What to Watch For: Browns vs Patriots
Joe Calabro, GoLocalProv Sports Team
What to Watch For: Browns vs Patriots
The Patriots are 7-0 and coming off a short week after beating the Jets on Monday Night Football.
“It’s just part of being in the NFL. You have to be able to focus on short weeks or be able to adjust on short weeks and turn the page from the Jets now to the Browns, and getting healed up as much as possible so you can go out there and put your best foot forward,” said Patriots running back James White during his press conference on Wednesday.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Browns are 2-4 on the season and coming off a bye week.
“I just think the more you watch Cleveland, the more you appreciate the talent, the skill that they have at so many different positions. As I said before, it's a very explosive group that's very aggressive. So, those will be big challenges for us Sunday,” said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick on Friday.
Game time is set for 4:25 p.m.
See What to Watch for in the Slideshow Below
Week of Roster Moves
Sunday’s game follows a week full of roster moves for the Patriots.
“Well, there were a number of things going on. In the end, we made the transactions that we felt were best for the team,” said Belichick.
On Monday, the Patriots acquired wide receiver Mohamed Sanu from the Atlanta Falcons.
New England followed that up by placing wide receiver Josh Gordon on injured reserve on Wednesday and then trading Michael Bennett on Thursday afternoon.
On Bennett, Belichick added, “I think Mike's a good player. We brought him here; he helped our team. I think he would help us, but we've only got a certain number of – certain things we've got to work with and workaround, and that's what we have to do.”
Sanu is expected to see action for the Patriots on Sunday.
Patriots vs Browns
The Patriots and Browns have met 24 previous times in history, with Cleveland leading the series 13-11.
However, the Patriots have won each of the last two games, with the last meeting coming in 2016 in Cleveland.
New England won 33-16 in Brady’s first game back from a four-game suspension.
This is Cleveland’s first trip to Gillette Stadium since 2013.
See What to Watch for in the Slideshow Below
5 Things to Watch For: Browns vs Patriots - October 27, 2019
Mohamed Sanu
Newly acquired wide receiver Mohamed Sanu is expected to see action in Sunday’s game after practicing with the Patriots this week.
“It's been a good week, been a good week. It's been fun to get to know him. I've watched him for a long time, and always impressed by his abilities, his attitude. It's just been great to have him out there, so hopefully, we'll get him up-to-speed as fast as possible,” said Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during his press conference on Friday.
It is unclear how the Patriots will use him on Sunday, but there is a good chance you can find him in the slot to take pressure off of Julian Edelman.
Similar to how the Patriots used the combination of Danny Amendola and Edelman a couple of seasons ago.
“We'll see what the load looks like, but he's made good progress both days. Works hard. Good kid. Is really in-tune and trying very hard to pick up things quickly and get on the same page as everybody else. That's obviously a long way to go, a lot of work to do, but he's working hard at it, so we appreciate that,” said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during his press conference on Friday.
Brady added, “He brings a lot of juice, so it's good to have. It's good to see someone that's competitive. If you watch him play, he plays with an attitude. He's got a little chip on his shoulder, too, so I think we can relate to each other.”
About Sanu
Sanu has played eight seasons in the NFL between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons.
He can play both on the inside and the outside, which will help take the pressure off of Julian Edelman in the slot.
In his career, Sanu has played 110 games, hauled in 377 passes for 4,300 yards and has 25 touchdowns.
This season, in seven games with the 1-6 Falcons, Sanu has 33 catches for 313 yards and one touchdowns.
Resetting Pats Wide Receivers
The day after signing Sanu, the Patriots placed Josh Gordon on injured reserve.
New England’s depth chart at wide receiver is Sanu, Julian Edelman, Phillip Dorsett and. rookies Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski.
Rookie N’Keal Harry is expected to come off of injured reserve and be ready to play in New England’s week nine matchup with Baltimore.
PHOTO: Patriots Media Website
Patriots Offensive Line
The Patriots offensive line will have a big challenge on Sunday going up against one of the best pass rushers in the league in Myles Garrett.
