The Seahawks (4-1) are back in Cleveland this weekend for the first time since 2011 to face a 2-3 Browns team that is looking to bounce back from a tough Monday night loss to San Francisco. To learn more about this week's opponent, we reached out to ClevelandBrowns.com staff writer & digital content coordinator Nick Shook, who answers five questions about the Browns:
Q: Expectations were high coming into the year for the Browns. The season is still young, obviously, but what do the Browns need to do to bounce back from a 2-3 start and a tough loss to the 49ers Monday night?
Shook: Establish some consistency. Week 1 was stunning, Week 2 was triumphant (albeit against a Jets team that is struggling and was down to Luke Falk before halftime), Week 3 was heartbreaking (but encouraging), Week 4 was supposedly proof that this is the best team in its division, and Week 5 was incredibly disheartening. It's been a roller coaster to say the least, something Freddie Kitchens said he does not want his team to become less than 24 hours after getting shellacked on national television.
That will start with finding a solid middle ground for this offense, which has been explosive in spurts but anemic too often. When Baker Mayfield has time to throw, things work well. But when the Browns commit penalties or other mental errors that put them behind schedule, and those snowball into deficits, well, it's QB hunting season for opposing pass rushers. The Browns have found their most success by relying on a consistent run game and building out of that; they've just too often found themselves in situations in which running isn't tenable. Fast starts and consistency are most needed for this team.
Q: What needs to happen for the Browns to turn things around in the turnover department after having 10 turnovers in the first five games?
Shook: Probably more of what I mentioned in the last point, which is just putting your second-year quarterback — people seem to forget that fact about Mayfield — in winnable situations. Sure, he's talented and a big reason for so much offseason optimism, but he still needs time to learn and grow like the rest of them. Expecting him to complete Herculean tasks on a weekly basis will get you many more losses than wins, so the less risk you have to take and the less third-and-longs you have to face, the less mistakes you'll suffer.
There's also been a bit of tough luck with this team, it seems. The interception that bounced off the hands of an open Antonio Callaway was obviously not on Mayfield. Kevin Byard made a fantastic play to pick him off in Week 1, which devolved into an ill-fated comeback attempt that saw Mayfield slinging it because he had no other choice. Richard Sherman's interception was similarly excellent. Sometimes you have to tip your cap, but you also have to help your quarterback win.
Q: We saw the 49ers pass rush have success on Monday night, how much of that is a good San Francisco pass rush vs. concern about Cleveland's pass protection?
Shook: I came away from that game incredibly impressed by the 49ers' staff, which clearly had a bye week to prepare for the Browns. They did their homework on Mayfield and the offensive line and targeted its weaknesses, forcing Mayfield into trouble with how they schemed their stunts and slants. It was interesting to me that Nick Bosa found more success twisting inside than just straight edge rushing, but their defensive front is quite good.
Having said that, there have been concerns about the pass protection. It mostly revolved around games in which the Browns weren't entirely healthy across the line (most of Week 1 after Greg Robinson's ejection, Kendall Lamm's injury; Week 3 without Chris Hubbard), but that wasn't the case last week. I think the Browns got out of whatever makes them successful across the board in the 49ers game, with defensive coordinator Steve Wilks admitting as much, and it showed in pass protection. A tight end matched up with a talent like Bosa isn't going to produce positive results, and to the Browns' credit, they adjusted, shifting to a six-man line during one of their most successful possessions of that game. There just needs to be a little more focus on scheming protection specific to an opponent and adjusting in-game, because Mayfield, when comfortable early, can get into a rhythm. But too much pressure will frazzle any quarterback.
Q: On a more positive note, Myles Garrett looks to be well on his way to a second straight double-digit sack season, how big has the former No. 1 pick been for that defense?
Shook: He's been excellent. He's a rare talent and is living up to everything scouts said about him coming out of Texas A&M, even if it gets lost in the shuffle with this team. He dominated Kelvin Beachum in Week 2, found a way to get to Jared Goff in Week 3, and pressured Lamar Jackson even though he didn't record a sack. Dennis Kelly did a good job against him in Week 1 and the 49ers handled him well, too, but they also ran for 275 yards, which as anyone knows isn't exactly going to produce an effective pass rush.
If you told me Garrett finished with 20 sacks this season, I wouldn't at all be surprised. I expect his numbers to increase and for folks to really start to pay attention to him by the time we hit Week 11 or so, provided the Browns are still in the conversation for contention.
Q: So Nick Chubb, he's off to a really good start. Safe to say the Browns will want to lean on him going forward in light of the aforementioned turnover and pass-pro issues?
Shook: Absolutely. It was clear in the first couple weeks that the Browns weren't turning to him enough — who would pick the Corvette when you choose between a Maserati and a Lamborghini for your daily commute? — but they started to realize how effective unapologetically giving the ball to Chubb could be for their offense in the loss to the Rams. That's what led to his explosion against Baltimore, which as we saw helped the Browns' offense emerge from hibernation, if only for a week.
They'll definitely want to lean on him. I don't know of a player more beloved by his coaching staff than Chubb, and the hope is he can pop a few longer runs early and really provide balance to this offense. He's been the key to their success for this entire season so far.
The Seahawks and Browns face off on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. PT. Take a look back through history at the Seahawks' matchups against the Browns.


