Must-Win Game For The Browns In A Massive Revenge Game - Week 14 Preview Presented By Skyhio
This Cleveland Browns preview is presented by Skyhio. Skyhio offers reduced prices on Delta 8 THC, a legal and more functional alternative to Delta 9 THC, which is the active component of marijuana. Head to Skyhio.com and check them out. Thank you to Skyhio!
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Revenge game? Cool.
Double revenge game? Very cool.
There are a ton of overlaps with the Browns and Giants game tonight, sparking the idea that this is a revenge game.
For the Giants: temporary offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens was fired as the Browns head coach in the offseason, starting quarterback Colt McCoy was a Browns draft pick some years ago, injured-starting quarterback Daniel Jones was slightly crapped on by Baker Mayfield last season, safety Jabrill Peppers was part of the Odell Beckham Jr. trade, offensive guard Kevin Zeitler was originally part of the Olivier Vernon trade before the deals were merged, Jabaal Sheard was a top draft pick of the Browns at one point, and defensive assistant Jody Wright was a coach under Freddie Kitchens last season.
For the Browns: the injured Odell Beckham Jr. was traded by the Giants to the Browns, same with the resurging Olivier Vernon, the Browns face their former head coach that folded last season and likely stunted the growth of Baker Mayfield, along with stuffing David Njoku and Rashard Higgins in the dog house, and linebacker B.J. Goodson was once a draft pick of the Giants.
On top of all of that, I read somewhere today that a public relations official moved from one franchise to the other recently.
It's a game packed with revenge as a storyline, especially for us fans, like myself, who feel bamboozled by Freddie Kitchens. His dazzling interim offensive coordinator season looked nothing like his disastrous season as head coach. I'll never be as wrong about something as I was in saying Kitchens would be a great head coach.
None of this shit should matter beyond headlines, though, because the real storyline is that this is a must-win game for the Browns, despite a cushy 9-4 record right now.
There is an actual horror scenario where the Browns beat the Giants and Jets, lose to the Steelers, and miss the Playoffs at 11-5. Yikes.
This is what the Browns have left:
- vs. Houston (W)
- vs. Philadelphia (W)
- @ Jacksonville (W)
- @ Tennessee (W)
- vs. Baltimore (MNF) (L)
- @ New York Giants (SNF)
- @ New York Jets
- vs. Pittsburgh
Obviously, we have no idea if the Steelers will give it their all in the final week of the season. They're likely to be out of the hunt for the lone conference Bye, assuming the Chiefs continue to roll, but they could also be fending off Buffalo for the 2nd seed as well.
With easy schedules for the Ravens and Dolphins, tonight's game in the Meadowlands is pivotal. The Browns were multiple small plays away from winning on Monday night and sitting pretty with a 10-3 record, but now the focus has to be on avoiding a possible letdown. They're going to be fucking juiced up after the heartbreaker on Monday Night Football, you just hope it plays as a benefit rather than a stumbling point.
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The last time the Browns played the Giants (and beat them) in primetime was back in the 2008-2009 season on Monday Night Football (also with Mike Tirico on the call). New York was coming off their stunning Super Bowl upset of the Patriots, while the Browns were already disappointing following a brutal start to a much-hyped season:
Cool game. Didn't mean shit. The Browns fucking stunk the rest of the season and started their (now dead) streak of losing seasons.
NOTE: The lines may have changed since this graphic was made…
I once again got snake-bitten by a bad beat with the Browns, as the lateral at the end of the game hurt my chance for a sweep.
Keeping this section short and sweet this week. The Browns are the better team, they score points and give up a fair amount of them as well. So if they play their game, they should win, and do so by a touchdown.
PICKS: Browns -6.5, OVER 44.5
SEASON RECORD: 14-10 (ATS: 5-8, O/U: 10-3)
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CLEVELAND OUT: Wyatt Teller (OG), Andrew Sendejo (S)
CLEVELAND QUESTIONABLE: Denzel Ward (CB), Austin Hooper (TE), KhaDarel Hodge (WR), Kevin Johnson (CB), David Njoku (TE)
NEW YORK OUT: Darnay Holmes (CB), James Bradberry (CB)
NEW YORK OUT: Daniel Jones (QB), Kevin Zeitler (OG), Kaden Smith (TE), Evan Engram (TE)
It can't be overstated enough how big of a loss Wyatt Teller is at guard for the Browns.
The last time Teller was out, the Browns went 1-2 and struggled to really get their ground game going to their liking. It was okay, but not great, with Chris Hubbard at guard. With Teller starting, the Browns are 8-2, without him they're 1-2 (granted he was injured early in their win against the Colts). Now, it is worth noting that Nick Chubb was out the entire time Teller was out, so we really haven't seen the line perform without Teller, yet a healthy Nick Chubb. Regardless, his absence tonight, and likely next week, is a tough one.
