Week 7: Browns (3-2) @ Jaguars (0-6); 19 Oct, 1:00 PM EDT, CBS

[jlj3184]

@

EverBank Field

Preview

The Cleveland Browns are on a bit of a roll. So are the Jacksonville Jaguars, only it’s in the opposite direction.

The Browns (3-2) have won back-to-back games in dramatic fashion, first rallying from a 25-point deficit to beat Tennessee on the road and thumping the Pittsburgh Steelers by 21 points last Sunday in Cleveland. Now they’re being talked about as legitimate contenders for a playoff spot in the AFC.

The Jaguars (0-6) haven’t won a game since Dec. 5, 2013, and they’re being talked about as the favorite for the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2015.

The teams meet Sunday at EverBank Field; Browns reporter Pat McManamon and Jaguars reporter Michael DiRocco break down the matchup.

DiRocco: Pat, I think everyone outside the Cleveland organization expected Johnny Manziel to be the Browns’ starting quarterback by this point in the season. Brian Hoyer has done a good job, though, and it’s clearly his team now. But what about beyond this season? Is Manziel the franchise quarterback or is it Hoyer?

McManamon: If Hoyer keeps playing the way he has, it would be folly if the Browns did not re-sign him in the offseason. That puts Manziel in the spot of perhaps having to enter the 2015 training camp as the backup, and perhaps be the backup for the foreseeable future. Eleven games remain and a lot can happen yet, but to this point Hoyer is earning the right to be considered the long-term answer. He gets rid of the ball quickly. He does not throw interceptions. His even-keeled approach makes him a good leader. And the team respects him. Because Hoyer can be a free agent after the season, and because negotiations went nowhere in the offseason and Hoyer chose to bet on himself, this will be a closely watched story as the season progresses. But if Hoyer maintains his level of play, it would be impossible for the Browns to let the local product go.

This is rookie-quarterback weekend, Mike, and since everyone asks me about Manziel, I'll ask you about Blake Bortles. How has he played, what impresses you most and how far does he have to go?

DiRocco: Since being inserted into the lineup in the second half of the Week 3 loss to Indianapolis, Bortles has played pretty well and leads NFL rookies in passing yards per game (251), completion percentage (67.8) and completions of 20-plus yards (11). He has shown that he has a good feel in the pocket and is able to evade the rush and get outside when he needs to. When he does that, he’s keeping his eyes downfield, too, which is rare for a rookie quarterback that can run. Usually, they just take off. Plus, the coaching staff can’t stop raving about his poise and how unshakable he is. The thing that has impressed me the most has been his work on third down. The Jaguars were 6-for-32 on third down under Chad Henne but are 23-for-46 on third down under Bortles, and he leads the NFL in completion percentage on third down (71.0). Bortles is far from perfect. He still makes bad decisions, stares down receivers and throws some bad passes, but he already looks like the best quarterback the team has had since Mark Brunell in the late 1990s.

Losing Alex Mack was obviously a huge blow. We know what kind of effect that will have on the field, but how do you think it will impact the team in the locker room, considering he was one of the team’s leaders, especially this week?

McManamon: The respect that Mack has in the locker room and around the league was evident the day he was injured, so it matters that he’s not around. But Mack was never a vocal yeller or screamer. His leadership came from his consistency and his dependability. Losing his voice in the locker room matters, but as one scout told me during the week, that sometimes is overstated. The Browns have guys such as Joe Thomas and Hoyer and even John Greco who can step in. The team’s bigger issue is filling the void left on the field.

It's been a long time since there was a game in which the Browns looked like a favorite. But when a 3-2 team faces an 0-6 team, that's the appearance. What's the Jaguars' attitude toward this game, and is there any advantage to them playing at home?

DiRocco: The Jaguars are as optimistic as they have been all season because they’ve been close the past two weeks against Pittsburgh and Tennessee. It was late mistakes that cost them in each game, and the players know they could have won both games had they played marginally better. A lot of the players on this team were on last year’s team that beat the Browns in Cleveland on a late touchdown pass, and this year’s Browns are without Mack and receiver Josh Gordon. I don’t see the Jaguars having any kind of advantage playing at EverBank Field. The weather has cooled a bit so the heat won’t be a factor for the Browns.

