Jim McIsaac - Getty Images
LaDainian Tomlinson has reemerged this season as a member of the Jets.
Are you ready to boo the hell out of Braylon Edwards? I am. I personally feel more "rage," or however you want to define being upset at an athlete, than I do against LeBron James. Not only does Cleveland need to beat the Jets, but there needs to be a misfortune during the game for Edwards to make the weekend complete. Is that too much to ask for?
Here are some notes heading into the game, followed by my positional breakdown and prediction for the game:
| Pos | Adv | Reason |
| QB |  |
In terms of experience in the NFL, Mark Sanchez has the edge over Colt McCoy. If you look at the way McCoy has played over his first three starts though, you wouldn't be able to tell which of these quarterbacks was a rookie. This season, Sanchez got off to a great start, playing well in three games against divisional opponents. Since then, he has struggled with his accuracy and his decision making. Even with his last-minute comeback against the Lions last week, Sanchez has thrown 2 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in his past 3 games. During that stretch, he is only completing 51% of his passes. McCoy, on the other hand, has been limited in his number of passing touchdowns (he only has one through three games), but his 67% completion percentage has allowed Cleveland to continue drives while letting Peyton Hillis pound it on the ground. |
| RB | |
Who would have thought that at the half-way point of the season, Peyton Hillis vs. LaDainian Tomlinson would be a battle of the comeback running backs? Jerome Harrison and Shonn Greene were the featured backs for Cleveland and New York, respectively, when the season started. That changed quickly for both teams, and I don't think either team regrets their decision. The Browns won't see much of Greene unless the Jets are blowing the Browns out. Hopefully that won't happen. Tomlinson has also been a nice checkdown receiver for Sanchez, as he is tied for the team lead in receptions. With that said, it's surprising to me that his longest reception has only gone for 14 yards. Hillis has the same number of catches as Tomlinson does. In terms of production, both Hillis and Tomlinson deliver maximum effort for their teams. |
| WR |  |
The Jets have one of the league's best receiving units with Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, and Dustin Keller (that doesn't even include Tomlinson). Overall, Sanchez has done a good job distributing the ball evenly to each of his targets, but it seems like the group has had a tough time getting open at times. Even though Mohamed Massaquoi's catches are down this season, I think he's having a pretty good year. He is catching everything thrown his way and did a good job settling down in coverage last week against New England. Chansi Stuckey will face his former team, so he should be a little more hyped. |
| OL | |
Left guard Matt Slausen injured his knee on the Jets' final offensive play against the Lions, but it sounds like he'll be ready to play for this week's game. This is an offensive line that has performed well together, with Nick Mangold, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Brandon Moore, Slausen, and Damien Woody combing to form a good, young line. The Browns' offensive line has been playing outstanding. Peyton Hillis' improved production on the ground has also coincided with Floyd Womack shifting over to right tackle. Billy Yates hasn't been a problem at right tackle, and Alex Mack is dominating the opposition at center. McCoy wasn't even hit last week. |
| DL | |
This unit hasn't missed a beat without Kris Jenkins. I haven't had the opportunity to see how nose tackle Sione Pouha has played, but it sounds like he's filled in very well. Shaun Ellis can generate some pressure from the end position, and Mike Devito completes the three-man front on the other side. This was the closest defensive position that I considered marking as a "tie" given how good Shaun Rogers and Ahtyba Rubin have been. |
| LB | |
Bart Scott and David Thomas combine to form a very good inside linebacker unit. Jason Taylor adds some nice depth to go along with starters Bryan Thomas and Calvin Pace. There isn't a specific player who gets to the quarterback here (the pressure is spread around), but I'm sure all of them will have spots when they are blitzing McCoy on Sunday. The play of Cleveland's linebackers have been very good too; even Chris Gocong came around and had several good stops on the Patriots' running backs last week. |
| DB | |
Darrelle Revis wasn't as effective while he was injured, but Jets fans seem to be convinced that he's healthy and back to his All-Pro form. Antonio Cromartie isn't afraid to take chances, but he's had a lot of penalties called on him. Perhaps McCoy will try to spring Cribbs against him and draw some interference during the game? Cleveland's secondary must shut down Braylon Edwards to make me a happy camper. Stopping Santonio Holmes from getting yards after the catch is another big key. |
| ST |  |
Brad Smith is a pretty good kick return man, but our coverage units have just smothered everyone before they even have a chance to get going. There might be a push in terms of field goal kicking and punting this week -- Steve Weatherford gets his punts inside the 20 pretty well, and Nick Folk has rebounded this year after a poor effort with Dallas last year. |
After seeing the domination the Cleveland Browns had over New England last week, combined with how intense I expect them to play this week, how can I pick against my hometown team? It feels great to pick the Browns against a good football team and not believe I'm being a homer.
