{"id":32762,"date":"2017-10-26T15:15:27","date_gmt":"2017-10-26T19:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=32762"},"modified":"2021-05-30T18:12:29","modified_gmt":"2021-05-30T22:12:29","slug":"week-eight-cleveland-browns-keys-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2017\/10\/26\/week-eight-cleveland-browns-keys-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Week Eight Cleveland Browns Keys to Victory"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another week has gone by for the winless Cleveland Browns<\/a>. Last week, the Browns loat to the Tennessee Titans<\/a> in an overtime heart-breaker.\u00a0Ryan Succop<\/a><\/strong> booted a game-winning field goal and the crowd at\u00a0FirstEnergy stadium was sent home unhappy. But that was last Sunday, so let’s put it behind us. The Browns travel to London, England this Sunday to face the Minnesota Vikings<\/a>. So how can Cleveland upset\u00a0Case Keenum<\/a><\/strong> and the division-leading Vikings? These are our week eight Cleveland Browns keys to victory.<\/p>\n

Week Eight Cleveland Browns Keys to Victory<\/h2>\n

A Smarter Gameplan<\/h3>\n

Consistently, it seems,\u00a0Hue Jackson<\/strong> opens the game with an awful start. Either a three and out, a turnover, or a drive that just ends way too early. In week one, the Browns first offensive drive actually ended in a blocked punt for a touchdown. Since then, the improvement has been minimal, and that’s sort of putting it lightly. Needless to say, the Browns need to kickstart their offense a lot quicker than normal.<\/p>\n

Maybe Duke Johnson<\/a><\/strong> should start over the incumbent\u00a0Isaiah Crowell<\/a><\/strong>. With rookie DeShone Kizer<\/a><\/strong> back at quarterback, he will need some easy passes to complete and get his confidence back. Some screens to The Duke would absolutely help, given Johnson’s penchant for playmaking. Additionally, Kizer still needs to work on his turnovers. If the Browns can start faster this game, they’ll have a better chance of taking the victory in London.<\/p>\n

Limit Case Keenum<\/h3>\n

Had I written this heading at the beginning of the season, you probably would have thought I was crazy. But truthfully, Case Keenum has looked pretty decent this season. With a touchdown-turnover ratio of about 2.5-1, Keenum has been relatively efficient in his 2017 campaign. Of course, some of that is due to his solid supporting cast, but the fact still stands. The Browns will need to slow down Case Keenum.<\/p>\n

It goes without saying that slowing down Keenum also involves shutting down his receivers.\u00a0Stefon Diggs<\/a><\/strong> (who will likely be healthy this week) and\u00a0Adam Thielen<\/a><\/strong> are both very strong receivers. Additionally, Latavius Murray<\/a> <\/strong>and\u00a0Jerick McKinnon<\/a><\/strong> have shored up\u00a0the Vikings running game in the absence of rookie\u00a0Dalvin Cook<\/a><\/strong>. But looking beyond the supporting cast of Keenum, the Browns will need to work on getting to the Vikings quarterback himself. They’ll likely be without the services of\u00a0Myles Garrett<\/a><\/strong> due to a concussion, so\u00a0Emmanuel Ogbah<\/a><\/strong> and\u00a0Carl Nassib<\/a><\/strong> will have to step up.<\/p>\n

Solid, Mistake-Free Football<\/h3>\n

The Vikings, like many elite defenses, live for the mistakes of the opposing offense. Now, this Vikings defense isn’t the ’85 Bears or the Steel Curtain, but it’s one of the best defenses of 2017. If not\u00a0the<\/em> best. Kizer seems to have a penchant for redzone turnovers this season. Those, for lack of a better term, have got to go. But…how?<\/p>\n

This is the first time since 2006 that Joe Thomas<\/a><\/strong> will not be lining up at left tackle for the Browns, but the running game is still important. Because for as disappointing as Crowell has been this season, if you put him on the one-yard line, he’ll likely be able to break that plane. Additionally,\u00a0Duke Johnson has shown tremendous ability to make plays and has a nose for that endzone. Heck, maybe Hue Jackson could put in a fresh\u00a0Matthew Dayes<\/a><\/strong> in to help get the football across. Either way,\u00a0stop making Kizer throw in the redzone<\/em>. We know that he’s just not ready for that yet. Mistake-free football, Cleveland. Mistake. Free. Football.<\/p>\n

Main image credit:<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n