Opponent Profile: Giants Look To Extend The Browns' Winless Streak
By Curt Macysyn
The New York Giants (7-3) look to sweep the month of November as they face the Cleveland Browns (0-11) in an inter-conference matchup. For the record, the Browns have earned their status as the league's only winless squad. The Giants will face an inexperienced Browns team desperate to establish their identity and earn their first victory of the season.
Cleveland Browns Season Record: 0-11
Not only are the Cleveland Browns winless (0-11), they are also finding it impossible to maintain a competitive edge. The Browns have lost their last three games by a combined 61 points. Cleveland may indeed go without a win this season, as they will not be favored in any of their final five contests. The Dec. 11 home clash against the Cincinnati Bengals may be the only realistic chance for victory, as the team also plays the Giants and San Diego Chargers at FirstEnergy Stadium. They go on the road to take on Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers after that, with neither game providing a good matchup for this young team.
Browns on Offense:
The Browns have had a revolving door at quarterback this season; using six, count them six, signal callers. Their most recent starter, Cody Kessler, left Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with an apparent concussion. It's possible Kessler could miss the rest of the season after suffering two concussions in the first eight games of his career. At the very least, he'll likely sit out Sunday's game against the Giants.
Chances are that 37-year old Josh McCown (53.3 completion percentage) will start against the Giants, but reports also indicate that Robert Griffin III may be healed from a shoulder injury sustained in Week 1 against the Eagles. It may not matter who starts because the Browns offensive line cannot protect the quarterback. Due to offensive line issues, top receiver Terrelle Pryor Sr. (56 catches, 4 TDs) and top rusher Isaiah Crowell (561 rushing yards) are largely minimized. The Browns are ranked 30th in the NFL offensively, scoring an average of 16.7 points per game.
Browns on Defense:
If you cannot score on offense, well then you had better have a stout defense, except that does not describe the Browns either. Cleveland gives up yards in bunches (409.5 yards per game), and points in bunches (29.5 points per game). They are 31st ranked in rush defense; giving up 143.9 yards per game. This bodes well for the Giants rushing attack, as Rashad Jennings and Paul Perkins have seen improvement over the past several weeks.
Cornerback Joe Haden has been a bright spot for Cleveland over the years and he leads the team in interceptions with three. Inside linebacker Christian Kirksey may be a star in the making and represents a defensive bright spot too. He has 103 tackles this year, as well as 1.5 quarterback sacks. Newly acquired linebacker Jamie Collins stepped up against the Steelers and provided an upgrade for the unit.
Players to Watch: Terrelle Pryor and Jamie Collins
The Browns need to take advantage of talented wide receiver Pryor. The former Ohio State quarterback has barely scratched the surface of his ability. He still has 56 catches, despite the revolving door at quarterback, as well as the fact that he has battled injuries.
Collins went from the penthouse to the outhouse, as he was traded from the New England Patriots to the Cleveland Browns at the trade deadline. But Collins has a championship pedigree, and he's also playing for a free agent contract. Expect him to be extra motivated to make the Giants' afternoon miserable.
Outlook:
The New York Giants may be heading to the NFL playoffs, while the Cleveland Browns are heading nowhere fast. The Giants got off to slow starts in their games recently and they typically plays close games, but it would behoove them to give their offense and defense some wiggle room by taking care of business early in Ohio. For a team that is riding a five-game win streak into Cleveland, they should be able to take care of business early.