As the two AFC rivals hoping to make the playoffs square off in Week 12, the Browns have won three straight and the Broncos have won four straight.
This weekend’s matchup between the Broncos and Browns will require something to give. After a disastrous start to the season, Denver has won four straight games and is currently positioned just outside of the AFC playoff picture. With a win and some luck in other conference games, they could be able to move up into the picture. Cleveland wants to keep its one and only wild card spot in the AFC by winning four games in a row. They currently hold the fifth seed in the conference.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a rookie quarterback, will start for the Browns once more, and his development going forward will be crucial to their success in Week 12 and beyond. Conversely, veteran quarterback Russell Wilson of Denver has been watching a respectable season unfold from the front row. Wilson is completing a career-high 69 percent of his passes for 2,065 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions. Having said that, Cleveland’s defence is unlike any he has faced.
Here are some crucial Broncos statistics that could win the game if the tenacious Browns can continue to overcome the odds and the injury bug that has decimated their team.
Similar to their game against Pittsburgh last week, the Browns will need to safeguard the ball. Denver, with 19 total takeaways, ranks second in the NFL and has demonstrated that they are an opportunistic defence. Their nine fumble recoveries out of those 19 are the most in the league. Cleveland needs to be cautious this week to avoid giving their opponents additional possessions, as this could lead to head coach Kevin Stefanski using a similar offensive strategy.
The Broncos have been excellent at preventing teams from reaching the end zone when they enter the 20-yard line, which is one of the reasons they are riding a four-game winning streak. Denver has given up red zone touchdowns to opponents on more than half of their possessions this season. However, in the last three games, that percentage drops to roughly 44%, placing 10th overall. This current winning streak has been fueled in part by the defence, which has prevented teams from entering the end zone when they get to the red zone.
During this four game win streak, Wilson’s top target Courtland Sutton has been a scoring machine, with a touchdown reception in each and every game during this run. It’s no surprise that he’s scored in all five of the Broncos wins this season as well, while also finding the end zone in three additional games this season. Sutton is second to Tyreek Hill for receiving TDs on the season and if Cleveland wants to win this game they’ll need to find a way to limit his production. Without star CB Denzel Ward that may be harder this week, but the Browns have plenty of trust in Martin Emerson Jr. and even Mike Ford to hold down the fort without Ward.
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