On Sunday, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs face the Cleveland Browns. We welcome Chris Pokorny of Dawgs by Nature — our sister SBNation website masking the Browns — for 5 Questions with the Enemy.
1) The Browns have gotten the complete Jameis Winston package deal: massive performs and head-scratching turnovers. What’s the angle in Cleveland? Is it inevitable that he opens 2025 because the beginning quarterback?
I ran a ballot two weeks in the past asking whether or not followers needed Jameis Winston again, and about 75% of them mentioned they’d be in favor of him returning because the starter in 2025. The offense has proven the flexibility, together with his apparent hiccups, to place up 30+ factors and 300+ yard passing video games. Nevertheless, we additionally noticed Joe Flacco mild it up final 12 months, and this entrance workplace didn’t even supply him a contract to return for one more season. Subsequently, it’s arduous to undertaking what they keep in mind. It’s clear that Deshaun Watson doesn’t have ‘it,’ however will the workforce determine to offer it yet one more shot, contemplating how a lot they’re paying him? Or will they attempt to make a play for another quarterback available on the market? Kevin Stefanski has had success with each quarterback who has performed for him besides Watson. Even P.J. Walker — who sucked — was 2-1 because the starter final 12 months in Stefanski’s offense (regardless that Ken Dorsey is the offensive coordinator now). I don’t assume it’s inevitable that Winston is the 2025 opening day starter, however we wouldn’t be against it as followers. We actually don’t need it to be Watson.
2) The Chiefs have been significantly weak to tight ends. If his hamstring damage retains David Njoku off the sphere, how harmful can the Browns’ different tight ends be?
It doesn’t seem like Njoku goes to have the ability to play this Sunday. Behind him on the depth chart are Jordan Akins and Blake Whiteheart, who I might label as common backup tight ends. Akins is sweet for one strong athletic catch each couple of weeks, and Whiteheart has made a pleasant seize or two in restricted motion. The vast receivers have been the point of interest of the offense since Jameis Winston took over because the starter, although. It’s doable you’ll see a 4-catch, 50-yard sort of recreation from Akins, however I wouldn’t anticipate it to be the kind of efficiency that breaks the Chiefs’ again.
3) Chiefs followers are (rightfully) petrified of what Myles Garrett would possibly do on this recreation. How do you assume the remainder of the protection matches up in opposition to the Chiefs?
The Browns’ protection has been very irritating this season, significantly the secondary. What you’ll see is that the protection is dominant for sure stretches of the sport — after which swiftly, they crumble with an enormous lapse, blown protection, and so on. within the secondary. Additionally, regardless that he hadn’t been enjoying the perfect, cornerback Greg Newsome went on IR this week, which implies we’ll in all probability see backup Cameron Mitchell getting some reps because the third cornerback. With the quantity of lapses in communication the Browns have had — and Patrick Mahomes’ capability to increase performs — I’d be frightened as a Browns fan. Just a few weeks in the past, Bo Nix escaped the pocket however then made some unhealthy choices or unhealthy throws when he had guys fairly vast open. Mahomes received’t miss these guys.
4) Realistically, what course do you see the Browns going this offseason? They concurrently appear incapable of both going all in with this group or blowing it up completely.
It’s a predicament. The one optimistic we face is that lastly, we will begin including expertise through the draft once more, since we haven’t had a first-round decide for the final three years. That may improve one place, after which if the quarterback state of affairs had been totally different, I believe the narrative for the 2024 Browns is usually a lot totally different. There are different questions too, although. Nick Chubb coming again has been a feel-good story, however he appears to be like pedestrian to date. Will he get again to being the most effective backs within the league subsequent 12 months? How does the protection ‘get again’ to being tops within the league (personally, I really feel that’s the defensive coordinator’s fault for not adapting to groups figuring him out). There may be quite a lot of expertise on this workforce to compete, so I believe making small tweaks (except quarterback) is the appropriate strategy for subsequent 12 months.
5) The Chiefs are presently a -4.5 street favourite. Do you assume that line is honest? How do you see this one enjoying out?
Regardless that the Chiefs have been profitable video games by solely 2-3 factors, I believe the road is actually honest. The Browns are 3-10 and the Chiefs are 12-1; it’s not simple with the information alone to only assume, ‘Certain, I’ll take the Browns to lose by solely a area purpose’ — particularly with the Chiefs’ protection being strong and Winston throwing interceptions late in video games. That’s one thing that may immediately flip a 4-point recreation to an 11-point recreation. I’m taking the Chiefs to win this week by about 6 or 7 factors.
Remember to take a look at the solutions I gave to their questions by clicking right here.
