Browns vs. Seahawks: What's the Game Plan for Cleveland?

The Cleveland Browns are in for a fight as they travel to Seattle to take on the playoff-bound Seahawks in Week 15.

It’ll be a much different atmosphere than last week when the dejected San Francisco 49ers came to FirstEnergy Stadium and practically laid down as the Browns rolled to a big win.

Unlike the Niners, Seattle is playing great football and trending up as the postseason approaches.

Getting hot at the right time is what matters in the NFL, and the Seahawks are arguably the hottest team in the league with just three weeks left to play.

In order to score what would be a massive road upset, let’s take a look what the Browns have to do in order to play spoiler this week.

Offensive Game Plan

We saw what an effective running game did for the Browns last week against San Francisco. Although they still attempted them, they cut down on their outside zone-running plays and focused on a more downhill approach. They surged to 230 yards on the ground, the team’s highest single-game total since 2010.

“I think we focused this past game on more inside-zone plays and one-back gap scheme plays,” Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo said this week. “Our goal was to go in and spread the 49ers out. They have some big people inside.”

Stretching out the Seahawks will give the Browns the same opportunity to win their one-on-one matchups, allowing Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson to make plays—if they are there to make, of course. Running lanes are going to be tighter and more congested against a much better Seahawks rush defense this week. But the Browns can’t abandon the run like they have at times this year.

DeFilippo needs to limit Manziel’s exposure by getting him some quick throws and committing to running the ball. Cleveland’s offensive game plan should be to have him throw no more than 30 passes.

Defensive Game Plan

Sacking Wilson nine times like they did Blaine Gabbert last week isn’t a likely outcome for the Browns. But containing him and forcing him to beat them from the pocket is doable. It might not matter with how his offense is clicking, though.

Wilson and the Seahawks receivers are at their best when he’s flushed and making throws on the run. They have a great rapport, and the quarterback knows where his pass-catchers will go once their routes are done and the play breaks down.

They have made a living off that style of play and have been doing it together for some time.

With Thomas Rawls out for the season and Marshawn Lynch still sidelined, Seattle’s run game will rely on recently re-signed running backs Christine Michael and Bryce Brown, as well as trusty veteran Fred Jackson. Some think the Seahawks will be fine against the bad Browns rush defense, but it’s not a given.

DuJuan Harris was the next man up last week, and he could only muster 42 yards off 18 carries. That came after Rawls ran all over the Baltimore Ravens with 44 yards on six carries.

Containing Wilson and getting quick pressure while maintaining gap integrity are the keys to the Browns defense shutting down Seattle and giving Cleveland a shot at the unlikely upset.

Key Player Matchups

WRs Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett vs. CBs Tramon Williams and Charles Gaines

Baldwin and Lockett have been on fire during their last few games. The two receivers accounted for 186 yards and five touchdowns last week.

And the Browns have been susceptible to big plays down the field. Charles Gaines is playing his first stretch of games after missing most of the season. Tramon Williams has been good at times but has fallen off as injuries have thinned out the Browns secondary.

As we talked about earlier, Baldwin and Lockett are best at extending routes and finding open space in the secondary after plays break down. Gaines and Williams need to play to the whistle and stay with their assignment instead of watching what Wilson is doing.

DEs Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett vs. OTs Joe Thomas and Mitchell Schwartz

Both Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett are top-20 pass-rushers and excel in Seattle’s 4-3 defense. Likewise, Joe Thomas and Mitchell Schwartz have been good again this season. Both are ranked in Pro Football Focus’ top 10 for offensive tackles.

Thomas and Schwartz both made the site’s Pro Bowl team, per PFF’s Khaled Elsayed.

What happens when forces of nature meet an immovable object? We’ll find out Sunday.

DT Ahtyba Rubin vs. OC Alex Mack and OG John Greco

The Browns chose not to retain Rubin last season and drafted rookie nose tackle Danny Shelton to fill the void. It has been Rubin who has been filling voids this season, but it has been as part of their Week 15 opponent’s stellar rush defense.

Rubin has 29 tackles, two sacks, five hurries, an interception and one pass breakup while playing left defensive tackle for Seattle. He’ll get to play against his former teammates, so it’ll be an interesting and important battle to watch.

Prediction

This game could be closer than many think, but the chances of Cleveland getting its fourth win of the year are low. And the majority of national media analysts project the Seahawks to win by two or more scores, including CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco.

"This one will get out of hand. The Seahawks and Russell Wilson are putting up huge numbers the past four week,” Prisco wrote in his weekly picks column. “That continues against a bad Cleveland defense. Johnny Manziel has no chance to keep up. Blowout."

All five NFL Network, seven Fox Sports, eight CBS Sports and 13 ESPN analysts are unanimous in their belief the Browns will lose.

If you have watched either team this year, there isn’t much to argue about.

The Seahawks are surging toward the postseason, while the Browns are on their way to a top-five draft pick.

Prediction: Seahawks 30, Browns 16

All quotes and team news announcements obtained via press release e-mails from Browns communications managers Rob McBurnett and Dan Murphy.