CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns are back at it on a short week as they take on the Denver Broncos in a prime-time matchup of playoff contending teams inside Broncos Stadium at Mile High in Denver tonight.
With aggressive play-calling from offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens, the Browns earned a 26-20 victory over the Carolina Panthers at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland last Sunday, which improved their record to 5-7-1 on the season and kept them “in the hunt” for an AFC playoff berth.
Here are three things to watch for as the Browns look to snap an 11-game losing streak against the Broncos, dating back to December 8, 1991.
MAYFIELD AGAINST DENVER’S PRESSURE
After being besieged by pressure earlier this season, Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield has learned how to get rid of the football quicker and avoid talented defenders from some of the league’s best teams.
And while Mayfield has been sacked just once in the last four games, the Browns are anything but satisfied with the protections, especially with Denver having a pair of talented pass rushers.
Denver’s defense has become known for a ferocious pass rush, namely because of outside linebacker Von Miller and his ability to time up perfectly the snap of the football.
In his eight-year career, Miller has registered 103.5 sacks, including 97 in regular-season games, and is just a combination sack of Mayfield away from setting the Broncos’ all-time record. Miller has registered 10 or more sacks in seven of his first eight years in the league, including 13.5 this season.
Additionally, rookie lineman Bradley Chubb has registered 12 sacks in his first 13 career games.
“Intimidating front,” Mayfield said. “Talented. Obviously, Von Miller has his reputation for a reason. He has been doing it consistently for a while. (Bradley) Chubb has been playing great and playing great for a rookie.
“They have combined for over half of their sacks just the two of them. They have a good front. They allow their secondary to play aggressively, kind of like the Texans did. It kind of presents itself as that type of matchup.”
LINDSAY’S IMPACT FOR BRONCOS
Seven months ago, Phillip Lindsay was an undrafted rookie running back just trying to make the Broncos’ roster, and now, he is an integral part of the team.
Despite sharing the workload with Royce Freeman in the early part of the season, Lindsay has emerged as one of the Broncos’ best playmakers on offense.
On 168 attempts, Lindsay has rushed for 967 yards and nine touchdowns with 46 first downs. Additionally, Lindsay has broken off eight 20-yard runs and three 40-yard rushes.
Also, Lindsay has turned 29 catches into 210 yards and one touchdown, all while averaging 23.3 yards per kickoff return and 7.7 yards per punt return.
“He is explosive,” Browns linebacker Joe Schobert said. “He is a small guy, but he is fourth in the NFL in rushing. He has obviously been effective, and he has great burst of speed and acceleration. He has hit a couple of home runs for them this year, so always have to be aware of where he is at.
“He bounces and uses his speed to get to the edge, but he also is a good one-cut slash type of runner. If someone gets out of a gap and he sees an opening, he has good vision. He will plant his foot and take it right through there. With his acceleration, he can go through the line real fast.”
TRETTER PLAYING THROUGH PAIN
High ankle sprains have a way of ruining NFL seasons, but Browns center JC Tretter is not about to let that happen, not especially with the Browns still alive in the race for the playoffs.
Despite suffering the high ankle sprain in a mid-October loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at FirstEnergy Stadium, Tretter has remained in the starting lineup for an offense that has averaged 24.6 points over the last three games and a team that has fought its way back into the playoff conversation.
“Super impressed because that is not an easy injury,” Williams said. “Especially when you play that position, it is all about power and first step, second step and all of those things you have to do. I have been super impressed with that.
“Even when he got rolled up on again -- his ankle got rolled up on again -- and had to come out for a short time, I was super impressed with how he fought through it and came back and continued to play. With all of that being said and done, all of us that play and coach in this game know that that is what you are supposed to do.
“It speaks volumes to his teammates. It speaks volumes to everybody on your team that you are supposed to be giving them your all. It establishes trust and respect throughout the team. I have been very impressed with that.”