When it comes to good news, the Browns are possibly getting back both All-Pro cornerback Denzel Ward (absent since Week 11) and tight end Austin Hooper, who missed the Monday Night Football loss to the Ravens. While Hooper hasn't been a monster in terms of pass-catching, his re-addition to the run game would slightly even out the loss of Teller. It'll also be interesting to see KhaDarel Hodge back for the Browns, who was getting a rhythm going for the short-handed receiving corp with Baker Mayfield. Now with Marvin Hall in the fold off waivers from the Lions, Baker's weapon count is a little higher.
The Giants aren't without their own injuries, though, we all know about Daniel Jones (his mobility would be a big problem for the Browns) being out, but the absence of Darnay Holmes and stud James Bradberry really make them thin in the seocndary. Which means…
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Baker Mayfield is going to need another big week.
What Baker did on Monday Night Football has not totally been overlooked, but the loss and Lamar Jackson poop heroics buried the fact (a little bit) that the Baker Mayfield earlier in the season, and especially last season, is slowly fading in the rearview of the Oklahoma number-one overall pick.
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With the exception of one (fairly costly) throw, Baker was money against the Ravens, and the reason they were in the ball game at all late in the fourth quarter.
Since their awful loss to the Steelers, Kevin Stefanski (should be Coach of the Year) and Baker have flourished together. It goes without saying that the return of Nick Chubb has helped, but Baker has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league and has put up these numbers (which include three apocalyptic weather games):
7 games - 64% CMP - 1,690 YD - 13 TD - 2 INT
He's been efficient, effective, and far more decisive and comfortable than he was when the heat was on about his starting job.
Tonight the ball is back in his hands as the key to the Browns' success. The Giants rush defense is nothing to sneeze at, and one of the ten best in the NFL right now. I am not guaranteeing they shut down Nick Chubb & Kareem Hunt (Aka CHUNT), but it'd be wise for the Browns to do what they did against the Titans & Ravens: pass early. With Tennessee & Baltimore, the offensive firepower is there to come back at any time (as we saw), but if the Browns can expose a thing New York secondary early, they can put this game to bed quickly.
There is no question that Baker was fired up and angry over the Browns' loss to the Ravens, and I expect him to come out firing tonight. But the biggest question for me, aside from how the offensive line holds up without Teller, is if he will be too amped up. We've seen him sail the ball before (their tough game in Jacksonville comes to mind), so a cool, calm, and collected Baker out of the gates is what I am looking for tonight.
It's hard to blame anyone for being mad about the Browns' loss last week when they factor in how fucking awful the defense looked…
Lamar Jackson was money, there's no question about that, but the injured defense of the browns was exposed for their pitiful tackling and brutal secondary.
They should be getting Denzel Ward and Kevin Johnson back, bumping down M.J. Stewart, who took a ton of heat against the Ravens, but they'll also be thin at the safety position with the loss of Andrew Sendejo. Now some may find that to be positive because Sendejo is Browns' fans least favorite player, but their depth is so bad that any bodies would help.
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Look, it's fucking Colt McCoy.
I know he led the Giants to a win against the Seahawks, but the Browns almost beat Lamar Jackson last week, they knocked off the likes of Ryan Tannehill, Dake Prescott, and Phil Rivers. If they're serious about making the Playoffs and beating a good team, they have to beat their former quarterback.
McCoy can move, and that was clearly a problem for the Browns against the Ravens, but it won't be as scary as facing Danny Dimes, who has some great wheels.
As I say every single fucking week, this all comes down to the Browns getting pressure. The Giants let up a shit load of sacks, and the Browns have a healthy Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon. They have to terrorize New York tonight. Cleveland will score, but I don't want to see them in a shootout tonight. The pass rush has to get to McCoy and force them in shit situations and turnovers. Last week the Browns didn't force any turnovers… tonight? They need to grab a few and shut this shit down early.
Will Baker expose a thin Giants secondary?
I want to see them pass early, open up the play-action, and then let Nick Chubb & Kareem Hunt (CHUNT) eat tonight. This a game that, once again, will be dictated offensively by what Baker Mayfield shows up.
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BIG trivia match this week as we have Spittin Chiclets returning (with Whit this time) going up against Team Yak, for the right to be called the number-one team on The Dozen. The last Chiclets' match was incredible…
This new match, the second of the week, will air on Christmas Eve.
Put last week behind us, go out and win the fucking game, Browns.
PREDICTION: Browns defeat Giants, 31-20