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CLEVELAND
MINNESOTA |
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40.5
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Final
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| 393 | CLEVELAND | 41.5 | 40.5 | | 394 | MINNESOTA | -3 | -6.5 |
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| All Games | 0-2 | -2.4 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 8.0 | 6.5 | 275.0 | (4.5) | 1.5 | 18.5 | 3.0 | 285.5 | (4.4) | 1.0 | | Road Games | 0-1 | -1 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 259.0 | (4.5) | 0.0 | 14.0 | 0.0 | 296.0 | (4.3) | 1.0 | | Last 3 Games | 0-2 | -2.4 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 8.0 | 6.5 | 275.0 | (4.5) | 1.5 | 18.5 | 3.0 | 285.5 | (4.4) | 1.0 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 8.0 | 6.5 | 16.5 | 28:19 | 16-56 | (3.4) | 24-45 | 53.3% | 219 | (4.9) | 61-275 | (4.5) | (34.4) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 21.2 | 11 | 20 | 28:21 | 20-78 | (3.8) | 25-44 | 57.1% | 300 | (6.8) | 64-377 | (5.9) | (17.7) | | Offense Road Games | 6.0 | 6.0 | 13.0 | 29:25 | 20-65 | (3.2) | 22-37 | 59.5% | 194 | (5.2) | 57-259 | (4.5) | (43.2) | | Defense (All Games) | 18.5 | 3.0 | 18.5 | 31:41 | 29-59 | (2) | 23-35 | 64.8% | 226 | (6.4) | 65-285 | (4.4) | (15.4) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 22 | 10 | 20.5 | 32:39 | 27-70 | (2.6) | 26-42 | 61.7% | 271 | (6.5) | 68-340 | (5) | (15.5) | | Defense Road Games | 14.0 | 0.0 | 19.0 | 30:35 | 36-99 | (2.7) | 22-33 | 66.7% | 197 | (6) | 69-296 | (4.3) | (21.1) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 | -0.5 | 14-2 | 17.2% | 3-1 | 33.3% | 3-73 | (24.5) | 3-25 | (8.3) | 7-45 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 1 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 15-5 | 33.9% | 2-0 | 28.6% | 2-44 | (25) | 32-4 | (9.2) | 6-41 | | Stats For (Road Games) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 15-4 | 26.7% | 2-0 | 0.0% | 2-44 | (22) | 4-19 | (4.7) | 5-33 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | | 16-8 | 50.0% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 0-12 | (24) | 3-25 | (8.3) | 6-59 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | | 17-8 | 44.1% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 1-24 | (32.3) | 16-2 | (9) | 5-43 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | | 16-8 | 50.0% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 0-0 | (0) | 3-43 | (14.3) | 3-41 |
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| All Games | 0-2 | -2 | 1-1 | 2-0 | 27.0 | 17.5 | 340.0 | (6) | 3.5 | 32.5 | 18.5 | 440.0 | (6.2) | 3.0 | | Last 3 Games | 0-2 | -2 | 1-1 | 2-0 | 27.0 | 17.5 | 340.0 | (6) | 3.5 | 32.5 | 18.5 | 440.0 | (6.2) | 3.0 | | Dome Games | 0-1 | -1 | 0-1 | 1-0 | 24.0 | 14.0 | 330.0 | (6.6) | 4.0 | 34.0 | 13.0 | 469.0 | (6.2) | 2.0 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 27.0 | 17.5 | 17.5 | 26:33 | 27-114 | (4.1) | 17-29 | 58.6% | 226 | (7.8) | 56-340 | (6) | (12.6) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 25 | 14.8 | 19.2 | 28:14 | 25-94 | (3.7) | 21-33 | 63.4% | 248 | (7.6) | 58-342 | (5.9) | (13.7) | | Defense (All Games) | 32.5 | 18.5 | 26.0 | 33:26 | 29-123 | (4.2) | 28-41 | 68.3% | 317 | (7.7) | 70-440 | (6.2) | (13.5) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 27.5 | 15.2 | 21.2 | 32:46 | 27-94 | (3.5) | 25-38 | 66.9% | 287 | (7.6) | 64-381 | (5.9) | (13.9) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 2.0 | 1.5 | 3.5 | -0.5 | 13-4 | 34.6% | 2-1 | 75.0% | 3-102 | (34) | 0-3 | (6) | 4-38 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 1.8 | 1 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 12-4 | 35.4% | 1-1 | 75.0% | 2-51 | (34) | 7-1 | (5.8) | 6-50 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 1.5 | 1.5 | 3.0 | | 12-6 | 48.0% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 3-131 | (43.8) | 2-18 | (7.4) | 7-61 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 1 | 1 | 2 | | 12-5 | 42.0% | 1-0 | 33.3% | 2-79 | (39.6) | 10-2 | (4) | 7-71 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: CLEVELAND 23, MINNESOTA 21 |
