 9 at FirstEnergy Stadium when the Browns host the 6-6 Panthers. From there they head to the Rocky Mountains to face the currently 6-6 Broncos on Dec. 15 before returning home to play the 5-7 Bengals on Dec. 23. They finished
the season in Baltimore on Dec. 30 against the 7-5 Ravens.
Each of the Browns’ final four opponents is in the playoff hunt for a wild card spot and each will be in a must-win situation, or at least a better-win situation, when they face the Browns.
The Panthers, once 6-2, have lost four straight. The Saints (10-2) are so far ahead in the NFC South the Panthers need binoculars to see them, so a wild card spot is the only chance the Panthers have of making the playoffs. Heading into Week 14, the Seahawks (7-5) and Vikings (6-5-1) are ahead of the Panthers. The Eagles and Redskins are also 6-6.
“In 2014, we were in the same type of situation and we had to come out and play well,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said on a conference call.
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“I think our guys understand what’s at stake, and I think that’s going to help us in terms of our approach to the football game.”
The Browns (4-7-1) have to win out to avoid their 11th straight losing season. On the brighter side, they’ve already won as many games this season as in the previous three seasons combined.
“Every week is a playoff game, because we’re still alive,” free safety Damarious Randall said. “I feel if we win out, things will work out and we’ll be in the
playoffs.”
The Browns are 2 ½ games behind the Ravens, who currently hold the second wild card spot. The Chargers, 9-3, current owners of the first wild card spot, are out of the Browns’ reach.
“We have the opportunity to finish 8-7-1,” Randall continued. “If I said that at the beginning of the season I’m sure you would have laughed at me. I feel we have the guys that can do the job.”
The Browns want to start out quickly offensively without being greedy and they want to keep Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey from dominating the game when Carolina has
the ball.
McCaffrey, with 163 carries, has had the ball on 53.2 percent of Carolina’s running plays. McCaffrey (80 catches) has been on the receiving end of 28.8 percent of the 278 completions thrown by Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.
Offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens said throwing three interceptions in the first half last week was a learning experience for Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Texans surprised Mayfield by dropping linebackers into coverage instead of blitzing him as teams did successfully early in the season. “That game the other day can go a long way from the standpoint of him learning how people are going to play him,” Kitchens said. “I think the main thing is that you have reads and where your eyes are supposed to be and things like that.”
Kitchens said the 2913 loss in Houston was a learning experience for him, too. He said he should have called more running plays.
Rookie running back Nick Chubb had only nine carries for 31 yards against the Texans. He should expect to be busier against the Panthers.
In Browns news, cornerback Terrance Mitchell was officially activated. Tight end Pharaoh Brown (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve.