Be bold! How the Browns see their decisive match with the Kansas City Chiefs – Terry Pluto’s Pregame Scribbles

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Write in my notebook as the Browns prepare to face Kansas City in the playoffs:

1. The Chiefs are the Super Bowl champions. They have Patrick Mahomes and a high-scoring attack. The Browns have a good running game, No. 3 in the NFL with 148 yards per game. So it looks like the Browns should be running the ball – a lot. Speed ​​up the clock, keep Mahomes & Co. off the field.

2. I thought it would be the same strategy when the Browns played against Tennessee earlier in the year. Instead, they went out to play. Not all the time, but they shot the field. They jumped on the Titans with 17 points at the start of the second quarter and had a 38-7 lead at halftime.

3. Browns fans probably remember what happened. The attack stalled in the second half, but Cleveland resisted to win 41-35. In other words, they won a shootout.

4. Consider the 48-37 victory in the first round of the playoff over Pittsburgh. The Browns scored 28 points in the first quarter. Steelers committed five turnovers. Even so, the Browns needed almost 40 points (38 to be exact) to beat Pittsburgh – despite five turns.

5. What does it take to defeat the Chiefs? I heard that the Browns believe they need something like 40 points. Hey, they scored 42 against Baltimore and still lost, 47-42. The Browns plan to be bold in attack, as they did in recent big games against Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Baltimore.

6. They don’t plan to neglect the racing game. But they could do things like launch passes for Nick Chubb (four receptions, 69 yards), as they did against Pittsburgh. Kareem Hunt is usually the receiver outside the field. He was shot only once, a 13-yard catch. But Hunt ran the ball for two TDs.

7. In victory over Pittsburgh, the Browns had a 34/31 pass / run ratio. Against Tennessee, it was a 34/36 pass / run ratio. Therefore, the Browns are not losing their identity as a racing team. But Baker Mayfield’s rise in the second half of the season boosted Kevin Stefanski’s confidence in QB.

8. When Andrew Berry’s front office was drafting the game plan for the year, it started with reinforcing the offensive line by hiring Jack Conklin for the All-Pro tackle and writing Jedrick Wills Jr. The promising rookie tackle. It was more than ensuring that Mayfield was protected. There was a greater philosophical approach.

9. The Browns knew they couldn’t fix everything after season 6-10. They decided to aim for a high-powered attack. Make this the identity. Stefanski’s specialty is leadership, attack and development of defenders. Play with your strength.

10. The Browns knew that the defense would be left behind. They could handle defense after the 2020 season. In modern NFL, you need to score a lot of points. Sometimes, you have to score quickly. That’s how Kansas City plays. In many ways, this was the Browns’ model – only they knew they didn’t have a MVP caliber QB like Mahomes. But they have a superior racing game.

11. The Browns’ goal this week is simple: don’t be shy. Play to win. Place dots on the board. If it fails, so be it. Don’t take stupid risks. But a totally conservative approach will not bother the Chiefs. The Browns know that their defense is vulnerable.

12. Meanwhile, the Browns’ passing game has become effective, efficient and at times explosive. They will have a complete complement of receivers. Jarvis Landry (72 catches) had a wonderful season as he played a few games with a broken rib and missed a game on the COVID-19 contact tracking list.

13. Donovan Peoples-Jones is back from his concussion. Remember the discussion about the Browns needing a deep risk receiver with speed, especially after Odell Beckham Jr. crashed out of the season with a knee injury early in Game 7? Peoples-Jones is not Beckham, but has an average of 21.7 yards per catch. He has 14 receptions.

14. With Beckham out, Landry is the main receiver. But it’s an equal opportunity offense. Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge and Peoples-Jones had great games. Hunt and now Chubb have emerged as threats to capture passes outside the field.

15. We said it all year: it still looks like the Browns can get more out of Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant and David Njoku. But I just added up: they combined 90 catches and 9 TDs in the regular season. Hooper was shot 11 times (catching seven) in the playoff victory over Pittsburgh.

16. In the Pittsburgh playoff game, Callie Brownson replaced tight end coach Drew Petzing (COVID-19). She did this earlier in the season at the Jacksonville game. His main job is Stefanski’s chief of staff. The Browns believe that she could become a full-time coach in the years to come. His organizational and communication skills are two reasons.

17. When offensive lineman Bill Callahan and his assistant Scott Peters made the COVID-19 list, it was Ryan Cordell who took over the Pittsburgh game. Its official title is “technical assistant”. In 2019, he was a “football research analyst” for the Browns. Prior to that, he worked in football operations for the 49ers. He is the new generation of assistants with a varied background, not just as a former player. He is highly regarded.

18. I mentioned the two young assistants in the Steelers playoff game because the Browns operated so well with Stefanski and four assistants on the COVID-19 list. Mike Priefer was the acting head coach with Alex Van Pelt giving the cards. They were fantastic. You have seen no confusion with the wrong players on the pitch or problems relaying the moves to Mayfield. Assistants played a big role in doing that job.

19. I didn’t write much about defending against Kansas City. You know why. It will probably be a long game for them. They need to force some changes. But the story of this game is that the Browns need to score at least 40 points to win.

20. Prediction: After I chose the Browns to lose 33-24 to Pittsburgh last week, a reader insisted that I write an “Act of Contrition” for not believing in the Browns, which I did.

So I promised to choose the Browns this week. This led to a flood of e-mails begging me to choose the Chiefs. If I choose the Browns, I will be unlucky. What to do? My head says: Bosses 45, Brown 38. My heart says: Brown 45, Bosses 38. You choose which one you like best!

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New Browns masks on sale: this is where you can buy Cleveland Browns-themed facial covers for coronavirus protection for adults and youth, including a single mask ($ 14.99) and a pack of 3 ($ 24.99) . All NFL proceeds donated to the CDC Foundation.