Chiefs opponent preview, divisional round: Scouting the Browns

Talon Graff
·5 min read

The Kansas City Chiefs will get the Cleveland Browns in the divisional round of the playoffs. I don’t know why I continue to be amazed by how fast things seem to move in the NFL at times. Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield, Kareem Hunt returning to Arrowhead, the Chiefs’ repeat-Super Bowl goals, all serve as the big headlines heading into the game. What is underneath all of the headlines, though?

Here is everything you need to know about the Browns ahead of the divisional round:

Chiefs vs. Browns History

John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

The Chiefs and Browns have faced off a total of 26 times. Kansas City leads the series 13 games to 11 with two ties. In a series whose origin dates back to the early '70s, the two AFC squads have never met in the playoffs until now. K.C. has not lost to Cleveland since 2012 which was the year prior to Coach Reid taking over.

Marquee Additions / Losses

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Browns Additions

  • OT Jack Conklin

  • OT Jedrick Wills

  • TE Austin Hooper

  • DE Adrian Clayborn

  • LB BJ Goodson

  • S Karl Joseph

Browns Losses

  • TE Ricky Seals-Jones

  • LB Christian Kirksey

  • LB Joe Schobert

  • S Damarious Randall

Browns Coaching Staff

AP Photo/David Richard

The Browns head coaching carousel had been spinning for quite some time but it seems as though Kevin Stefanski has ended that carnival ride. Stefanski spent his entire NFL coaching career with the Minnesota Vikings until being hired as the head coach prior to the 2020 season. Establishing the run is the foundation of Stefanski's offensive system and the two-headed monster of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt have been the biggest benefactors. Alex Van Pelt is Stefanski's offensive coordinator. Van Pelt and Stefanski put Baker Mayfield under center and also use a true fullback as well. Van Pelt has been with numerous NFL teams and most of his background has been with quarterbacks. The emergence of Baker Mayfield should be largely attributed to Stefanski and Van Pelt. Leading the defense is Joe Woods who broke into coaching with Division III Muskingum College (now Muskingum University) in 1992. He finally reached the NFL in 2004 and is a defensive coordinator for the second time in his career. Woods has some familiarity with the Chiefs. He joined Denver in 2015 as a defensive back coach and then spent 2017 and 2018 as the Broncos DC after replacing Wade Phillips. Woods has maintained the 4-3 defense in Cleveland even though he has been known to run the 3-4.

Key Players for the Browns

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QB Baker Mayfield

The first overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft is the first quarterback to lead the Browns to the playoffs since Tim Couch did it in 2002. Mayfield's performances have not been without criticism but a career-low eight interceptions have silenced a majority of the doubters. Mayfield has also thrown for 3,563 yards and 26 touchdowns.

RB Nick Chubb

One of the several former Georgia Bulldogs running backs currently playing in the league. Chubb is in his third year and has gotten himself mentioned with the best backs in the NFL. Chubb and Kareem Hunt make a great argument for the best running back tandem in the game today. Chubb leads the team in rushing with 1,067 yards and 12 touchdowns.

OT Jack Conklin

A free-agent acquisition from Tennessee in the 2020 offseason gave the Browns one of the final and most important pieces of their offensive line. Conklin spent the first four seasons of his career with the Titans but signed a three-year deal with Cleveland. Conklin and first-round rookie Jedrick Wills create a stout tackle tandem to go along with a road-paving interior OL. Conklin missed the Wild Card game and is questionable against the Chiefs.

DE Myles Garrett

Another former No. 1 overall pick for the Browns in 2017 draftee Myles Garrett. The former Texas A&M Aggie defense end leads the team in sacks with 12 and he adds 48 tackles, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries to his 2020 Pro Bowl season. Garrett got double-digit sacks for the third straight season.

CB Denzel Ward

Denzel Ward has been one of the best defenders on the Browns defense since getting drafted fourth overall in 2018. He recently was removed from the COVID list and should be ready to go against Kansas City, though could be limited in his return. Ward has only two interceptions on the season but has deflected 18 passes away. He also has 48 tackles and a forced fumble.

Key Matchups for Divisional Round

AP Photo/David Becker

Browns OL vs. Chiefs DL

The strength of the Browns' entire team resides in the trenches. Jedrick Wills, Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Wyatt Teller, and Jack Conklin is one of the best combinations of five offensive linemen you'll find. Chris Jones and the Kansas City defensive line can cause problems though. Jones is a do-it-all type of DL but Frank Clark, Derrick Nnadi, Tershawn Wharton, and others provide plenty of depth and skill.

Patrick Mahomes vs. Baker Mayfield

The careers of these two have been linked in large part to their respective ties to the Texas Tech football program. The two quarterbacks have reputations for being unorthodox on the field. The potential to see a high-scoring shootout reminiscent of the college battle these two shared is intriguing but that isn't exactly how the Browns offense is built. Still, these are two young star quarterbacks just starting to scratch the surface of their potential.

Tyreek Hill vs. Denzel Ward

This is a best-on-best contest we are sure to see plenty of. Hill versus Ward will be one to keep your eyes on. Ward is one of the best pass defenders around but guarding Tyreek Hill has looked impossible at times. Ward will almost certainly have help over the top with Hill, but it still could prove a challenge.

Overview

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

This may be the first time the Chiefs and the Browns go toe-to-toe in the playoffs but looking at each team's roster riddled with youth, I don't expect it will take too long to see the second playoff matchup. The biggest question is if the Browns' strong running game is enough to keep pace with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs' ariel attack.