5 bold predictions for Browns against Broncos
By John Buhler
3. Cleveland is going to struggle to move the sticks in the ground game
Great teams are able to win in multiple ways, and that is exactly what will be required out of the Browns to come out of Thursday Night Football with a 4-3 record. We know that the Browns’ bread and butter offensively is to beat the opposition to a pulp at the line of scrimmage with a punishing running game. Well, this rushing attack will not have either Nick Chubb or Kareem Hunt.
Not having Chubb available last week vs. the Arizona Cardinals hurt the Browns’ home upset bid of the NFL’s last undefeated team. Hunt got the bulk of the carries in Chubb’s absence, but he got beat up pretty badly in the game, and will now be out multiple weeks with his injury. While football is a sport defined by next man up, this is not a game where the Browns rush for over 100 yards.
Though D’Ernest Johnson and Demetric Felton could be pleasant surprises for Cleveland in their big opportunity, let’s not count on it. Cleveland may have arguably the best offensive line in football, but Denver has been savvy defensively for years. For that reason, it feels like a push when it comes to the Cleveland rushing attack vs. the Denver rushing defense on Thursday night.
Even if it is unlikely, if Cleveland can run the ball effectively, it should tip the scales in their favor.