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This is getting bad, right? I'm not even a Browns fan and I'm getting second-hand depression watching this team.
Week 1? Okay, yeah, it was Dallas, a team that most people have as one of the better ones in the NFC and a potential Super Bowl contender. Week 2 was a nice bounce-back away against Jacksonville, and it doesn't matter how you got the win, you GOT THE WIN! Week three was. . . What WAS that? You finally got that second touchdown to pull within striking distance, force a three-and-out by New York, and with just shy of ten minutes on the clock you manage forty-nine yards on your next THREE possessions which are (for those of you whimpering at home) FUMBLE, turnover on downs, turnover on downs. Not only that but the Giants also MISS a potential game-icing field goal with about three minutes left. It was like watching two teams that both wanted to lose.
If the Browns can't turn it around against the Raiders, or at least look like they've played football before, it's gonna be a long season.
Browns (1-2) @ Raiders (1-2)
Kickoff - 4:25p CBS
Line - Browns -2.5 O/u 36.5
Series - Raiders 15-10
Last Meeting - Raiders 16-14 on 12/20/21 in Cleveland, OH
Is it Time for a Change?
Given the poor play of the Browns so far this season, and Deshaun Watson in particular, is it time to make Jameis Winston the Browns starter? Bold question, I know. Watson hasn't been alone in his ineptitude this season. The offensive line has been bad, bordering on putrid and part of that is the injuries they keep getting saddled with.
"But the Browns owe him so much money! They can't bench him!" Wrong, my friends. You can absolutely bench him, you can bench anyone at anytime if they aren't playing well. To say that his contract is a reason to keep trotting him out every week from now until doomsday is the "Sunk Cost Fallacy" at it's worst. Watson has been bad, not "OK", not "Meh", not "Could be better", bad. Continuing to let him play tells me one thing (and that might be a good thing).
Tanking. It's gotten a bad wrap, especially in other sports (looking at you Mr. Adam Silver). In football it's neigh unacceptable, but continuing to do the same thing and expecting different results (in this case) might be smart. You're continuing to let Watson play, if he turns it around? Great! If he doesn't? Also great! You won't be able to dump Watson's contract this off-season, but if you finish sufficiently poorly, you can't tell me that the Browns would say "Gee, too bad we already have Watson, guess we won't draft Arch Manning." Hell, I wouldn't blame the Browns for taking a swing at Quinn Ewers or Carson Beck with their first round pick. Drafting a bad QB highly sets a team back 5 years, the only thing worse? Trading for a QB that's a shell of his former self.
Bits and Baubles
Browns - Deshaun Watson "leads" the NFL, having been sacked 16 times already this season. The Browns left a day earlier than usual, given the teams struggles going West (0-8 in last 8 in the Pacific Time Zone) that makes sense. Their last win? Dec 2, 2012 in Oakland against the Raiders.
Raiders - The Raiders have won the last four meetings against Cleveland. Davante Adams is 10 receiving yards from 11,000 for his career. The Raiders have had problems running the ball this season, gaining 55 or fewer yards in consecutive games for the first time in team history.
Injury Report
Browns
David Njoku - TE - OUT (Ankle)
Pierre Strong Jr. - RB - OUT (Hamstring)
Jedrick Wills Jr. - OT - OUT (Knee)
Jack Conklin - OT - OUT (Hamstring)
Jordan Hicks - LB - Questionable (Ribs/Elbow)
Raiders
Davante Adams - WR - OUT (Hamstring)
Michael Mayer - TE - OUT (Personal)
Devine Deablo - LB - OUT (Oblique)
Decamerion Richardson - CB - OUT (Hamstring)
Maxx Crosby - DE - Questionable (Ankle)
Ameer Abdullah - RB - Questionable (Back)
Thayer Munford Jr. - OT - Doubtful (Knee)
Fantasy Advice
If you happen to have Jerry Juedy rostered this week, you might want to play him. In his time in Denver, Juedy averaged just under four catches a game, but averaged almost 80 yards receiving and had three touchdowns. Look for Amari Cooper to continue to be targeted after his breakout game last week against the Giants.
With Michael Mayer out this week, expect rookie Brock Bowers to continue his excellent play and grab his share of targets. Same goes for Jakobi Meyers with Davante Adams sitting this one out, Meyers would be a fringe flex otherwise.
Prediction
Browns 27 - Raiders 24
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