The 3-1 Cleveland Browns boldly took the football world by storm with their impressive 49-38 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Week 4.
Cleveland will have a tough test in Week 5, as the 3-1 Indianapolis Colts are coming to town.
Although the Browns won their shootout against the Cowboys, the contest this Sunday should be a completely different type of game.
Here are three bold predictions for the Browns contest against the Colts.
1. The Browns Will Win the Battle on the Ground
While the Browns will be without Nick Chubb on Sunday, they are ready with the next-man-up mentality.
Last week, Kareem Hunt filled in with 71 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
D’Ernest Johnson jumped right into the change-of-pace running back role and had a very impressive 95 rushing yards.
However, Beckham may not be able to have another 73-yard performance on the ground in Week 5.
No matter who is rushing the ball for the Browns, Kevin Stefanski and Alex Van Pelt seem to be ready to stymie rushing defenses every week though:
Powered by the league’s top rushing attack, the #Browns are a top-3 offense heading into the second quarter of the season🔥 https://t.co/K1BcyfPJ9g
— PFF CLE Browns (@PFF_Browns) October 8, 2020
Although the Browns are ranked third in rushing according to Pro Football Focus, they have the most rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and yards per carry in 2020.
Cleveland will win this game because they will accumulate more than 150 yards on the ground for the fourth consecutive week.
2. Myles Garrett Will Have the Sole Lead Atop the Sack Leaderboard by the End of the Game
Myles Garrett has officially hit Philip Rivers four times in his two career games against him.
However, Garrett has never sacked the veteran quarterback who played for the Los Angeles Chargers last season.
Garrett enters Week 5 tied with Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith for the league lead with five sacks in 2020:
2020 Sacks Leaders
M. Garrett (5.0)
Z. Smith (5.0)
Y. Ngakoue (4.0)
J. Pierre-Paul (4.0)
Full leaderboard: https://t.co/TbVA88bWWd— ProFootballReference (@pfref) October 9, 2020
Garrett is on a mission this season after his 2019 was cut short.
Last year, he was on pace to set a new career-high in sacks but did not play enough games to be able to do so.
Garrett has at least one sack in each of his last three games.
In addition, he had multiple sacks in both Week 3 and Week 4.
Garrett will continue the streak in Week 5.
3. The Browns Will Force Multiple Philip Rivers Turnovers
The Browns are the league’s best team in terms of forcing opponents’ turnovers, as they have 10 takeaways in 2020.
While Philip Rivers and company have not turned the ball over since Week 2, Cleveland should be able to break the streak.
Rivers also has a good history against the Browns, as he has 10 touchdowns and two interceptions in his career.
However, this year’s edition of Cleveland defense seems to have good fortune in terms of turnovers.
While the Browns have allowed the sixth-most points in the league this season, the Colts offense does not have the most firepower.
Indianapolis already lost running back Marlon Mack for the season.
In addition, T.Y. Hilton does not look like his old self, as he has not scored yet in 2020.
Rivers’ highest-producing receiver last week against the Chicago Bears was Zach Pascal, who went for just 58 yards.
Pascal received eight targets and brought in just three of them.
With the Colts not having too many offensive weapons, the Browns will have opportunities to force turnovers.
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