This season is just getting worse and worse. We've now moved from heartbreaking one-score losses into full-blown beatdowns, and to a rookie QB nonetheless.
Fortunately, this week they get a team with issues of it's own. For much of last season and the five weeks of this one, it's been hotly speculated that there was a rift between Eagles starting QB Jalen Hurts and his head coach Nick Sirianni. Whatever you might read about them repairing their relationship during the bye week, Sirrianni and the Eagles need to string some wins together and make some headway in the playoffs this year or there will likely be a changing of the guard in the "City of Brotherly Love".
On the other hand, compared to the Browns, the Eagles look like the 1972 Dolphins. Is there still time to pull something of value out of this (so far) train wreck of a season? Sure there is. Unfortunately it would require the Browns going 10-2 over the remaining games, so probably not. Deshaun Watson is going to start every game that he is physically able to this season, and possibly next, unless the Browns can convince someone to take Watson and their First Round pick during the offseason. Settle in, it's gonna get bumpy.
Browns (1-4) @ Eagles (2-2)
Kickoff - 1p FOX
Line - Browns +9.5 O/u 42.5
Series - Browns 32-17-1
Last meeting - Browns 22-17 Nov 22, 2020 in Cleveland, OH
It's over
When Deshaun Watson arrived in Cleveland for his introductory press conference in March 2022, even the fans that didn't like Watson (or rather what he was accused of) would admit that they thought that the Browns had fixed their long-standing issues at the quarterback position.
Following his 11-game suspension where in six games he managed only seven touchdowns to five interceptions while throwing for less than 200 yards a game, mostly he was given the benefit of the doubt, "He's just rusty" fans explained, a pretty reasonable take, he'd just sat for most of two years.
In 2023 when he led the Browns to a 5-1 record in his starts, leading a last-minute drive to beat division rival Baltimore, only to miss the remainder of the season, fans were primed for his return in 2024.
Five games into this season, they're done.
There's even a touch of masochism to these tweets -
and then there's the piece de resistance, you may have seen it on The Pat McAfee Show -
And it goes on like that, for pages, and PAGES. Oh, and I think it's safe to say that this post by one Emmanuel Ocho has aged like milk. . .in the sun. . .at the equator.
Bits and Baubles
Browns - The Browns are 14-10 as the road team in Philadelphia but have not won there since returning to the league in 1999. The Browns have not recorded 300 yards of offense in a game this season. The Browns have not had a QB throw for a touchdown against the Eagles since 2004 when Jeff Garcia did it.
Eagles - The Eagles have lost outright six of the last eight games that they were favorites in at kickoff. in nine games in the modern era, the Eagles longest touchdown run vs the Browns is Darnell Autry's 3-yard run in 2000. Donovan McNabb has the highest rating (118.9) against the Browns of any QB with at least 100 attempts.
Injury Report
Browns
Nick Chubb - RB - OUT (Knee)
Grant Delpit - S - OUT (Undisclosed)
Ronnie Hickman - S - OUT (Undisclosed)
Charley Hughlett - LS - OUT-IR
Ethan Pocic - C - OUT (Undisclosed)
James Hudson III - OT - OUT (Shoulder)
D'Onta Foreman - RB - Questionable (Ankle)
David Njoku - TE - Questionable (Ankle)
Eagles
Anias Smith - WR - OUT (Ankle)
Sydney Brown - S - OUT (Knee)
DeVonta Smith - WR - Questionable (Concussion)
Nakobe Dean - LB - Questionable (Ankle)
Fantasy Advice
Keep throwing Amari Cooper out there, I know, it's hard when the QB throwing to him isn't playing great, and, no, he hasn't found the end zone this year, but he's averaging over eight targets a game, it has to come together sooner or later, right? Not that I think there's a lot of people starting Dustin Hopkins, but the news that Browns long snapper Charley Hughlett has been placed on the IR makes me wary of depending on the Browns' kicking game. Also, Philly's defense is ranked 26th in Expected Points per Attempt.
DeVonta Smith is likely to return this week from concussion protocols, and A.J. Brown (Hamstring) is scheduled to return for the first time since Week 1, those two and LT Lane Johnson returning makes me think Philly might be in for a huge week offensively, the last time those three all played the Eagles scored 34 points.
Prediction
Philadelphia 31 - 17
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