FINAL PREDICTION: Cleveland Browns 23, New York Jets 17.
CHRIS' RECORD IN PICKING BROWNS GAMES: 5-3
CHRIS' OVERALL NFL PREDICTIONS RECORD: 79-51
0 recs | 38 comments
Totally Disagree
with any matchup you considered EVEN or in favor of the Browns..
1. QB, Sanchez is waay ahead of McCoy in terms of experience and pocket presence, he has 2 Playoff wins and a Championship game under his belt, also Sanchez started out his career 3-0 against the Texans,Patriots and Titans..clearly Sanchez Wins this comparison.
2. RB, Hillis has had a decent season but hes the ONLY HB the Browns use, the Jets have a 2 Headed Monster with LT and Greene and so far have gotten 1,000 yards combined so far this season, the Jets WIN this comparison..
3. OL, ok when you say its EVEN, i have to laugh because the Jets have 4 perennial Pro Bowlers on this line.. D’Brick,Mangold,Moore and Woody are all Pro Bowlers and Matt Slausen has actually played BETTER than Alan Faneca did for us last season,this is truly the NFL’s best O Line…
4 ST, Smith is averaging almost 31 yards per return,thats the best avg in the NFL…Weatherford has been having a quiet Pro Bowl type season, he consistently places the ball inside the opponents 20…Nick Folk it seems is back to his 2008 Pro bowl form, hes made 16/19 with a long of 56 yards
AFCxxBEAST - November 13, 2010
Underestimate the Browns at your peril… Though you would be in good company with 2 Super Bowl winning coaches.
I think you will be impressed by McCoy. He is a great kid to watch.
Good luck. Though many are picking the Browns, it’s not out of disrespect of the Jets – many also believe the Jets should make it to the AFC Championship game.
Spidey - November 13, 2010 via mobile
not underestimating them...
but maybe you guys are over rating them? i think the Browns have a young team and with more experience every week they will find thier identity and become a Force to reckon with, as of right now i just dont see it, i know they beat 2 very good football teams but those teams have ZERO balance on Offense and mediocre Defenses…the Jets bring a much more balanced attack that will keep the Browns off guard all game long…whether they choose to pound the rock with LT and Greene or air it out against a Cover 2 Zone scheme, its gonna get exploited.
AFCxxBEAST - November 14, 2010
Holy crap, you’re worse than a Yankee fan.
SpecialBrownie - November 14, 2010
sorry...
i not a big Yankees fan either, Jets Mets and Nets!!!
AFCxxBEAST - November 14, 2010
But it’s still obvious that you think the Jets have no flaws and that the sun shines directly out of your guys’ ass…just like almost every Yankee fan I’ve ever met.
I believe we’ve already found our identity. We play a tough defense that gives even all-pro QBs fits with all of the different looks we give them. We play a tough offense using the run to set up the play action pass with a little bit of trickery involved here and there. We may not be contenders yet, but we are a competitive, smart, hard-hitting team, and if that doesn’t make us a force to be reckoned with, well….
Browns town - November 14, 2010
XD
IBHMC - November 14, 2010
Those two unbalanced mediocre defensive teams are still two of the top teams in the League. Both of which have more points scored than your beloved Jets.
Jets Saints Patriots
Off Rushing
4 24 15
Off Passing
20 5 17
Def Rushing
4 17 21
Def Passing
18 1 29
The Saints offense is just as balanced as the Jets and their isn’t too bad in terms of giving up yards compared to your Jets. The Pats d is pretty bad, but their offense is not unbalanced though their numbers are middle of the road. Not sure where you found your information but I imagine you just used your assumptions.
Also not that the differences in age matter but
Age rankings for every NFL team
Facts do suck I agree.
Sorry I needed one more laugh for the night.
You all have a good team and you may win tomorrow and should be favored. However, your posts make no sense and seem to have little basis in fact or reality.
Villeslgr - November 14, 2010
Rankings are from ESPN team pages and are per game averages.
Villeslgr - November 14, 2010
These rankings also take into factor how the players are doing right now. At quarterback, you just completely ignored the fact that Sanchez’ accuracy has been down this year. At running back, you argue that the Jets have an advantage because they have two running backs? You also fail to mention that Tomlinson has been slowed down a bit the past couple of weeks, something I didn’t hold against him above. On the offensive line, this line has kept a rookie quarterback from even getting dinged, and has dominated the line of scrimmage to allow Hillis to pound away at opponents. The Jets’ offensive line is good, but so is Cleveland’s. On special teams, I don’t care what your returners are averaging: Cleveland’s coverage units have prevented every team from even sniffing a good return. You’ll see on Sunday. As good as Weatherford has been, our punter is putting the ball inside the 5 almost every time it seems, and Phil Dawson is a reliable kicker too.
