The Bucs will be in Cleveland Sunday afternoon for the Browns’ final game before disgraced quarterback Deshaun Watson returns from his suspension.
The Browns are an overmatched team in this matchup on paper, but hey, the Bucs have lost to worse teams. Regardless, I’d expect the Bucs to extend their winning streak to three games and move to 6-5 on the year following a 24-20 victory on the road.
While many of their games have been pretty close, Cleveland is 3-7 for a reason. Offensively the Browns have managed to put up a fair amount of points and yards per game on the ground, but their defense has struggled to keep up, as Cleveland ranks near the bottom in most major categories.
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Browns running back Nick Chubb is one of the best power runners in football.
He’s fourth in the NFL in rushing yards and second in rushing touchdowns, and the Bucs will certainly have their hands full in trying to contain the former Georgia Bulldog. But, they will have a huge advantage on the other side of the ball.
The Bucs’ success against the Seahawks in running the ball is a trend that will hopefully (and likely) continue Sunday. The Browns’ interior line struggles to stop their opponents from running wild, giving up over 130 rushing yards per game.
Defensive end Myles Garrett is a big name and can make a big difference getting after the quarterback when given the chance, but the Browns’ inability to surround him with any talent on the front-seven this season has proven to be their undoing.
I don’t anticipate this being much of a game, but with the roller-coaster season the Bucs have had up to this point I wouldn’t be too surprised if it turns out to be a dog fight.
After all, the Browns were able to beat both the Panthers and Steelers, something the Bucs couldn't accomplish, and their third win somehow came against the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals.
The Browns are going to be a tough out despite what their 3-7 record may suggest. As mentioned previously, they play their opponents tough due to their ability to run the football effectively. The Bucs taking home a W is contingent upon getting a few timely takeaways (something the Browns struggle with as they post a -6 turnover differential for the season) and at least trying to limit the effects of the physical Browns offensive line and running game.
I don’t see that being a problem, and I fully expect to be writing an article discussing the Bucs’ victory next week.
If not, it’s certainly a Bucs Life.
