BEREA, Ohio — The Browns (1-4) have dropped three games in a row and are looking to rebound against the Philadelphia Eagles (2-2), who are coming off a bye week.
Will the Browns be able to right the ship before it’s too late? Or will they sink into the 1-5 abyss?
Here are three storylines to watch in the game, as well as my predictions for each:
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will need to get his confidence back against the Eagles.Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
Will the Browns get functional Deshaun Watson?
In their 34-13 loss to the Washington Commanders, Watson struggled and the offense couldn’t consistently move the ball down the field.
He completed 15 of 28 passes for just 125 yards. The offense managed only 12 first downs, and converted on only one of 13 third-down attempts. That lone conversion came on the final drive of the game with backup QB Jameis Winston in.
Watson doesn’t need to put on a show this week, but he does need to be at least functional, much like his performance in Cleveland’s 18-13 win over the Jaguars in Week 2, or even his output in the Browns’ 20-16 loss to the Raiders in Week 4.
This week, Watson admitted that he may have pressed during the loss to the Commanders, after the Browns fell behind 17-3 and then 24-3 in the first half.
“You could say that,” he said. “You can say I was trying to do too much, trying to make the big plays, trying to create things where I didn’t need to create things, but at the same time it was just the flow of the game and how the game kind of goes. They got up on us fast and we were trying to get back in the game as soon as possible because in the NFL, every rep and every possession that you have is very important.
“And yeah, I think that we’ve just got to simplify it and just take it one play at a time. We’ve got to concentrate and lock in and just have that confidence on that play that we’re going to give 110% and it worry about the next play when it comes.”
Prediction: I think admitting he pressed in the last game is actually significant here.
The fact that he’s acknowledged it was a problem means there has been a focus on correcting it this week.
If the Browns can execute early and help Watson get into a groove, he should at least be able to move the ball down the field — even if it’s still not what you would expect given his $230 million contract.
Functioning is all you need right now, because you have to walk before you can run.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) could put on a show against the Browns defense.AP
Stopping Saquon Barkley
In his first year in Philadelphia, the Eagles back is off to a fast start.
He’s third in the NFL with 435 rushing yards, and he’s had one less game than most of the other backs across the league given the Eagles’ early Week 5 bye. He’s second in the NFL averaging 108.8 yards per game behind Baltimore’s Derrick Henry (114.4 ypg).
Barkley has size at 6-foot, 232 pounds, and also has breakaway speed to escape the second level of most defenses.
The Browns are towards the bottom of the league in run defense, ranked 24th and allowing an average of 141.6 yards per game.
Prediction: It’s hard to be positive about this element of the game and it’s a big reason why I’m picking the Eagles to win.
The Browns allowed 215 yards on the ground to the Commanders last week, and the game before that, they were gashed for 152 rushing yards by the league’s worst rushing team, the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders had just 153 total rushing yards entering Week 4, and used their performance on the ground to escape with a 20-16 win over Cleveland.
This Cleveland defense has holes right now, and my guess is Barkley is going to find them.
How many snaps witll Cleveland Browns offensive linemen Zak Zinter (70) and center Nick Harris (53) get against the Eagles? John Kuntz, cleveland.com
Can the Browns protect Watson?
Watson was sacked seven times again against the Commanders, making it a league-high 26 times for the year. He’s been hit a league-high total of 64 times — 11 times in each of the last two games.
The Browns continue to have next to no consistency on the O-line due to injuries.
Center Ethan Pocic (knee) has been ruled out after not practicing all week. Rookie guard Zak Zinter has struggled. Jedrick Wills Jr. looked OK at left tackle last week, but the team hasn’t had right tackle Jack Conklin in yet after he was set back in his recovery from knee surgery with a hamstring injury.
The good news this week is Conklin’s got no game status, so is expected to make his debut.
Prediction: If the Browns can get Conklin and veteran guard Michael Dunn back into the rotation, it may help them here. Kevin Stefanski wouldn’t divulge what their roles may look like this week during his Friday availability.
But the Eagles will be looking to get their interior pass rushers, Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis going. Carter has no sacks and Davis only has one.
This week is another tough assignment, so Watson is still going to get dropped a handful of times if I had to guess. But veterans returning, as well as a game plan to get the ball out quicker, may be the recipe to keeping him upright a bit more.