It’s funny — a few New England fans acted just like you did last week and tried to complain about the rankings, as if they were a joke. It’s not like I slapped the Jets in the face with these rankings; overall, they have more advantages position-wise. You obviously seem to think the Jets are better in every single aspect of the game, but it seems like you have no clue how anyone on the Browns plays.
Chris Pokorny - November 13, 2010
You’re ARE honestly giving the browns the benefit of the doubt on the non-dominated match-ups, and there is nothing wrong with that with you being a Browns fan and wanting to see them win. But you can’t blame him for calling you out on it. I hate Sanchez as much as the next guy but to say that McCoy is anywhere near his level at this point is nonobjective. You’re criticizing him for his recent play while disregarding the fact that McCoy has done very little in terms of making plays through the air shows this. McCoy was pressured plenty last week but his movement in the pocket allowed him to not be hit, not the OL.
The Licensed Pessimist - November 14, 2010
McCoy has only played smart ball this season. Intangibles are important!
IBHMC - November 14, 2010
McCoy was quite good against the Patriots. Also working with below average wideouts.
Roger Dorn - November 14, 2010
The second part of this can’t be emphasized enough.
Chief WaDrew - November 14, 2010
Actually I think it was a pretty fair assessment.
As far as QB, I am wondering where Sanchez numbers would be without the drops (no, not Edwards, more Cotchery). If he and Holmes get it going tomorrow, long day for Cleveland.
Also, how much keying on Edwards is there gonna be (even TJ Ward had a comment and he wasn’t there when Edwards was) and is Ryan wanting to let Edwards use this game as some type of payback, which is not out of the question.
I think a lot of Cleveland fans wouldn’t mind losing 100-3 as long as Edwards is shut down.
As far as RB’s, if we ever get our guys enough reps in ANY game, I think we will win that battle. Everyone knows Hillis is your big gun, so will Mangini try surprise us with another weapon to avoid being one dimensional? And if so, who is it? Robiske, Moore?
I don’t like at all what your linebackers are doing and if we throw as much as I think they will, I hope we try to throw over them.
You failed to mention your stud return man in the ST’s. I believe coach Westoff is the best ST coach in the NFL and hopfully he has something in place for him.
There are so damned many sublots in this game, I might watch this game with the volume off so I don’t have to listen to the brother vs brother, Mangini vs old team, Edwards vs Cleveland, etc, etc
Is there a Vegas line on a fan coming onto the field and trying to kill Edwards?
Jets win in another close one, not sure of the score, but I am sure of the under
jaxopguy - November 14, 2010
Seely > Westoff.
SpecialBrownie - November 14, 2010
I’d rather win and see Edwards score 3 times than the opposite.
Our LB’s have been pretty good, main weakness has when they have had to guard the tight end, but they have been excellent against the run.
Roger Dorn - November 14, 2010
disagree with all of those except OL.
experience, i’ll give you, but pocket presence? no way dude. colt mccoy has had excellent pocket presence in his 3 starts.
yes, but how much of that can you credit solely to the QB?
also, while the jets get more production from their rbs, it is a direct result from their o-line. hillis is a better, more talented RB than both.
average yards per return is not a good stat to use. average starting field position is much more revealing. not that it will matter, since the browns have stuffed pretty much all return men so far this year very effectively. reggie hodges has been a top 3 punter, and phil dawson hasn’t missed a kick since week 2. browns have the advantage here.
and do you seriously think that the jets are better than the browns in every facet of the game? c’mon man. really?
davus - November 13, 2010
Ummm… Well.
Between watching USC upsetting Arizona right now and typing up this post, it has taken quite a while. I had gone through talking about your point #1 and point #2 and realized that everyone has basically already made my points. I guess the early bird gets the worm in this situation.
But I will say, Sanchez going 3-0 is impressive, but I don’t think it’s more impressive than Colt McCoy going 2-1. Simply because the Texans, Patriots, and Titans don’t exactly make my bunny slippers run for cover. Steelers, Saints, and Titans, however…
shep615 - November 13, 2010
You are by far the biggest homer we have ever had on this website. And that’s saying something given the Broncos fans last year.
Roger Dorn - November 14, 2010
You obviously have not watched colt McCoy so far.
and how much of this was truly a credit to him?
So? the browns total Rushing Offense has put up pretty much the same numbers as Greene/LT. The browns also run it less than the jets and their total rushes are around how many Greene/LT combine for.
Well, out of those 4 pro bowlers, only 2 made the pro bowl EVER. I think the browns have 3-4 Pro Bowlers but only one guy who has made a pro bowl. And Faneca was BAD last year…so that proves jack.
bross09 - November 14, 2010
Excellent.
golanbatrac - November 14, 2010
how can you be angry?
when you see how bad sanchez is on a weekly basis? he’s not very good and hasn’t improved since last year.
spencer0960 - November 14, 2010
Not sure how the Browns come out on top with those matchups… The Jets (or should I say JETS?) take most of these. Perhaps you should add coaching to the list? Because it seems you give demerits for the OC on the Jets.
