Cleveland Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Five Keys To a Browns Victory

The first game of the Cleveland Browns' 2010 season is in the rearview mirror and it is time to look forward. Week two marks the home debut for the Browns, who will host an improved Kansas City Chiefs team.

While the Browns are still stinging from a disappointing week one loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Chiefs are coming off of a surprising win over the San Diego Chargers on Monday Night Football. Kansas City will be looking to ride that momentum to a second straight victory and the Browns will try to put their loss behind them and improve to 1-1.

The Chiefs looked like a solid football team on Monday night and appear to have greatly improved since they last faced the Browns, late last season. The defense and special teams, in particular, look capable of creating problems for a young Cleveland team.

However, this is still a winnable game for the Browns. A smart game plan and efficient execution on the field should give Cleveland a fighting chance of winning the team's first home opener since 2004. The following is a list of things the Browns will likely need to do in order to put together a win on Sunday.

Run, Run, Run

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 20: Jerome Harrison #35 of the Cleveland Browns runs with the ball for yardage during their NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs on December 20, 2009 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Browns defeated the Chi

During the final four games of 2009 the Browns found a way to win games by leaning almost exclusively on the ground game. Therefore, it was a bit puzzling that offensive coordinator Brian Daboll abandoned that philosophy in the week one loss to Tampa Bay.

Even though Cleveland averaged 4.5 yards per carry against the Buccaneers, they only ran the ball 23 times to 38 pass attempts. In order to win against Kansas City, Cleveland will need to get back to a strong ground attack.

Of course, everyone remembers that least year in Kansas City, Jerome Harrison ran for 286 yards and set the franchise single game rushing record. While it is unlikely that Harrison is in store for another record setting day against the Chiefs, he is still a threat to break the big play. Properly using the combination of Harrison and Peyton Hillis will allow the Browns to move the football, control the clock and keep the ball out of the hands of the Chief's offense.

Don't Give Up On Hillis

J. Meric/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 12: Linebacker Barrett Ruud #51 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers knocks running back Peyton Hillis #40 of the Cleveland Browns out of bounds during the NFL season opener game at Raymond James Stadium on September 12, 2010 in Tampa, Flori

After Peyton Hillis fumbled for the second time against the Buccaneers, he was sent to the sideline and saw little playing time for the remainder of the game. It would be a mistake to keep him on the sideline against the Kansas City Chiefs.

While the Chiefs did a respectable job of containing the Chargers' running backs on Monday night, none of those backs are the battering ram that Hillis is. Hillis punishes defenses in the interior while almost always gaining positive yardage. Running Hillis behind fullback Lawrence Vickers guarantees that at least two defenders are going to get hit in the mouth on every down, which can quickly wear down a defense.

Even though Hillis usually gets his yards by busting between the tackles, he still averaged an impressive 4.6 yards per carry against Tampa Bay. This means that he can do more than simply get short yardage and wear down defensive players. He can also move the ball and sustain drives. If Hills can soften up the interior of the defense, it will allow Jerome Harrison to use his seed for big gains, up the middle as well as on the perimeter. 

Use The Quarterback To Manage The Game

J. Meric/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 12: Quarterback Jake Delhomme #17 of the Cleveland Browns lines up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFL season opener game at Raymond James Stadium on September 12, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images

Injured ankle aside, quarterback Jake Delhomme proved in week one that he can't be counted on to sling the football all over the field. Now Delhomme is in a walking boot and his status for Sunday is up in the air. If Dalhomme is unable to play, it will be backup Seneca Wallace under center against Kansas City.

Regardless of who is taking the snaps against the Chiefs, the Browns' best chance of success is to use the quarterback to manage the game. A run first-attack worked well for the Browns last season and there is no reason to change that this week. Mixing up a lot of runs with a few short passes and screens should allow the Browns to keep the Kansas City defense off balance. If Cleveland can find success on the ground, it should open things up on play action, allowing the quarterback to take a few shots downfield.

Both Delhomme and Wallace are experienced veterans who can manage the offense well, but neither should be asked to play Peyton Manning against an improved Chiefs defense that kept Phillip Rivers from finding the endzone when the game was on the line.

Limit Big Plays

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 13: Dexter McCluster #22 of the Kansas City Chiefs returns a punt for a touchdown as punter Mike Scifres #5 of the San Diego Chargers defends during the 1st half of the game against on September 13, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium i

Kansas City had trouble sustaining drives against San Diego on Monday night, but the team was able to put up points thanks to big plays from running back Jamaal Charles and rookie Dexter McCluster. Charles scored on a 56 yard run and McCluster took a punt back 94 yards for the touchdown. The Chiefs' only other score came when the team started on the San Diego 12 yard line following a fumble return.

Players like Charles and McCluster are a threat to score on any play, and Cleveland will have to be aware of them at all times.

While it is easier said than done, if Cleveland is able to limit one-play scores from the Chiefs' playmakers, the Browns should have a very good chance of coming away with a win.

Don't Get Out-Coached

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 02: Defensive Coordinator Romeo Crennel of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on from the sidelines alongside head coach Todd Haley during the game against the Green Bay Packers on September 2, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas Ci

This one seems like common sense, but apparently Mangini and company didn't get that memo in Tampa Bay. While the Browns' game plan worked to perfection in the first half against the Buccaneers, the coaching staff failed to adjust to the opponent in the second half and the offensive play-calling became conservative and predictable.

The Browns coaching staff will face a formidable test Sunday, going up against two capable coordinators in Charlie Weis and former Browns head coach Romeo Crennel. Crennel knows the Browns well, and knows what many of the players are capable of.

Expect Weis and Crennel to call anything but a conservative game on Sunday, and the Browns staff needs to be ready to return the favor. Brian Daboll and Rob Ryan will need to mix up plays and formations and be ready to adjust on the fly in order to put together a winning performance from the team on the field.