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JC Tretter will get this politely aggravated look concerning the “close to impossibility of the Browns beating Kansas Metropolis.”
“It simply does not have any that means on what is going on to occur,” the iron-man heart mentioned on the Monday after a win at Pittsburgh that wasn’t presupposed to occur. “It is projections and predictions, and it simply does not have an effect on us.
“We’re not not caught up in any respect in something folks say about what we will and may’t do.”
Extra:Steve Doerschuk’s Browns-Steelers Snap Judgments: Cleveland delivers memorable playoff win
It began final summer time for causes Browns followers know so effectively. Successful out of the gate did not appear possible. One way or the other, the workforce discovered itself at 4-1.
The bubble burst with a 38-7 loss at Pittsburgh, a harrowing win at Cincinnati, and a 16-6 loss to Las Vegas. Then the Browns one way or the other went on one other 4-1 sizzling streak.
Accidents and COVID-19 crept right into a loss to the feeble Jets and a shaky win over Pittsburgh replacements.
There was no manner the Browns may win a playoff street sport in opposition to the rested Steelers.
One way or the other …
Extra:Browns earn first playoff win since 1995 with 48-37 triumph over Steelers
Sunday’s sport on the top-seeded Chiefs appears the last word 2020-21 problem for the Browns.
Nevertheless daunting, listed below are 10 causes to think about “one way or the other” turning into Cleveland profitable at Kansas Metropolis and advancing to the AFC finals.
1, The Chiefs did not limp throughout the regular-season end line the best way the Steelers did, however it has been some time since they dominated an opponent.
Their regular-season finale, a loss to the Chargers, may be disregarded since Patrick Mahomes was rested whereas Chad Henne made his first begin since 2014. Recreation 15, alternatively, warrants scrutiny.
Enjoying at residence in opposition to an Atlanta workforce that wound up at 4-12, the Chiefs trailed 14-10 late within the fourth quarter. Going through a third-and-10 from his personal 25, Mahomes transformed and led the Chiefs to a go-ahead landing. Even then, Kansas Metropolis’s protection allowed Atlanta to drive to a discipline objective attempt that would have created extra time. Younghoe Koo missed from 39 yards.
2, Kansas Metropolis’s offensive line is weaker than it has been by way of a lot of Mahomes’ sensible run. Proper deal with Mitchell Schwartz, who made first or second workforce All-Professional 4 instances after leaping from the Browns in 2016, has wrestled with a again situation and isn’t anticipated to play Sunday.
3, Baker Mayfield will not get intimidated if Mahomes scorches the skies.
In a 2016 faculty sport, Mahomes squeezed 739 yards out of 88 throws for Texas Tech. Mayfield countered with 545 yards on simply 36 throws in a 66-59 Oklahoma win. Mayfield’s first six landing passes that day all coated 23 yards or extra.
4, Mahomes does not all the time inflict extreme ache on a protection.
In October, the Chiefs had been at residence with only a 13-10 lead on New England halfway by way of the fourth quarter. They managed a modest 323 yards in opposition to a workforce that completed 7-9.
In a house win over Denver final month, the Chiefs trailed 16-12 late within the third quarter and nursed a 19-16 lead for a lot of the fourth quarter.
5, If in some unspecified time in the future Sunday the Browns want to management the clock with the run sport, they’ll look to Kansas Metropolis’s low-score sport in opposition to the Broncos.
Denver ran 33 instances and netted 179 dashing yards. Melvin Gordon popped a run of 65 yards.
6, The Browns fell to the Chiefs in 2018 largely as a result of they could not cease Kareem Hunt.
The sport’s first factors got here on a 50-yard catch and run by Hunt. Kansas Metropolis’s subsequent sequence started with a 25-yard run by Hunt, main to a different TD.
A Nick Chubb landing minimize a Browns deficit to 14-9. They then had an opportunity to carry the Chiefs to a discipline objective. On third down, Hunt ran 9 yards to the 1. He scored on the subsequent play.
Mayfield took the Browns on a landing drive overlapping the third and fourth quarters. The Chiefs’ subsequent sequence began with a 10-yard run by Hunt that led to a discipline objective.
Defending Hunt is Kansas Metropolis’s downside now that he’s Chubb’s teammate.
Extra:Tale of two lifelong Browns fans: Priefer gets choked up, Steelers get knocked out by Hunt
7, The Chiefs are vulnerable to massive performs of their yard.
Of their residence loss to the Raiders, they allowed a 72-yard TD move to Henry Ruggs III, a 59-yard yard TD move to Nelson Agholor, and a 43-yard run by Devontae Booker.
Of their residence win over Tampa Bay, Ronald Jones II hit them with a 34-yard run and a 37-yard catch. Three different move performs coated greater than 30 yards.
Of their residence win over Carolina, 4 Panthers delivered receptions overlaying greater than 20 yards apiece.
8, Defending Tremendous Bowl champs are inclined to expertise no less than a slight hangover.
Denver received Tremendous Bowl 50 and missed the playoffs the subsequent 12 months. Philadelphia received Tremendous Bowl 52 and adopted up with a 13-3 document however misplaced a playoff opener.
The Patriots received Tremendous Bowl 53 and dropped a wild-card sport at residence to the Titans.
Andy Reid went to at least one Tremendous Bowl as head coach of the Eagles. Philadelphia went 6-10 the subsequent 12 months.
9, Sure offenses give the Chiefs matchup issues. Las Vegas is Exhibit A.
Jon Gruden’s Raiders received 40-32 at Kansas Metropolis and misplaced a 35-31 shootout in Vegas. The Chiefs had bother slowing down Derek Carr’s fast passes.
Enjoying behind a patchwork line, Mayfield wanted a quick-pass strategy greater than ever at Pittsburgh. He made one necessary throw after one other.
10, Cleveland’s head coach is a pupil of Andy Reid.
“Rising up an Eagles fan, I cheered for a bunch of his groups,” Stefanski mentioned.
He marvels at Reid frequently adapting to modifications within the professional sport.
Now Reid is up in opposition to a coach who has studied him totally and has introduced a shocking change to the best way Cleveland performs soccer.
Attain Steve at steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com
On Twitter: @sdoerschukREP
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