It’s an interesting comparison between LeBron and Braylon. LeBron’s actions were far worse – quitting in Boston is unforgivable, and the free agency fiasco was incorrigable for a kid who fashioned himself a hometown hero and an athlete for the world’s stage.
Braylon, on the other hand, is small potatoes making himself out to be bigger than he is. I suppose the amplification that comes from such a pipsqueak of a person could put him higher on some people’s list of worst former Cleveland athletes, but in 5 years he will be another Andre Rison, except with a house that is not burnt to a crisp.
I’m feeling a good vibe from the team and the coaching can almost do no wrong, but it’s asking a lot to win 3 in a row as the Browns are being asked to do; Jets takes a close one.
Spidey - November 13, 2010 via mobile
Agree on all points.
dvbb - November 13, 2010
On a list of misfortunes…what if Edwards gets back home to discover his hamster has given up the ghost? Would that seal the deal?
elsandito - November 13, 2010
Do you ever question whether you´re wrong?
I mean minus the lobbied wolf herd?
mooncamping - November 14, 2010
-booing the hell out of Braylon Edwards and picking on Derek Anderson…your entitled to your opinion, being against someone can be fun. Pretending slander and libel is not part of the forum possibility spectrum is wrong.
-Sanford/McQuistan…not a quality assessment, but shopping your propensity to disqualify an athlete from your professional pulpit, based on secretive personal favoritism that we need to figure out.
-their defense won´t have any issues stopping him. You´ve built him up as a feature back, contrary to indications he´s a fullback. Now you´re going to sensationalize, whether they bully up to smack him in the mouth.
-scripting plays. For Hillis to have any success Daboll must force the defense to respect the passing game…Scripting plays is World Wrestling Federation, in football it´s potentially illegal…Your shopping one players success against anothers, based on another unpredictable entities propensities, you are a control freak!
-Seneca Wallace…I hear what you´re saying with shopping the wildcat and hurricane plays as implementable, but like why honestly?
-Evan Moore versus anyone…is he not a versatile tight end, to be subject to overt specialization, much less a head hunter type versus his proven ability to make catches?
-Not into Marc Sanchez, doubt his ability to succeed…Could it be because we traded down three times, so we could get Mack, and your personal quality predictions consequently, predict his curb towards reality has a negative trajectory?
-The Jets forcing the ball to Braylon Edwards based on his own request?…Get real.
mooncamping - November 14, 2010
… Huh?
shep615 - November 14, 2010
A Jets fan in Cleveland? Nahhhh….
IBHMC - November 14, 2010
Naw, I just had the feeling Pokorny is going a bit south in his projections again.
mooncamping - November 15, 2010
Brian Daboll
Just curious, why hasn’t the Offensive Coordinator been available to the press the last two weeks?
64GO42 - November 14, 2010
This is it
This week defines whether the Browns are for real, or if the Browns are the old browns that do nothing but lose, with the occasional win mixed in to keep our hopes up for nothing.
3 wins in a row is something we havent done in a while. Especially against teams that are good. This would be incredible for us.
This is IT!!!
pl4tinum - November 14, 2010
No. If we lose it’s not the end of the world. The Jets do have a lot of weapons and still 6-2. If we lose it doesn’t make us the old Browns again.
SpecialBrownie - November 14, 2010
Couldn’t care less about Edwards, or the Mangini angle. Those are things are interesting if your team is 1-7, and had been blown out a lot.
And I love that people are offended that we’d compare Superstar Sanchez against our kid, or their big name OL against our poor line.
Let’s play this game!
dgcambridge - November 14, 2010
Sanchez and Colt is even?
One qb with 25 starts including 3 playoff games and having thrown 20+touchdowns and 3,000 plus yards ( and plenty of interceptions as well with time to break down mistakes) and the other with 3 game starts? I think Sanchez is middle of the pack for NFL qb’s mostly due to inexperience. So what does that make McCoy?I understand your enthusiasm about having something promising at the position, but really, the position you take is not objective. That isn’t to say that a new qb at home can’t outplay Sanchez or the Browns can’t win or anything like that. It is just disputing the breakdown at the qb position should favor a mediocre Sanchez rather than McCoy.
longsuffering but optimistic - November 14, 2010
One of the most accurate college QB ever (and even if you throw out college he’s been hot in the NFL) vs. someone who hovers around 50% comp with a good receiving core? Hmmm…
North Coast Flea - November 14, 2010
How did Sanchez look to you today northcoast flea?
longsuffering but optimistic - November 14, 2010
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