Patriots-Browns Preview: Cleveland Looks To Pull Off Upset Over The NFL's Best
This week, the 6-1 Patriots match-up against the 2-5 Browns in Cleveland.
The Patriots come in to this game with the best record in the NFL, and with that comes pressure to perform, and of course, win. The Browns, though, will have different ideas as they look for their third win of the season.
Don't count the Browns out of pulling the upset either, as they have already beat the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.
Now I will break down the key matchups for this AFC contest.
Peyton Hillis
1 of 5
The Browns offence is centered around Peyton Hillis, with him being the leading rusher for the team and also contributing as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. So far, Hillis has managed 653 yards from scrimmage and a team-leading six touchdowns.
What Bill Belichick likes to do is take away an offence's main weapon to put them in uncomfortable positions, which could lead to them making mistakes.
If the Patriots can execute a gameplan on defence that stops Hillis from making a difference, the Patriots could very well shut out the Browns.
Cleveland's Run D
2 of 5
Last week, BenJarvus Green-Ellis gashed the heralded Vikings run defence for over 100 yards and looked very impressive in doing so. This contributed hugely to the Patriots win, as it gave them a solid balance on offence and allowed them to run down the clock and control the game in the second half.
The Browns defence, however, has performed well against the run, recently having allowed only one of its last four opponents to rush for over four yards a carry, with the exception being the Falcons and Michael Turner.
If the Browns can shut down the Patriots run game and force them to become one-dimensional, it would greatly improve the Browns chances against a talented New England offence.
Colt McCoy
3 of 5
Rookie QB Colt McCoy is in line to get his third start in the row after being chosen in the third round by the Browns and starting the season third on the depth chart behind veterans Senaca Wallace and Jake Delhomme.
To lump even more pressure on McCoy, his first two starts came against the previous two Super Bowl champions.
McCoy actually hasn't performed badly in these contests, considering he went up the "Steel Curtain" and the "Who Dat" nation. But it doesn't look like the woes will end anytime soon for McCoy, as he will line-up against a Belichick defence. And one thing Belichick defences do well is confuse young quarterbacks, such as when Mark Sanchez threw four interceptions in one game last season.
If McCoy puts in a solid shift, it could significantly alter the scoreline. But if he becomes confused by the Patriots defensive schemes and becomes a turnover machine, the Patriots could have a field day laying pray on a rookie quarterback.
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Coaching
4 of 5
In the Patriots' last three games, they have gone up against three very tough teams, and one of the key reasons they have come through these games with wins is that they were the team who had been coached better.
This week, Belichick will be up against one of his former coaching apprentices in Eric Mangini.
If Belichick can once again out-coach his adversary, the Patriots could be staring at a 7-1 record.
Conclusion
5 of 5
I really can't see past the Patriots in this contest.
They are more talented and better coached than the Browns and should be able to secure a comfortable win away from home. However, after three tough games and two more tough games looming against the Steelers and the Colts, this is exactly the time the Patriots could slip-up against an underdog.
But with a coach like Belichick and a quarterback like Tom Brady, I just can't see it.
Score: Patriots 31-13 Browns
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