It’s been a very news worthy bye week. First QB Baker Mayfield was placed on the Injured/Covid-19 list on Sunday. After panicking for about three minutes, Browns fans found out he had not tested positive, but had come in contact with a staff member who had. As of this morning, Mayfield was activated from the Covid list and will practice today. Major sigh of relief. Monday felt like victory Monday when we all found out RB Nick Chubb was activated from the IR and returned to practice. Besides Chubb, TE Austin Hooper, RG Wyatt Teller, DE Myles Garrett, WR Jarvis Landry, FB Andy Janovich and LB Jacob Phillips also returned to practice. More sighs of relief and fist pumping. While most Browns fans are celebrating Chubb And Wyatt returning, I’m celebrating the return of LB Jacob Phillips. The Browns defense missed his athleticism and speed. Combine Phillips return with LB Mack Wilson saying he’s finally feeling 100% and the linebacker corps are instantly improved.
On Tuesday, head coach Kevin Stefanski told the Cleveland media the coaching staff spent the bye week scouting themselves. Stefanski added, they took apart all phases of the team and put them back together again. Sounds like a great plan, especially on defense. On offense, I’d like to see the tight ends used more in the passing game. On defense, put LB Mack Wilson back in his normal position and play Ronnie Harrison at strong safety and Sheldon Redwine at free safety. It wouldn’t hurt to try. I’m interested in seeing how Stefanski handles the team coming out of the bye week. It will be another first for the head coach. Historically the Browns are terrible coming out of the bye, going 13-20. The last victory after the bye week came against the Bengals in 2018, Mayfields rookie season.
So where do the Browns stand at the bye. They are 5-3 and if you had them at 5-3, I want to run some lottery numbers by you. Because of the loss to the Raiders, they are one game out of the playoffs. This just means the Houston game is another must win game. The Texans scare me offensively. Well, their passing game scares me. Texans QB Deshaun Watson is 2-0 verses the Browns and in those games Houston was so far ahead, Watson didn’t play in the fourth quarter. Watson’s wide receivers, Brandon Cooks, Will Fuller and Randall Cobb are going to be a major problem for the Browns defense. Add former Browns RB Duke Johnson and TE Darren Fells to the mix and this might be a long day. On the positive side, the Texans can’t run the ball because the interior of their offensive line is struggling. Expect Garrett to line up over the Texans right guard quite a bit. DTs Sheldon Richardson and Jordan Elliott could have big games. On defense, the Texans are just as bad as the Browns, no make that worse. They allowed backup Jaguars QB Jake Luton (who?) to pass for 304 yards. The Texans are 2-6, but those two victories came against the Jaguars. This might be another shootout.
Looking forward, as mentioned earlier the Browns are in the eighth spot for the playoffs. If you’re a Browns fan you need to hope the Raiders and the Dolphins start to lose some games. If the Browns beat the Texans, their next two games verses the Eagles and the Jags are defiantly winnable games. Then comes a trip to Nashville and a game against the Titans. The next three games for the Titans are hosting the Colts Thursday, the Ravens at Baltimore and at the Colts. The two Colts/Titan games will give us an early indication of who will win the AFC South. I’d like to see the Titans take control of the division because the Browns hold the playoff tie breaker against the Colts. As for the last four games on the Browns schedule, they control their on destiny, but a home victory over the Ravens would make a playoff berth much easier. Right now with the way the Steelers are playing, a AFC North crown for the Browns is very slim. But it is 2020 and stranger things have happened. The NFL owners did approve a playoff plan to add an additional wildcard team per conference if games are cancelled. So the Browns could still get in as the eighth seed.
The Browns playoff push starts this Sunday verses the Texans. The Texan defense can’t stop the run and besides J.J. Watt can’t pressure the quarterback. The Browns passing offense needs to attack the Texan linebackers who are terrible in coverage and of course run the ball. On defense, the Browns need to pressure the right side of the Texans offensive line and keep containment on Deshaun Watson. Pressure without too many blitzes. As mentioned earlier, this is the first of many important games for the Browns. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.