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| 9/8/2013 | MIAMI | 10-23 | L | -2.5 | L | 40.5 | U | 13-47 | 26-53-244 | 3 | 23-20 | 24-38-255 | 1 | | 9/15/2013 | @ BALTIMORE | 6-14 | L | 5 | L | 43.5 | U | 20-65 | 22-37-194 | 0 | 36-99 | 22-33-197 | 1 | | 9/22/2013 | @ MINNESOTA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/29/2013 | CINCINNATI | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/3/2013 | BUFFALO | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/13/2013 | DETROIT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/20/2013 | @ GREEN BAY | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| 9/8/2013 | @ DETROIT | 24-34 | L | 4 | L | 46 | O | 22-105 | 18-28-225 | 4 | 33-117 | 28-43-352 | 2 | | 9/15/2013 | @ CHICAGO | 30-31 | L | 6 | W | 40.5 | O | 33-123 | 16-30-227 | 3 | 26-129 | 28-39-282 | 4 | | 9/22/2013 | CLEVELAND | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9/29/2013 | *PITTSBURGH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/13/2013 | CAROLINA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/21/2013 | @ NY GIANTS | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| |  | CLEVELAND: New head coach Rob Chudzinski was the Browns' play-caller during their brief renaissance in 2007 and '08, and he and new offensive coordinator Norv Turner will bring a run-based offense that sets up the deep passing game. Trent Richardson is by far the best skill position player they have, and will obviously take a huge workload. It's a power running game that will pound it between the tackles. Richardson should be a three-down player, as the Browns have only fringe roster talent for the rest of their depth chart.
This year's offense will take many more shots downfield. Brandon Weeden will work off a lot of play-action, and Turner's offenses typically look for the big-hitters up the seam. Josh Gordon should be an excellent fit for this game plan. Turner and Chudzinski both like to use the tight end frequently, and Jordan Cameron is enough of an athlete to be used in a variety of ways. Slot receiver Davone Bess is sort of a Plan B underneath if Cameron struggles. The Browns figure to remain very run-heavy near the goal line, mostly because of Richardson's ability to churn out tough yards.
The Browns are desperate for a defensive playmaker, as they forced 0-to-1 turnovers 13 times last year. In comes new defensive coordinator Ray Horton, who has implemented an ultra-aggressive 3-4 defense that blitzes from all angles and relies heavily on speed. Rookie DE/LB Barkevious Mingo and free agents LB Paul Kruger (8.5 sacks) and DE Desmond Bryant (5-year, $34M deal) should help a mediocre defensive line that tallied only 15 sacks at home. ILB D'Qwell Jackson rarely misses a tackle opportunity, and CB Joe Haden and SS T.J. Ward comprise a great tandem in the secondary with Haden shutting down opposing No. 1 wideouts and Ward finishing off plays with bone-jarring hits. | | MINNESOTA: The Vikings have adopted more of a versatile running scheme, mixing in a lot of man blocking with their usual zone stuff. Obviously, Adrian Peterson is the centerpiece of this offense, and after bringing him along somewhat slowly early last season, he'll be all-systems-go as a three-down workhorse this year. Toby Gerhart will occasionally spell him and would take a full workload if Peterson were to get hurt again.
This is a West Coast passing game that has Christian Ponder moving around a lot. In the past, their favorite play had been to roll Ponder out with Percy Harvin for some long hand-offs. They'd like rookie Cordarrelle Patterson to take that role of the departed Harvin. TE Kyle Rudolph will also inherit those looks, and they'll involve Peterson in the screen game frequently. Greg Jennings will move around a lot and should be their leading receiver. Jerome Simpson is a pure deep threat, while third receiver Jarius Wright will line up inside and out, but is better working downfield. Not surprisingly, the Vikings continued to ride Peterson in the red zone (59 carries inside 20-yd line last season), and they'll do the same this year. When they throw, it's usually off play-action with Rudolph.
The strength of this defense comes up front with 4-time All-Pro DE Jared Allen (117 career sacks) and 5-time All-Pro DT Kevin Williams (56.5 career sacks), plus first-round pick DT Sharrif Floyd and new DE Lawrence Jackson. The Vikings still have star SLB Chad Greenway (148 tackles, T-2nd in NFL) all over the field, but despite the defense's utter lack of playmakers, it added no significant free agents in the back seven. The subpar pass defense (244 YPG, 24th in NFL) got even weaker when it allowed top CB Antoine Winfield to sign elsewhere. CB Chris Cook and rookie CB Xavier Rhodes are a shaky starting duo. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER PRO FOOTBALL PREVIEW (CLEVELAND-MINNESOTA) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(UPDATES with McGahee to play)
*Browns-Vikings Preview* ========================
By DAN BURCH STATS Writer
The Minnesota Vikings are among the last teams to make the playoffs after starting a season 0-2. Facing a third-string quarterback and avoiding a star running back might help them to start climbing out of that hole again.
