Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots: Is Joshua Cribbs the X-Factor?

This Sunday the Cleveland Browns will face a very stiff test as they host the New England Patriots.  The Patriot's own the NFL's longest winning streak this season at five games, and they also hold the best overall record in the league at 6-1.  The Patriots boast a high-powered offense and a stingy defense, staples of a Bill Belichick-coached team. 

It will then be up to head coach Eric Mangini, along with coordinators Brian Daboll (offense) and Rob Ryan (defense) to devise a strategy that will keep Cleveland in the game until the very end.  Here are a few thoughts on how it could play out from a Browns perspective:

On offense, the Browns will try to establish the running game early, hoping that Peyton Hillis can gain enough yardage to keep the Patriots defense honest.  A premium will be placed on protecting rookie quarterback Colt McCoy, who will no doubt throw short timing patterns to Hillis and tight end Ben Watson, because Cleveland wants to make sure he is not holding onto the ball too long. 

Cleveland's best bet will be to pass to the halfback (Hillis) or fullback (Lawrence Vickers) in the flat, something that would have worked well two weeks ago against the Saints had Vickers been able to hold onto the ball.

On defense, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will try to confuse New England quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots offense in much the same way as they were successfully able to stop Drew Brees and the Saints.  He will dial up a number of blitzes, some of them involving rookie safety TJ Ward, who is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Cleveland.

The key to Sunday's game, however, may not come down to anything the Browns have planned on offense or defense.  It may be how well their "X-factor," wide receiver/return specialist Joshua Cribbs, plays throughout the course of the game. 

Cribbs, recovering from a concussion he suffered against Pittsburgh more than three weeks ago, did manage to draw a pass interference penalty against the Saints that led to the Browns' only offensive touchdown in that game.  And while it is assumed that Colt McCoy will throw short to intermediate passes to minimize the Patriots pass rush, there could be a couple of downfield shots taken in Cribbs' direction.

Then there is the role that Joshua Cribbs will play on special teams. 

Cribbs has yet to break a big return yet, so he is due.  And there is little chance that New England head coach Bill Belichick decides to kick it away from Cribbs, as that just isn't his style.  And it doesn't hurt that Cribbs is one of the leading special teams tacklers too, as New England has a very dangerous return game as well.

And, as if the Patriots didn't have enough to worry about with Cribbs playing wide receiver and kick returner, there is also the Wildcat formation to game-plan for.  The Browns only went to the Wildcat once against New Orleans, but, with two weeks to prepare for New England, who knows how many times Daboll will call this formation. 

It should be noted that Cribbs is not only a threat to run from this formation but also pass, as the ex-Kent State quarterback is 2-for-2 when dropping back this season.

Sunday afternoon in Cleveland Stadium will mark another great chapter in the "mentor" vs. "pupil" rivalry, as head coach Eric Mangini leads the Cleveland Browns, the first team he ever worked for, against the New England Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick, the first NFL coach to ever hire him.

This game may come down to the wire as the two coaches try to outdo each other in football's equivalent of a chess match.  In the end, however, how well the Browns do may depend on the performance of their X-factor, wide receiver/return specialist extraordinaire Joshua Cribbs.