Surprisingly, the Cleveland Browns are 3-1 as they headed into a Week 5 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
This will be a tough challenge for the Cleveland offense against a solid Indy defense.
The Browns will also be without Nick Chubb, so we’ll see if the running game is still as effective.
There are plenty of question marks heading into Sunday’s matchup.
That being said, there are a couple of players who need to step up if the Browns want to secure the win against Indy.
3. Jordan Elliott
Third-round pick defensive tackle Jordan Elliott has been impressive early this season.
Although, what he does on the field might not always show up on the box score.
However, his impact on the field has not gone unnoticed as Pro Football Focus has Elliott graded as one of the top defensive tackles in the league.
Among rookie defensive lineman, #Browns Jordan Elliott ranks first in PFF overall grade and run defense, and second in pass-rush grade. pic.twitter.com/Qu6tS7NSBm
— Sam Penix (@Sam_Penix) September 29, 2020
Elliott is expected to get the start versus the Colts with the Browns defensive line banged up.
Cleveland will be without Larry Ogunjobi for Sunday’s contest.
#Browns Injury Report:
Questionable:
DE Adrian Clayborn
S Karl JosephOut:
DT Larry Ogunjobi – Out
CB Greedy Williams – Out— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) October 9, 2020
That means, Elliott will be asked to fill the void of Ogunjobi, which is a tough task to do.
The Browns need to get pressure on quarterback Philip Rivers in order to win this game.
Cleveland can’t allow Rivers to pass with ease because the Browns have a shaky secondary.
Elliott has only played limited snaps this season, but will be asked to make a significant impact without Ogunjobi available.
2. Kareem Hunt
As mentioned before, the Browns are going to be without Chubb for Sunday’s game.
That means, Hunt will be asked to take over the lead back role until Chubb returns.
Hunt has posted 275 rushing yards on 50 attempts with three touchdowns this season.
He has surprisingly played well in both the running and passing game for Cleveland.
Highest graded Wk4 RBs ahead of MNF:
1. Dalvin Cook – 87.1
2. Antonio Gibson – 83.8
3. Kareem Hunt – 81.8
4. Latavius Murray – 80.7
5. Alvin Kamara – 80.4 pic.twitter.com/NB2svnX74U— PFF (@PFF) October 5, 2020
However, it won’t easy trying to replace a superstar running back like Chubb.
The Browns will need Hunt to be reliable if they want to continue to have success on offense.
Last week, D’Ernest Johnson rushed for 95 yards on 13 carries in the victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Hopefully, the combination of Hunt and Johnson can get it done until Chubb is ready to play.
This is Hunt’s chance to prove he can still be a workhorse running back in the NFL.
1. Baker Mayfield
Lastly, the Browns will need a solid performance by quarterback Baker Mayfield if they want to beat the Colts.
Last week, Mayfield was able to get the job done despite having only 165 passing yards.
He took care of the ball and made some excellent throws that paid off big time for Cleveland.
Baker's accuracy was crazy on this throw 🎯 @bakermayfield @Browns pic.twitter.com/QfhM1JG4Wp
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) October 4, 2020
Mayfield doesn’t need to be the guy who throws for 500 yards, but he needs to be a leader.
Cleveland is already at a disadvantage without Chubb available for this one.
That means Cleveland might have to lean on the passing game more than normal.
The Colts pass defense is no joke, so Mayfield needs to limit the turnovers otherwise it could get ugly fast.
Mayfield has been playing well this season, so the Browns should have a chance on Sunday, assuming he continues to take care of the ball.