The Cleveland Browns play their first game since the shocking trade of Trent Richardson as they visit the Vikings in a matchup of winless clubs Sunday.
Neither of Cleveland's first-round draft picks from last year will play after starting the last two games, but for very different reasons. While quarterback Brandon Weeden is out with a sprained thumb, Richardson was dealt to Indianapolis on Wednesday for a 2014 first-round pick.
"This was more about the moment presented itself, and based on the situation the Colts found themselves in, it wasn't something where we could say, `Can you wait three weeks to think about this or learn more?' We thought it was a move to make us better," Browns CEO Joe Banner said.
"I think we feel good about where we're at moving forward."
The absence of Richardson, who ran for 950 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie, leaves the Browns without one of only two players to have a rushing attempt this season. The other is Weeden, who will be replaced by third-stringer Brian Hoyer instead of veteran backup Jason Campbell.
That's all proof Cleveland is going in a completely different direction after its winless start, but the Vikings surely are not.
Minnesota was one of three teams to overcome 0-2 starts in 2008 and qualify for the postseason, rebounding to win the NFC North. No team has done so since, and both of the Vikings' defeats this year are to division rivals.
"It's nice to know you're the last team to do that," linebacker Chad Greenway said. "But you can't look ahead and say we're just going to do it or the past is going to repeat itself. You have to put the work in and make the plays on Sunday.
"We're doing the right things during the week. Now, on Sunday when it comes down to crunch time, make the plays when they come to you."
Minnesota thrived in close games last season en route to a surprise playoff appearance, going 5-1 in contests decided by seven or fewer points. The Vikings, however, allowed the go-ahead touchdown with 10 seconds left in a 31-30 loss to Chicago on Sunday and have blown leads in both games.
"We're a resilient group. We've got a lot of veteran guys in here, and we've just got to keep trucking, man," cornerback Chris Cook said.
"It's a long season. Fourteen games left. You know? It can be all uphill from now. It can all go downhill. I'm definitely, definitely, sure that we're going to go uphill from here."
This contest is the home opener for Minnesota, which can at least point to some positives from last week. After giving up 24 points in the first half, the defense forced two turnovers and two punts in the second half before the disastrous final minute. Adrian Peterson had another 100-yard rushing game, though he did lose a fumble.
The circumstances appear much different for the Browns as they make their first trip to the Metrodome in 18 years.
Undrafted rookie Bobby Rainey and little-used Chris Ogbonnaya were the only running backs left on the roster following the trade of Richardson, who had run for 105 yards through two games and received just 31 carries. The Browns added another Thursday with the signing of veteran Willis McGahee, who led Denver with 731 rushing yards in 10 games last year.
Coach Rob Chudzinski said Friday that McGahee will play in this game, though the two-time Pro Bowler's role is still undefined.
Hoyer, meanwhile, makes his first start for a Cleveland team that hasn't scored a touchdown in six quarters.
Weeden got hurt in a 14-6 loss to Baltimore last Sunday, and the Browns opted to go with Hoyer - who started one game last year for Arizona - over Campbell. Hoyer is the 19th starting quarterback for the Browns since they re-entered the NFL in 1999.
"I feel like based on our current situation - where we're at offensively as well as getting into the game planning for Minnesota - that Brian's strengths are the best fit for this week and that he gives us our best chance to win," coach Rob Chudzinski said. "The things that he does well fit what we need. For me, it's about who gives us the best chance to win."
Hoyer gets back top receiver Josh Gordon, who was suspended for the first two games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Gordon led the team with 805 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 2012.
"He's a huge difference," Campbell said. "He's a big target. He's a big guy. He's a big part of what we do offensively. Not having him out there, definitely hurts a little bit, because he is a big part of what we do. So it'll be good to get him back, get him going, try to get him back into a rhythm."
The Browns need Gordon's production after scoring 16 points through two games, second fewest in the NFL. Cleveland has converted five of 29 third-down attempts.
These teams last met in 2009, when Brett Favre made his first start as a Viking and led Minnesota to a 34-20 win in Cleveland. The Vikings have won four straight in the series and are 10-3 all-time against the Browns.
Game Notes: |
| | Last Updated: 5/15/2024 4:10:11 PM EST. |
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