KEYS TO THE GAME
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT CHICAGO BEARS
Offense: Killer instinct
Everything is set up for the offense to have a big game. They are at home for only the third time in 7-games. QB Jay Cutler will not have to battle crowd noise giving him more flexibility at the line of scrimmage. The Browns defense is allowing more than 400-yards per game and allowing a league worst six yards per play. The Bears should be able to execute their game plan.
Defense: Eleven Playing As One
You often hear Lovie Smith preach “gap” control or “gap integrity,” Every member of the front seven has a responsibility to fill their gaps. If they stray, adlib, or fail to get lined up properly, trouble starts. It happened that way in Cincinnati. Once the Bengals started getting chunks of yardage, players started doing more than one job and left their gaps. Against Cleveland, the Bears have to get back to strict gap control and get back on track.
Special Teams: Respond to the challenge
Cleveland’s strength is in their special teams, currently ranked #1 in the NFL. They are in the top half of the league in 21 of 22 categories. The best player on the team is return specialist Joshua Cribbs. He is 3rd in kickoff return average, just behind Johnny Knox of the Bears and he leads the NFL in punt return average at 16.4. He returned kickoff 98-yards for a touchdown, and punt 67-yards for a touchdown. In his five-year career, the former Kent State QB has (8) return touchdowns. Cribbs is also an outstanding tackler on coverage. The Bears have the fifth ranked special teams unit, but could be higher. Their kickoff coverage is not where it needs to be ranked 26th in the league.
Intangibles: Emotional high
Give the home crowd something to get cranked up about. After last week in Cincinnati, they will be looking for a feel good. We have been talking about quick starts all season. Sunday, a big defensive stop early, a takeaway, a huge runner a big play downfield from Jay Cutler will start to rinse the bad taste of back-to-back road losses. The emotion in the building will match the emotion of the players and how they attack a wounded team like the Cleveland Browns.
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