Browns have a chance to bookend their Week 1 losing skid: 3 Quick Pregame Thoughts
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CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Kevin Stefanski era officially begins Sunday when the Browns face the defending AFC North champion Ravens. Here are three pregame thoughts about the game:
1. The streak
The Browns have gone 15 years without a Week 1 win. This isn’t news to most fans, but it still fascinates me. I’m starting to wonder if it’s more difficult to go 15 years without a Week 1 victory or go 0-16.
We’re talking about the game for which you have the most time to prepare. Granted, the Browns have often been shuffling in new coaches and trying to learn new schemes during the streak. It spans seven coaches. But most of the games have been at home. Sunday’s game will be just the fifth on the road.
The Browns have scored first six times during the streak. They’ve led at halftime just four times, and in the fourth quarter just four times, although they were tied twice in the fourth quarter, too, with one game (2018 vs. the Steelers) going to OT.
The streak includes three losses and one tie vs. the Steelers, and two losses each to the Bengals and Eagles.
One team the Browns haven’t played during the streak? The Ravens. The same team they last defeated in a Week 1 game (20-3, 2004). And the circumstances were surprisingly familiar.
2. Covering tight ends
The Ravens gave up the fewest catches to tight ends in 2019, just 3.2 per game (52 total). It was an improvement over the previous two seasons when they finished in the top 10 for most tight end catches allowed (83 in 2018, 79 in 2017).
So what changed? The arrival last season of safety Earl Thomas and linebacker Josh Bynes certainly helped. Both excelled in coverage with the Ravens. Pro Football Focus graded Thomas 86.1 and Bynes 74.2 in coverage. While they weren’t the only Ravens defenders to play well in 2019, it’s notable that both are no longer in Baltimore.
Thomas is likely to be replaced by DeShon Elliott, who has played 40 snaps over two seasons due to injury. Also, the Ravens will have a different linebacker group that includes rookie Patrick Queen and perhaps a larger role for L.J. Fort (67.6 coverage grade).
Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale believes the Browns will try to test Queen with their tight ends.
“I’m sure they will,” Martindale said. “They’re going to give us different looks and we’re going to give them different looks. That’s the chess match of the game. I’m sure they will. I think (Queen) is going to be up for the challenge.”
3. Wanted: Healthy cornerbacks
The Browns activated cornerback Robert Jackson from the practice squad on Saturday. It’s a smart move for a team that will be without Greedy Williams and Kevin Johnson. Also, Johnson’s backup at nickel, M.J. Stewart, is questionable. On top of that, it’s unknown how ready safety Ronnie Harrison is after arriving via trade barely a week ago.
You wouldn’t think a team facing the Ravens, who ran the ball more than anybody last season, wouldn’t need extra cornerbacks. But you’d be wrong.
The Ravens force teams play with extra defensive backs with their formations. They used 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end) with three wide receivers 47 percent of the time in 2019, and ran out of that formation 49 percent of the time. In the first half of games, they averaged 6.9 yards per carry out of 11 personnel, according to Sharp Football Analysis.
Adding an extra degree of difficulty is the fact that reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and running back Mark Ingram were both in the top 20 in avoided tackles and in the top 21 in yards after contact last season.
New Browns face masks for sale: Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Browns-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection for adults and youth, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All NFL proceeds donated to CDC Foundation.
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