How The Browns Can Beat a Tough Redskins Team

After a strong Week Six performance against the Giants at home, the Cleveland Browns are on the road this week against the Washington Redskins.

Every team in the NFC East is explosive. It wouldn't be surprising if three teams make the playoffs. The Giants are acting like the defending Super Bowl champions. People expect the Cowboys to make the playoffs, and the Redskins are emerging. 

That being said, the Browns are in a moderately difficult division.

The Bengals are the laughing stock of the league, and lose a lot of credibility for the division. Pittsburgh has struggled but appears to be bouncing back. And the Ravens only have a good defense and are managing with a promising rookie in quarterback Joe Flacco.

The Browns were a tremendous sleeper last season and almost made the playoffs. And then everyone expected them to get to the playoffs this season.

But the Browns need to start winning more.

And if they don't win this week, all the momentum from the Monday night game is lost and they may never get it back.

Last week, Braylon Edwards mentioned that the Browns players were lost in the locker after their preseason loss to the Giants. They questioned themselves, and wondered if they were going to live up to the hype. And that was a preseason game.

This game is going to be one of the most important games in recent Browns history.

The Browns need to prove the Monday night game was not the result of a bye week and they have what it takes to get to the playoffs by beating good teams.

But how do the Browns go about that?

They have a big obstacle in the form of the Washington Redskins. That's why I'm going to outline the key points that the Browns must focus on in order to make a statement by beating the Redskins, which can carry over for a playoff run.

Don't play Winslow unless you need a conversion or touchdown.

Winslow is a one-dimensional tight end. He can only catch, and his blocking is poor. If he doesn't execute good blocks, then catching passes is his only value to the team.

And when his testicles "are the size of grapefruits," you probably should give him a little bit of a break and not play him too hard.

With Steve Heiden and Darnell Dinkins playing well in his absence, Winslow has become less of a commodity in Cleveland. Don't get me wrong, "The Soldier" is great and I love his play, but he isn't much help when not healthy, which dooms the Browns against the Redskins and their eighth-ranked defense.

The Browns shouldn't run the ball with Winslow in the game.

Instead, Cleveland should use a formation with two wide receivers and either one tight end with two running backs, or two tight ends with one running back. Those receivers should be Donte Stallworth and Edwards. And the other players should be Winslow and two guys from the Jamal Lewis, Lawrence Vickers, and Steve Heiden-trio. Those three can all block and catch.

When the Browns run the ball, Vickers and Heiden should be on the field.

Vickers is arguably one of the best fullbacks in the league. Cleveland's backfield, which is somewhat impressive, runs better when Vickers is in the game to block. Cleveland's offensive line will do their job. So let Vickers do his job.

More importantly, let Heiden do his job.

Heiden is a versatile tight end, and blocks like LeBron James dunks. (With no regard for human life.) Okay, maybe not like that. But Heiden blocks far better than any other Cleveland tight end. And nobody expects a blocking tight end out of Cleveland.

Stop Clinton Portis and the Redskins' running game.

If there is one thing that the Redskins have going for them, it's Clinton Portis.

The last three weeks, he averaged 5.6 yards per carry (395 yards on 71 carries) and has three touchdowns. And even though the Redskins lost to the Rams, they didn't stop Portis who had his best game of the year so far against them.

Meanwhile, Giants running back Brandon Jacobs has gotten 14-15 touches per game, dating back to Week Two. Similar to Portis, he is averaging 5.7 yards per carry for the season with four touchdowns since Week Two. Cleveland limited Jacobs to 67 yards (4.8 yards per carry) althought he did score a touchdown.

And do you know why? Shaun Rogers.

Rogers was double-teamed and able to shut down Jacobs. On a side note, Jacobs provided the Browns bulletin board material when he said the Browns don't hit hard. Cleveland needs to use that comment as motivation against the Redskins.

Keep the momentum from Monday night.

The Browns beat the Giants in historic fashion on Monday, and generated momentum that was needed. If the offense utilizes that momentum on Sunday against the Redskins, the Browns can pull off the upset. Derek Anderson can't have a warm-up period. He can't rely on Jamal Lewis to start things up.

Anderson needs to play well and show he deserves to start because many people don't think he should. The Browns passing attack needs to take pressure off the running game by playing like it did on Monday.

Show the Redskins that we're a team on the edge and we're not afraid of anything.

Use unfamiliar formations, specifically put Josh Cribbs in shotgun and let him run. 

Step up, and take it to the Redskins.

The high from beating the defending Super Bowl champions shouldn't have worn off yet. They need to walk into this game knowing they knocked off a big team in a big way.

Be dominant in special teams

The Browns have one of the NFL's best return men in Joshua Cribbs. But he hasn't been effective this season. But if there is a game where we need him the most, it's this one. The Browns need the advantage in field position, and Cribbs has a large part in that effort. The Redskins' defense is tough, and the Browns' offense needs to spend as little time possible on the field.

So there they are. The key points to this game. This is what I believe will help the Browns win this Sunday, and eventually, make a playoff run.