Cleveland Browns looking to avoid an 0-for-November against Tom Brady, Buccaneers

CLEVELAND − The last time the Browns were in their own stadium, it may have been their best performance of the season.

That was on Halloween night, when the Browns went out and pummeled the Cincinnati Bengals 32-13 to head into the bye with a bit of momentum. However, that momentum didn't come out of the bye with them.

Instead, what has emerged as the calendar changed from October is a cold November rain on the Browns' hopes for a big second half. They've dropped back-to-back games away from Cleveland to Miami and Buffalo, the latter one in Detroit thanks to a massive snowstorm in Western New York.

So as the Browns limp back with a 3-7 record to their home stadium for the first time this month, they do so trying to avoid going 0-for-November. They'll do so against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that is coming off the bye week, but has been the definition of up and down as evidenced by their 5-5 record.

“We still have games left," quarterback Jacoby Brissett said. "The season isn’t over. We still have a job to do. You just worry about one week at a time. Whatever happens, happens. Like I said, there are more games and more season to be played.”

A former New England Patriots quarterback is making what may very well be his final start in front of Browns fans. Brissett, though, knew that his run as the starting quarterback for Cleveland would be over once Deshaun Watson returned from suspension, as he will next week in Houston.

Tom Brady may also be making his final appearance against the Browns after the 45-year-old returned for a 23rd season following a month-long "retirement" back on February. He's not looked that age in finding a groove with Tampa Bay's trio of talented receivers in Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Julio Jones.

That's the challenge for a Browns defense that has only heard the criticism grow even louder the last two weeks after the Dolphins and Bills chewed them up. That noise will only grow deafening should they struggle against the Buccaneers, especially if they can also run the football on the Browns the way the previous two opponents did.

"I think they'll do something similar to what the Bills did," defensive end Myles Garrett said of his expectations from the Buccaneers offense. "I mean, the Bills were doing OK trying to throw the ball. I think they had kind of settled their mind on that, 'We got hell of a quarterback back there,' and they said, 'You know, we'll throw it and we'll do what we usually do. We have the No. 1 pass offense.' We were doing a good job playing the pass and then they cracked a few runs and said, 'Well, if this is working we'll keep on doing it.' And I think the Bucs will try the same thing, but the difference is we have to be able to shore up the run and make sure that they don't feel as comfortable running the ball and popping up some of those big runs."

Matchup to watch: Browns C Hjalte Froholdt vs. Buccaneers NT Vita Vea

This one comes with a rather large asterisk. Vea is listed as a game-time decision by Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles due to a foot injury. He didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday, but did return in a limited basis on Friday. That's fine, Froholdt basically did the same thing, only his issues was an illness. Froholdt is definitely a go for Sunday in his first regular-season start at center. Vea's availability, though, will be huge − literally and figuratively. The 6-foot-4, 347-pounder is one of the league best interior defensive linemen and an absolute disruptive force. While the challenge won't fall entirely on Froholdt to stop Vea if he plays, there'll be plenty of times he will have to deal with him in one-on-one situations. If Froholdt, and the rest of the Browns interior offensive linemen, can negate Vea's ability to wreck plays, they may be able to get the running game going again after two consecutive struggling weeks. If Vea plays and has a big game, then the chances of a third tough game running the ball goes up substantially.

Cleveland Browns player to watch: RB Nick Chubb

At one time, Nick Chubb was the league's leading rusher. Not that long ago, either. However, Chubb has struggled to find yards in losses to Miami and Buffalo, which has been a major problem for the Browns offense. The offense flows when Chubb's in a groove running the ball. That's not 82 yards on 26 carries, which is what his total has been the last two games combined. If Chubb can get going, it gives the Browns a chance to get a win for the first time in nearly a month. If he can't, then going 0-for-November is a legitimate possibility.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers player to watch: QB Tom Brady

You can talk about a lot of players on either side of the ball for Tampa Bay. But let's be real, when Tom Brady is quarterbacking the team, all eyes are going to go to him. The 45-year-old has played like a 35-year-old, at least, this season after a brief dalliance with retirement in the winter. He's fourth in the league in passing, has thrown and completed more passes this season than anyone in the NFL, and has thrown the fewest interceptions of anyone in the league. Oh, and it's likely to be his last game ever in Cleveland. So yeah, there's a good chance you're going to want to watch him.

Three numbers: Stoppable force vs. moveable object?

32nd

The Tampa Bay rushing offense comes into the game with the worst rushing offense in the NFL. That's not hyperbole, but statistical fact. The Buccaneers are averaging 70.7 yards per game, even after just their second 100-plus-yard rushing game two weeks ago against Seattle. The emergence of Rachaad White has added a little spark to the rushing attack, and they've activated Gio Bernard from the injured reserve list for the game. Then again, where a rushing offense ranks hasn't mattered before when it's come to the Browns.

23rd

The Browns have been one of the league's worst run defense, although there has been eight rush defenses worse than they have been. Cleveland is allowing 135.1 rushing yards a game. It's the teams the Browns have allowed to run for big yardages against them that has been the worry. The Los Angeles Chargers came to town in Week 5 with the league's worst rushing offense and went off for 238 yards. Two weeks ago, Miami was among the league's worst, and ran for 195 yards. At least Buffalo was a top 10-to-12 run offense when it went for 171 yards last week. So, that's why the Buccaneers can feel like there's hope for rushing the ball.

10

Amari Cooper will be the No. 1 option overall in the Browns passing game in every game he's healthy for this season. Donovan Peoples-Jones, though, is starting to emerge as a legitimate No. 2 option in his third season. The last two games, the Michigan product has caught 10 passes combined for 160 yards, while he grabbed his first touchdown last week in his Detroit homecoming against Buffalo. Extend it out to the two games before the bye week, and he's had 20 catches − half of his season total − for 312 yards. He's had 577 receiving yards on the season.

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns face Tom Brady, Bucs trying to avoid winless November