Through six games this season, Garrett has nine sacks and 14 solo tackles, as well as, two forced fumbles to lead the Browns.
“I mean, he's got every move: speed, power, quickness, inside moves, around the edge. I think his effort, too. I think he's got an incredible motor, just to get around the edge and even if he's chipped, double-teamed, whatever it is, he just keeps going, and I think he pursues. He's just a great young player,” said Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during his press conference on Friday.
In 33 career games, all with Cleveland, Garrett has 29.5 sacks and 68 solo tackles.
“Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon – those are two guys off the edge who are very dangerous, can change the game, create negative plays. I mean, they’re a young, athletic defense and like to create turnovers and negative plays. So, it’s going to be a good challenge for us,” added running back James White during his press conference on Wednesday.
The Patriots offensive line has had their share of struggles so far this season, some of which have to do with injuries.
Through seven games so far this season, Brady has been sacked ten times.
PHOTO: Patriots media website
Pats Secondary
The Cleveland Browns have one of the most talented receiver groups in the NFL.
Odell Beckham Jr leads the way with 29 catches for 436 yards and a touchdown, while Jarvis Landry follows up with 25 catches for 439 yards.
Meanwhile, rookie running back Nick Chubb has 20 catches for 128 yards.
“Their whole offense. It’s not just – obviously, Odell [Beckham Jr.] and Jarvis Landry are the names, but I mean, [Antonio] Callaway is as explosive as they come. Nick Chubb is running away from guys in the secondary, which you don’t see a lot from running backs in the NFL. Then [Ricky] Seals-Jones has made quite a bit of plays down the field as well. So, as a unit, you have to make sure all of us are in position to do the right thing,” said Patriots safety Devin McCourty during his press conference on Wednesday.
So far this season, the Patriots defense has been dominant.
New England has only given up one passing touchdown on the year and just 27 total points.
“We’re only seven games in. Like, we could stink for the rest of the season and then no one would talk about us being a good defense anymore. So, I think we obviously have a good group of guys when it comes to having knowledge of the system. I’m still not old enough to use a cane, and still can still run around a little bit out there. I think we have that, but I think it’s the mentality of coming and working each day during the week to be prepared for Sunday,” McCourty added.
Devin McCourty leads the way with five interceptions after recording another one against the Jets last week.
New England’s defense as a whole has a league-leading 18 interceptions on the year.
No other NFL team has more than nine.
This week they go up against quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has thrown 11 interceptions this season.
Sony Michel
Second-year running back Sony Michel has struggled this season.
In seven games this season, he has 119 carries for 390 yards and six touchdowns.
He is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry.
Last week against the Jets, Michel rushed for three touchdowns all from the goal line.
However, in the game, he only rushed for 42 yards on 19 carries.
Michel’s best game of the year to this point came against the Redskins when he carried the ball 16 times for 91 yards and a touchdown.
He has yet to crack 100 yards rushing in a game this season.
Weather
The weather is supposed to be nasty at Gillette Stadium.
According to the National Weather Service, there is a 100% chance of rain starting after 10 a.m. with a high of 56 degrees.
If the weather is bad, expect the ground and screen pass game to be a key factor for the Patriots.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick had the following to say about the incoming weather during his Friday press conference:
“I mean, the Giant game, it was supposed to be the monsoon and everything you hear, and like usual, there was not one drop of rain. And, I'd say minimal wind. Although, there was some wind, it was across the field, so it didn't really affect the game much. We went down to Miami, we thought it was going to be hot. We thought it was going to be hot when the game was scheduled, we thought it was going to be hot in training camp, we thought it was going to be hot the week before the game, we thought it was going to be hot the day of the game. And it was. So, predicting heat in Miami in September, whatever it was, 15th, or whenever we played them – you know, maybe you and I could figure that out. Yeah, the rest of it, look, I've seen the forecast, but this is the same exact same forecast we had for the Giants – not one drop of rain. So, we'll see.”