The Cleveland defense is among the NFL’s worst when it comes to total yards and rushing yards, but it has been among the league’s best in the red zone. Why are Browns so good inside the 20 but struggling everywhere else?

McManamon: Good question, and I’m not sure I or the team can answer. Perhaps there’s a greater sense of urgency, perhaps the field shrinks for the opposition and perhaps it’s that the coaches call better plays. But it is hugely important, because coach Mike Pettine believes the most important statistic for a defense after wins is points allowed. The defense swung the momentum in the win over Pittsburgh by twice holding the Steelers to field goal attempts after two good drives. Pittsburgh made the first kick, but a botched hold on the second changed the feel of the game, and the Browns took advantage. Whatever the reason for the red zone success, the Browns just hope it continues.

How close do you think the Jaguars are to winning consistently?

DiRocco: Now that they appear to have found their quarterback, that timetable is accelerated a bit, but the Jaguars are still two years away from being a team that can compete for a playoff spot. While Bortles might be able to make up for some deficiencies in the roster, the Jaguars are still the least talented team in the league. After addressing the offense heavily in the draft this offseason, I expect them to attack the defense next offseason. If they draft well, add some key free agents and Bortles continues to develop, then this could be a six- or seven-win team in 2014 and challenge Indianapolis in the division in 2016.

Heading to the game with 10 buddies on our annual Bro Trip. Should be an easy win, but we'll see. At the very least, we're hoping to see some of this:

 

[col63onel]

Jags defense is actually not too bad on the whole. Their front is pretty good. They are 11th in ypc against and 5th in sack%. The secondary is a mess. If Hoyer is kept upright, he will have a big day. Teams have tended to grab a big lead, then run out the clock. No reason to think Hoyer can't hit a few big ones early, then get a steady diet of Tate, Crow and West to close out the game.

Offense is a clusterf***. Henne was bad. Bortles has been slightly worse, gaining more yards and getting sacked less but throwing 7 picks in 3 games. Henne was on pace to get sacked 80 times after 3 games. Bortles still gets sacked way more than average, but less than Henne. There is no running game to speak of.

27-17 Browns win with Jacksonville scoring a garbage time TD.

 

[Frank Stallone]

If they come out in the first quarter like they did for three quarters last week, they're going to fucking trash them.

 

[kosis]

Anyone out in San Francisco that knows a good Browns backer bar? Will be out there this weekend on business.

 

[FiveThous]

Anyone out in San Francisco that knows a good Browns backer bar? Will be out there this weekend on business.

http://www.baybrowns.com/viewing-locations/

 

[NorthCoastBias]

I think we lose

 

[The Oi]

27-3 Browns.

D/ST puts up 17+ fantasy points

 

[SixPACK]

Browns D will stay hot. Get a couple INT's, maybe even a pick 6.

We will pound them right in the kisser with our run game. Wouldn't mind seeing them let Hoyer go guns out. If Jax is smart they will try and stop our monstrous running game which will open holes up for Hoyer. Get up by a couple TD's then let our run game take over and drown the clock.

I think Hawkins will have a great game. Cameron with 2 in a row.

Fuck Jax with their pools and nice weather. I would rather hold a shovel than sunscreen.

Brownies 31-10.

 

[Ohio]

Browns 27
Jaguars 17

 

[Soda]

Browns 27; Jags 13

 

[The Oi]

I would rather hold a shovel than sunscreen.

I've done both for extended periods of time.

I'd much rather hold sunscreen prior to applying it to @Deezus wife's buttocks.

 

[Binkster]

I'll just put these ESPN Preseason Power Rankings riiiiiight here. (Red arrows indicate laugh out loud cues)

 

[SixPACK]

Well, 1 more win and we are spot on!

 

[getBUCKED]

Anybody know a good streaming service for the Browns? Apparently Columbus won't be showing the game because of the Bengals game...

 

[MoFlo]

-Jacksonville has a -8 in turnover diff, 2nd highest in the league.
-The Jags have 19 sacks, T3rd in the league.
-Only Washington has less passes defensed than Jax, and the Jags have just 1 INT
-Jags has had 27 passes defensed & has thrown 8 picks (35 total, 9th most in the NFL)
-The Browns are T3 in the NFL in yds/pass att
-Brownies are also 10th in the NFL in yds/gm, T9th in Pts/Gm, and 3rd in rushing yds/gm