By Tony Catalina
NEFJ Correspondent
Kickoff: The New England Patriots roll into Cleveland looking to build upon an impressive home win against the Detroit Lions and will need another complete game on all three phases to do so. The Browns on the other hand are in the midst of a two game losing streak and are desperately looking to get back into the winning column. Both teams are a game back of .500 and with a chance to even up the record on Sunday this will be an important game for both..
The last time these two teams met was last season on 11/14/21 where the Patriots dismantled this Browns team 45-7. The all time series is tied 13-13 between the two franchises.
1st Down: The running game will dictate this football game: The Browns boast one of the leagues best one-two punches at the running back position in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt and much of what this team does offensively starts there. On the other side, for the Patriots it looks as if Bailey Zappe will be getting his second career start on Sunday and when you’re playing your third string QB a solid running game is vital to team success. The Browns run defense has been leaky to put it lightly and in the last two outings the defense has given up 440 rushing yards and certainly needs to be an area of focus for this Patriots offense. If the Pats are able to limit Chubb and Hunt on defense and find a way to have an effective running game, that very well could be the deciding factor this Sunday afternoon.
2nd Down: Win on third down: It goes without saying in football, but the importance of putting yourself in manageable situations will undoubtedly increase your odds for success. That is none more evident than on third down. Last week the Patriots were 3-9 on third down and the offense will want to improve on that mark to protect the young QB and sustain drives to control the ball and help this defense stay fresh. On the other side, the defense for the Patriots will look to build on last week as they held the Lions to 4-18 on third and fourth down situations. Converting on offense and ending drives on defense is the recipe for consistent success on Sunday.
3rd Down: Patriots defense needs to continue to rise: In the absence of their starting QB and dealing with injuries across the board, the Pats will again look to the veteran leaders on the defensive side of the ball to step up. Pitching a shutout a week prior versus the number one offense in the league is the exact thing you’d hope to get from your defense when you trot out your third string QB. As they head into week six perfection for the second week in a row may not be needed, but a high level of play may be required to get their third win of the season. Look for guys like Matthew Judon and Kyle Dugger to rise to the occasion once again for this team.
4th down: Rhamondre Stevenson looking to step up: Already the teams leading rusher with 372 yards, Stevenson will take on a bigger role this week with the absence of Damien Harris. We had mentioned the importance of the running game on ‘first down’, but more specifically it will come down to Stevenson and his ability to trust the offensive line in front of him and make plays. Stevenson is averaging 5.5 yards a carry on 68 attempts and the team will look for him to build on those numbers and consistency here in week six.
Extra Point: Patriots wide receivers need to help the QB: With the teams second leading receiver in Nelson Agholor out, it will be up to Jakobi Meyers and company to step up and win their individual matchups for Zappe. The QB has only thrown the ball a total of 36 time in two games and although the opportunities are limited, there are plays and situations that need to be won on the outside for this team to be successful. Having the threat of being about to spread the ball around a little bit through the air will open things up in the run game and allow for this offense to have a full plan of attack against their opponents. It’s not all on the receivers shoulders, but to be successful this week they are going to need to help the QB out, maybe more than usual.
Final Drive: There shouldn’t be a QB controversy: Regardless of what happens here in Cleveland this week, the idea that Zappe is going to take Mac Jones job is nothing more than fan fodder and talk show topics. This is Jones team, this is Jones locker room. We’ve seen Jones take a step in year two pre injury, and although many get caught in the hype of something new, newer isn’t always better. It’s best for the Patriots if Zappe is able to solidify himself as the long term answer at QB2, but anything further is premature and misguided at best at this time.