The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Browns ready for Eagles, more bad weather
No one ever thought staying in the AFC playoff race would be easy for the Browns.
The best way to beat the Eagles is to harass Philadelphia quarterback Carson Wentz, who has thrown an NFL-most 12 interceptions. The Browns will try to do that Nov. 22 without Myles Garrett, their best harasser. The NFL’s sack leader was placed on the COVID-19 list Nov. 20 and will not play against the Eagles.
Not having Garrett to attack Wentz and strip the ball from him could mean the Browns will need a strong game from quarterback Baker Mayfield, who, except for the game in Cincinnati when he threw five touchdown passes, has been most effective when running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt take over the game as they did last week when the Browns wore down the Houston Texans.
“That’s a really, really good pass rush,” Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said. “Obviously, they do a great job of getting after the passer.”
The good news for Mayfield is right tackle Jack Conklin was activated from
the reserve/COVID-19 list on Nov. 21. So was kicker Cody Parkey. Both moves were expected.
Wentz has been sacked 35 times. The Eagles defense, led by Brandon Graham with seven, has 31 sacks.
Mayfield, by comparison, has been sacked only 12 times. Part of that is a vastly improved offensive line with Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin at tackle and part of it is Mayfield is passing less frequently than last season when he was sacked 40 times. He is averaging 28.3 passes a game in 2020, including the 12 sacks as pass plays. He averaged 35.8 pass plays a game last season.
The Browns, 6-3, have 22 sacks, but 9.5 of those belong to Garrett. “Next man
up” is more than a tired cliche for the Browns in a game they need to win to keep pace in the AFC wildcard race. The game is equally important for the Eagles, who lead the NFC East despite being only 3-51. The Giants are second in the East at 3-7.
The weather forecast for Cleveland on Nov. 22 calls for 100 percent chance of rain. If that holds out for the game it would be the third straight at FirstEnergy Stadium played in bad conditions.
“Obviously, the (Browns) run game is going to be a focal point,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said on a conference call. “Where Baker excels is he is such a good athlete that you get the run game going — it’s really with any team but particularly with the Browns — it just opens up so much stuff. It opens up the bootlegs for the quarterback, the playaction pass. Baker is such a good thrower outside the pocket and then he can extend plays and run with his legs.”
The Dolphins, Raiders, Ravens and Titans, along with the AFC-South leading Indianapolis Colts, are also 6-3. Browns players say they are focused on the Eagles and not on the playoffs. Mayfield was just six years old the last time (2002) the Browns were a playoff team.
“We can’t look forward. We can’t look behind us,” wide receiver Jarvis Landry said on Zoom. “That’s what we’re working towards every day, just putting one foot in front of the other and coming out here each and every day leading up to Sunday and taking it one game at a time.
“The ultimate goal is always there. The ultimate goal has been there since you started playing this game since you were a child, and that’s to win the Super Bowl. It’s also is taking care of the things along the way and realizing we can’t look ahead.”
The Browns can peek ahead. They finish their November schedule on the 29th in Jacksonville against the 1-8 Jaguars.