The Browns are running the game one way or anotherIt hasn’t always been pretty, but Cleveland has done enough on the field this season.
Sunday against Denver offers the opportunity for a big day.
The Cleveland Browns knew life would get tougher after losing running back Nick Chubb in Week 2 to a season-ending knee injury.
Since that fateful night in Pittsburgh, the Browns have relied on a “running back by committee” approach to the ground game with Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt as their primary defenders; Pierre Strong Jr.
participates where he can; and some complementary contributions from quarterbacks Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and P.J. Marcheur.
That hasn’t always been the case, but somehow the Browns have managed to put all that effort together and enter today’s game against the Denver Broncos averaging 142 .7 rushing yards per game, making them the third best team in the league.
Cleveland also ranks second in rushing attempts (343) and averages a mostly respectable 4.2 yards per carry.When you look at these numbers, it’s a little surprising considering the running backs have struggled in two of the last three games.
Against the Arizona Cardinals, the trio of Ford, Hunt and Strong averaged just 2.46 yards per carry on 37 attempts, while against the Steelers last week they averaged 2.72 yards per carry on 25 racing.
The fact that the Browns won both games is perhaps an indication that the whole is better than the sum of its parts when it comes to the running game, or that it’s not a matter of how many yards you gain, as long as you gain the yards you want . you won. you need it at the right time.
However, it seems like a good plan with DTR set to make his first two road starts of his NFL against the Broncos and then the Los Angeles Rams to get the running game to support the rookie quarterback.
And the Broncos could provide a perfect opportunity to do so, as aside from forcing turnovers – ten in the last three games – Denver’s defense isn’t doing anything very well.
The Broncos allow a 71.2% completion percentage, have given up the fourth-most receiving touchdowns and have the No. 1 passing defense in the league. 31 in the rankings.
The run defense is even worse as the Broncos are No. 32 in rushing yards allowed (1,600) and yards per carry (5.5).
If Thompson-Robinson and the offense can keep the ball from being turned over, there should be plenty of opportunities to make plays on offense, especially in the running game.
Running the ball and playing defense can go a long way in calming a rookie quarterback’s nerves, and Sunday’s leadoff against the Broncos seems like the perfect opportunity for the Browns to do just that and earn their way to another Victory Monday.
