The Washington Commanders (3-1) return home to Northwest Stadium in Week 5 to host the Cleveland Browns (1-3). The Commanders have won three straight games, and this will be only their second home game.
Cleveland has lost two consecutive games to the Giants and Raiders and is desperate for a win on Sunday. So far this season, the Browns have not resembled a playoff team, which they were in 2023.
However, despite its slow start, Cleveland remains a talented team led by DE Myles Garrett, the NFL’s top defensive player.
Sunday’s game is only the second time the Commanders have been favored so far this season. What must they do to avoid an upset loss on Sunday?
We identify four keys to a Washington win in Week 5 vs. Cleveland:
Get to Deshaun Watson early
When the Commanders faced Watson in 2022, he completed only nine of 18 passing attempts, but he did throw three touchdowns and did not turn the ball over. That cannot happen on Sunday. Watson is a shell of the player he was in 2018 when he first faced Washington. However, if the Commanders allow him to get comfortable early in the game and gain confidence, they could be in trouble.
Washington was aggressive in defending Kyler Murray last week and must adopt a similar strategy against the Browns. Cleveland’s offensive line has struggled early this season.
Make the Browns one-dimensional
This goes hand in hand with getting to Watson. Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt’s primary goal should be stopping the run. Cleveland isn’t a dangerous running team right now, and Nick Chubb is not quite ready for his 2024 debut. That’s positive news for the Commanders. Jerome Ford is Cleveland’s top running back and he’s averaging four yards per attempt this season. Washington has allowed opposing offenses to gash them in the running game so far. If that happens against Cleveland, this game will come down to the wire, something the Commanders hope to avoid. At some point, Washington must prove it can stop the run.
Have a plan for Myles Garrett
This is what every team that plays the Browns says. The Commanders have quietly been excellent in pass protection through four weeks. They have yet to face a challenge like Garrett. Garrett already has four sacks this season and will be looking to make life difficult for Jayden Daniels. Cleveland’s key to limiting Daniels relies heavily on Garrett wrecking Washington’s offensive line.
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has had a specific plan all season to help limit the opposing pass rush, and you can bet he’ll have a plan on Sunday. However, it’s not going to be easy. Garrett is a rare, game-changing talent that can singlehandedly force turnovers and give the offense short fields.
Stay aggressive offensively
The Commanders will have Austin Ekeler back, and Brian Robinson Jr. sounds like he’ll be ready, too. That means Washington’s rushing offense will be back to normal. The Commanders have turned up the aggression over the past two weeks and must continue to do so. On one drive last week, the Commanders kept the Arizona defense on the field without allowing them to substitute, running several plays out of the same formation. It was a coaching masterpiece, and Daniels executed it flawlessly. That type of creativity and aggressiveness should remain until teams can slow them down.
