Browns happy to dodge Rodgers

Only four chances remain for the Browns to avoid the embarrassment of finishing 0-16, a stigma they managed to escape in the 15th game last year.

Players in the locker room at the training facility in Berea talk about having a quarter of the season still to play. It sounds longer than four games that way.

No matter how it’s painted, the game against the Packers on Dec. 10 at FirstEnergy Stadium, on paper anyway, gives the Browns their best chance to win for the first time since Christmas Eve of last year. Their last three opponents are the Ravens at home on Dec. 17, at Chicago on Christmas Eve and at Pittsburgh on New Year’s Eve.

“We don’t go out there thinking we have to win one of these next four,” said center JC Tretter, a former Packer. “We’re trying to win four of these next four. We’re going to keep building on the things we’ve been building on and try to play a complete game.”

Not much has gone the Browns’ way this season, but they have the good fortune to be playing Green Bay one week before Aaron Rodgers returns as the Packers quarterback.

Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone playing the Vikings on Oct. 15. Brett Hundley is 2-4 as Rodgers’ replacement. The Packers beat the Buccaneers, 2620, with Hundley at the controls last week, but he passed for only 84 yards. The Packers rushed for 199 yards.

Run defense is the Browns’ strength. Pass defense isn’t.

“Obviously, they don’t have their quarterback,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said. “I do see them running the football. That means we have to do everything that we can to stop the run and play our gaps better, do those things and see if we can get the young quarterback (Hundley) to have to throw the football.”

The Browns are hopeful another week of DeShone Kizer working with wide receiver Josh Gordon will make the Browns offense better. Gordon caught four passes last week against the Chargers in his first game in nearly three years. He was targeted seven other times.

Jackson calls the plays. He has a tendency to focus the game plan on one player one week and another the next week, but in this case, it will be difficult not to feature Gordon again. It will be a special day for Gordon.

Gordon hasn’t played a home game since Dec. 14, 2014, when the Browns were shelled, 30-0, by the Bengals in Johnny Manziel’s debut as an NFL quarterback. Gordon missed nearly three years being suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

“It’s just that extra amp because it’s a home game and I haven’t played here in a long time so I am super excited,” Gordon said. “I think the fans come with it every week. I believe that feeling will be reciprocated ... but hopefully, it’s just a little bit more amplified. I’ll have a good time.