NFL | Cleveland Browns x New England Patriots - Oct 16 | 17:00 UTC

[Mat]

Game info Cleveland Browns x New England Patriots

 

In another very interesting game of week 6 of the 2022 NFL season, the Cleveland Browns welcome New England Patriots, in a duel within the American Conference. Here is an AFC North division team against an AFC East team. The match will take place at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. And the kickoff is scheduled for this Sunday, October 16, 2022 at 17:00 UTC

 

How does the NFL work in its 2022 edition?

 

The 2022 season of the National Football League arrives with a bang. After the adoption, for the first time in history in 2021, of a regular season with 17 games for each team and 18 weeks in total (since every team takes a week off), we will once again have this format. It is worth remembering that, years ago, each team played 16 games during the qualifying phase, with 17 weeks in total in the season.

 

Traditionally, the NFL is made up of two conferences: the American Conference (AFC) and the National Conference (NFC). Each conference has four divisions (North, South, East and West), with four teams each, for a total of 16 teams per conference. And 32 teams in total in the league.

 

The winners of each division (four per conference) qualify for the playoffs, totaling eight teams. The top three from each conference, apart from the division champions, complete the 14 ranked teams. They play in a knockout tournament, the playoffs, and the AFC champion faces the NFC champion in Super Bowl LVII.

 

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns enter Week 6 with a two-three record. After defeating the Carolina Panthers (26-24) in their debut, the team lost to the New York Jets (31-30) in Week 2, before recovering against rivals Pittsburgh Steelers (29-17). However, in the last two games, there were two defeats for Atlanta Falcons (23 to 20) and Los Angeles Chargers (30 to 28).

 

Still, the Browns are runner-up in the AFC North and are now looking to continue their hunt for the Baltimore Ravens (3-2) leader.

 

In last Sunday's home loss to the Chargers, the Ohio franchise got off to a good start. First, it opened 14-0 in the first quarter, with a 41-yard rushing TD by Nick Chubb and another in Jacoby Brissett's 11-yard connection with Amari Cooper.

 

However, still in the first quarter, the Chargers reduced the deficit to 14 to 3, with a field goal, and looked for the turn of 17 to 14 even before the break, but with another TD from Chubb, the hosts went to the locker room. winning 21-17. However, in the final two quarters, Cleveland scored just one more TD, while Los Angeles scored one TD and two FGs, thus winning the game 30-28.

 

In the match, the Browns produced 443 total yards on offense, 230 of which were overhead and 213 more on the ground. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett has hit 21 passes for 34 for 230 yards, a TD and an interception, tight end David Njoku has six catches for 88 total yards, and wide receiver Amari Cooper has seven receptions for 76 yards and a TD. But the offensive offense once again was running back Nick Chubb.

 

Number 24 rushed 17 times for 134 total yards and two touchdowns, averaging 7.9 yards per carry. Kareem Hunt also did well in the offensive backfield and ran 11 times for 47 yards and a TD.

 

The problem was the defense, once again. In total, the Chargers threw 465 yards, 227 in the air and 238 in the rush. Quarterback Justin Herbert threw for 228 yards and a TD, and running back Austin Ekeler celebrated, rushing for 173 yards and a TD. Not to mention wide receiver Mike Williams, who managed 10 receptions for 134 yards in the game.

 

The defense of the team led by head coach Kevin Stefanski has worried. The unit led by Joe Woods is one of the 13th worst in the NFL in yards conceded, with 353.8 per game, and the seventh worst in points, alongside the Kansas City Chiefs, with an average of 25 conceded per game.

 

Defense has been especially poor against running play, dropping 138.2 yards across the ground per game, fifth-worst in the entire league.

 

Offensively, the Browns have the fourth-best offense in yards (396.4 per game) and sixth-best in points (26.6). In terms of ground offense, the team owns the best in the entire NFL in the area, rushing for 192.4 yards per commitment. This makes up for a not-so-great air attack quite a bit.

 

New England Patriots

The New England Patriots currently occupy the bottom of the AFC East division, with two wins and three losses. Thus, it is behind the Buffalo Bills (4-1), the New York Jets (3-2) and the Miami Dolphins (3-2). So, it's time to seek recovery if you still want to dream of playoffs.

 

The Patriots started the season with a loss to the Dolphins (20-7) and, in Week 2, they rehabilitated and beat the Pittsburgh Steelers (17-14). However, in weeks 3 and 4, came two consecutive losses for the Baltimore Ravens (37-26) and the Green Bay Packers (27-24).

 

To ease the situation a little, the Pats took advantage of the field command in Week 5 and 'thrashed' the Detroit Lions 29-0.

 

In the game against the Lions at Gillette Stadium, New England produced 364 total yards, including 188 passing and another 176 carries. And that's even with the offense led again by rookie Bailey Zappe, who had a performance with 17 passes from 21 for 188 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

 

But what really helped to take a lot of the pressure off Zappe's back was the running game and the defence. In the land game, running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed 25 times in the game for 161 total yards. Already receiving balls, the biggest highlight of the Foxborough franchise was wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who had seven receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown.

 

Defensively, the Patriots greatly limited Detroit's offense. Yes, they conceded 312 total yards, but forced two turnovers, both committed by quarterback Jared Goff. Incidentally, Goff didn't have an easy time, hitting 19 passes from 35 for 229 yards and an interception, as well as conceding two sacks for an 18-yard loss. Not to mention the fumble lost by shirt 16 and returned to TD by Kyle Dugger, the home team's safety.

 

The only aspect the Lions were able to do a little better in was the land game, which produced 101 yards on 27 carries.

 

With starting quarterback Mac Jones still recovering from injury, Zappe may have to play again this Sunday. And, if that's the case, the Patriots will again try to take the most weight off their young QB's back and focus on the land game and the defensive end.

 

And if there's one thing head coach Bill Belichick understands, it's defense. The problem is that the ground game contention will have to be up to date this week for New England to have a real chance of winning in Cleveland. The Pats' defense against running play has been one of the 12 worst in the NFL so far, yielding 128.8 yards per game.

 

And what is your opinion about this game? Who will be the winner?
 
Place your bet right now on this great game HERE!