Five Players A Continue in the Browns vs. Patriots

In a game in which the running attack will be key, the main running backs of the Browns and Patriots are likely not to play, in one of the key games within the AFC in Week 10 of the 2021 NFL campaign.

Nick chubb, a star in Cleveland’s backfield, was placed on the COVID-19 list earlier in the week and is ruled out for Sunday’s game at Foxborough.

Meanwhile, New England began preparing for the game against the Browns with Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson in concussion protocol.

Harris and Stevenson have added 71% of the Patriots’ rushing yards, plus 8 of the coach’s team’s 11 rushing touchdowns. Bill Belilchick.

The Browns won 9 of the first 11 games of this rivalry, but are 2-8 since returning to the NFL as an expansion team in 1999.

Cleveland has lost three games in a row to New England and they haven’t been able to beat Belichick’s team since 2010.

Belichick, by the way, was the Browns coach from 1991-95.

In his penultimate season in Cleveland, Belichick defeated the Patriots 20-13 in a Wild Card game on January 1, 1995.

New England have lost this season at Gillette Stadium to Miami, New Orleans, Tampa Bay and Dallas, their only home win against the Jets, 54-13, on Oct. 24.

These are the five players to continue in the Browns vs. Patriots:

1.- LB Matt Judon, Patriots

Judon leads New England’s defense with nine sacks as a quarterback and with one more sack he will surpass his personal best of 9.5 in 2019, when he was still playing for the Baltimore Ravens.

Besides Judon, the also linebacker Josh uche (3) is the only Patriots defender with more than one sack.

For New England it is essential to stop the running attack of the Browns and put the game in the arm of Baker Mayfield, at which time Judon’s presence will be key.

2.- RB D’Ernest Johnson, Browns

With Chubb’s COVID-19 casualties, Demetric Felton and John Kelly, in addition to the absence of Kareem hunt (in injured reserve due to calf problems), the only healthy running back on the Browns roster is D’Ernest Johnson.

Johnson had a spectacular game a couple of weeks ago against Denver, with 22 carries, 146 yards and a touchdown.

In order to win this week, Cleveland needs more of the same from this player in just his third year as a professional.

3.- CB JC Jackson, Patriots

Mayfield had his best game of the season on Sunday at Cincinnati, with two touchdown passes and a 132.6 rating, but the challenge against the Patriots’ secondary is very different.

Mayfield, who has only had three interceptions this season, will need to be careful every time he challenges Jackson, who had two interceptions at Carolina last week, including an 88-yard pick-6 to seal New England’s win.

Jackson leads the Patriots with five interceptions and his 22 picks are the highest in the NFL since 2018, his rookie season.

4.- WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns

With the departure of Odell Beckham Jr., the role of Peoples-Jones must increase in Cleveland’s passing offense.

The league’s second-year wide receiver returned last week after suffering a hamstring injury that forced him to miss two games, and he did so with a 60-yard touchdown.

If Mayfield has enough time in the pocket, more explosive plays from Peoples-Jones could come at Foxborough.

5.- QB Mac Jones, Patriots

Jones has completed at least 70% of his shipments in five of his first nine NFL games, the only rookie quarterback in history to do so.

Additionally, he leads among rookie passers in yards (2,135), completions (204), ERA (68%) and touchdowns (10).

If New England’s offense is also short of running backs, then Jones will have to deal with Myles Garrett (12 sacks) and the rest of a Cleveland defender who is talented on all lines.