Cleveland's Mike Pruitt, 43, runs up the middle for a score in the fourth quarter of NFL game against Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Oct. 13, 1980 in Seattle. The run of 22 yards came with 13 minutes left in the game. Seattle's Keith Butler, 53, missed Pruitt. Cleveland won 27-3. (AP Photo)

Cleveland's Mike Pruitt (43) breaks into the end zone in the first quarter for the Browns first score against Seattle in Seattle, Sept. 13, 1982. Hitting Pruitt is Seattle's Bruce Scholtz (58). Cleveland won, 21-7. (AP Photo)

Kevin Mack of the Cleveland Browns (34) breaks through the Seattle Seahawk defense during the first quarter of game in the Kingdome in Seattle, Wash., Dec. 9, 1985. (AP Photo/Jerry Gay)

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Brian Bosworth (55) rushes the pocket during a 16-10 win over the Cleveland Browns on October 9, 1988 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)

Seattle Seahawks' Steve Largent (80) pulls down a catch for an 11-yard gain in action against the Cleveland Browns, Nov. 13, 1989. Seahawks lost to the Browns, 17-7. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Kelly Holcomb (10) is sacked by Seattle Seahawks strong safety Reggie Tongue, forcing a fumble in the second quarter Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003 at Seahawks Stadium in Seattle. The Seahawks recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander steps as Cleveland Browns strong safety Robert Griffith dives during the fourth quarter in Seattle, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003. The Seahawks won, 34-7, with Alexander gaining 16 of his 127 rushing yards on this play. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Cleveland Browns' Dannis Northcutt is hit by Seattle Seahawks' Ken Hamlin as he catches a pass during the first quarter in Seattle Sunday Nov. 30, 2003. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) escapes the rush from Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Shaun Smith in an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards (17) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Nate Burleson (81) outruns Cleveland Browns safety Mike Adams (20) and the rest of the Browns defense on a 94-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander (37) runs against the Cleveland Browns in an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Seahawks linebacker David Hawthorne jumps a route and intercepts a Cleveland Browns pass attempt during a game on October 23, 2011. The Browns defeated the Seahawks 6-3.

The Cleveland Browns, left, and the Seattle Seahawks line up during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011, in Cleveland. The Browns won 6-3. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Seattle Seahawks free safety Kam Chancellor up ends a Cleveland Browns receiver during a game on October 23, 2011. The Browns defeated the Seahawks 6-3.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice makes a move and evades a Cleveland Browns defender during a game on October 23, 2011. The Browns defeated the Seahawks 6-3.

Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane celebrates following a Seahawks sack during a game on December 20, 2015. The Seahawks defeated the Browns 30-13.

Seattle Seahawks running back Christine Michael (32) during the NFL regular season game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015 in Seattle. The Seahawks won, 30-13. (Ric Tapia via AP)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback prepares to deliver a stiff arm to Browns safety Donte Whitner during a game on December 20, 2015. The Seahawks defeated the Browns 30-13.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin enters the end zone for a Seahawks touchdown during a game on December 20, 2015. The Seahawks defeated the Browns 30-13.

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin prepares to sack Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel during a game on December 20, 2015. The Seahawks defeated the Browns 30-13.



