The Cleveland Browns will have to rely heavily on running back Jerome Ford this Sunday in Denver to get their eighth win of the season. Something has to give. The Cleveland Browns head to Denver on a three-game winning streak to face the four-game winning streak Broncos.
The winner of Sunday’s game is the hottest team in the NFL after Week 12. So who will be the catalyst for the Browns to win in the Mile High City? The answer is the second year behind Jerome Ford. It all comes down to a combination of desire and acceptance. What is Jerome Ford? The Browns face the worst defense in the NFL this week. The Broncos are allowing a league-worst 160 rushing yards per game and a league-worst 5.5 yards per carry. Kevin Stefanski will be in doubt if he doesn’t catch the strike in Denver this Sunday. Throw in the fact that Cleveland is starting rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback, catching his first snap in foul territory, and it’s important to put the Browns in a good position to succeed.
The easiest way for the Browns to lighten up the game for the DTR is to rely on a good running attack. Giving DTRs manageable yards on third downs is the best way to let the rookies navigate Denver’s defense. So why Jerome Ford over Kareem Hunt or Pierre Strong? While Hunt is very good and Strong has a large following as a defender who wants to see more of him, Ford is the coach’s choice to carry the load between the 20-yard lines.
Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that Kevin Stefanski is better than Ford, and the debate ends, it should be understood that running backs coach Stump Mitchell decides the next revolution in the game. Simply put, Ford earned the trust of the coaching staff, leading the running back in the season leading up to the announcement. .@JeromeFord crashes the plane! #PITvsCLE on CBS and NFL Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 19, 2023 This matchup against a poor Broncos defense resulted in a 100-yard game for Ford. If he reaches the century mark, it will be Ford’s third game of the season and second in the last three games in which he has topped 100 rushing yards. Ford’s projected stat line vs. Denver: 18 carries, 104 yards, 0 touchdowns.
But Cleveland fans can rest assured that when the Browns get into field position, Hunt will follow suit. Ford was the bullpen in the 1920s, but the Browns entered the red zone, in the ‘Reem era’. Then Ford took over, Hunt stepped in, and the Browns headed into Week 13 on a four-game winning streak.
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