Tag: Browns Vs Vikings

Browns Vs Vikings highlight: Greedy Williams interception

One week at a time, one play at a time, one highlight at a time. Here Greedy gets his first career INT:

The Cleveland Browns storm into the Twin Cities for a matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. Fresh off a big victory over the Seattle Seahawks, the home team is looking to right their record at 2 – 2.

The visitors are coming off two straight victories after a difficult loss in Week 1 to the Kansas City Chiefs. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski returns to the city where he cut his coaching teeth for over a decade before taking on the head job in Cleveland.

With the Browns holding on to a 14 – 7 lead, the defense continues to make big plays while the offense struggles to get things moving:

Williams, a second-round pick, gets the first interception of his NFL career. Playing on the opposite side of where Adam Theilen starts, he falls off perfectly into his zone and then carries the receiver deep before locating the ball and picking it off.

Browns Vs Vikings highlight: Chase McLaughlin long FG

One week at a time, one play at a time, one highlight at a time. Here, the Browns kicker remains perfect with a 48-yard field goal:

The Cleveland Browns storm into the Twin Cities for a matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. Fresh off a big victory over the Seattle Seahawks, the home team is looking to right their record at 2 – 2.

The visitors are coming off two straight victories after a difficult loss in Week 1 to the Kansas City Chiefs. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski returns to the city where he cut his coaching teeth for over a decade before taking on the head job in Cleveland.

With the Browns defense slowing down the Vikings attack, the team took over with less than a minute left in the 1st half. A great run by Kareem Hunt opened up the opportunity for more points before halftime.

In came Chase McLaughlin who has been perfect this year. He nailed this long field goal:

Cleveland takes an 11 – 7 lead going into halftime and will receive the second-half kick. With Baker Mayfield struggling greatly, can the offense get going and extend the lead? Can the defense continue to shut down the Vikings as they have the last three possessions?

Browns Vs Vikings highlight: Kareem Hunt extends late half drive with big run

One week at a time, one play at a time, one highlight at a time. Here, Hunt saves a late half drive with a draw run:

The Cleveland Browns storm into the Twin Cities for a matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. Fresh off a big victory over the Seattle Seahawks, the home team is looking to right their record at 2 – 2.

The visitors are coming off two straight victories after a difficult loss in Week 1 to the Kansas City Chiefs. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski returns to the city where he cut his coaching teeth for over a decade before taking on the head job in Cleveland.

In a very interesting game, with the Browns leading 8 – 7, Cleveland took over with under a minute left in the half. After a poor start to the drive, Kareem Hunt took a third-down run for 33 yards:

Near the end of the play, Odell Beckham Jr. was fighting hard on the block which helped Hunt get extra yards and get out of bounds.

With this run, Hunt leads the Browns rushing attack with 50 yards through the first half.

Browns Vs Vikings: Inactives include a big one for Minnesota

The Browns will have their OL intact while the Vikings get two important pieces active but lose a big one on defense in today’s announced inactives:

The Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings are set to square off in an important matchup in Kevin Stefanski’s return to where he spent over a decade. The two teams are very similar in a lot of ways.

As always, injuries can play a huge role in the outcome of games. The Browns have a few starters on injured reserve but believe they have solid depth for those positions. The offensive line limitations have been the biggest concern for Week 4.

As expected, Jedrick Wills and JC Tretter will be active for Cleveland in Week 4. The following will be inactive:

  • CB Greg Newsome II – Injured
  • DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
  • G Michael Dunn
  • OT Chris Hubbard – Injured
  • DT Tommy Togiai

Newsome and Hubbard were ruled out earlier this week while Odenigbo doesn’t get to have a homecoming in Minnesota, where he played well for a couple of years.

For the Vikings, Dalvin Cook and Anthony Barr were the big stories. One, Cook, will be active while Barr joins the inactives:

  • LB Anthony Barr – Injured
  • Kris Boyd – Injured
  • QB Kellen Mond
  • OL Wyatt Davis
  • DT James Lynch
  • DE Patrick Jones II

While Barr being out is the biggest story, DT Michael Pierce being active is a good sign for the Minnesota front four.

 

Greedy Williams zone ability must improve for him to have success

Greedy struggled as a rookie and is generally better in man coverage. Will the Vikings target him often in today’s matchup? Can he show improvement in zone coverage?

When the Cleveland Browns face off against the Minnesota Vikings, two very similar offenses will be on the field. Both mirror their run and pass plays, have outstanding running backs and wide receivers and will try to get the lines moving with the wide zone scheme.

For the Browns defense, the loss of rookie cornerback Greg Newsome II could be a big problem. Whether it is a big problem comes down to the play of his replacement, Greedy Williams.

Williams, the former second-round pick, missed all of the 2020 season with a nerve issue affecting his neck and shoulder. In his rookie campaign in 2019, Williams struggled. Pro Football Focus graded him at 54.6 overall and a similar 53.6 grade in coverage as a rookie.

During the 2019 season, Steve Wilks was calling the Cleveland defense and instituted a zone-heavy concept to replace Gregg Williams’ man-heavy scheme. With Denzel Ward and Williams as the team’s, assumed, top two corners, this move to a zone scheme didn’t make a lot of sense as both thrived as man corners in college.

Lance Zierlein noted in Williams’ NFL.com draft profile that he had a man coverage fit:

Williams has the instincts and tools to play a variety of coverages, but his length and pattern-matching talent will likely get him drafted to handle press-man duties.

During that season, the former LSU corner played outside corner on 591 of his 680 snaps on defense while playing in the box more than slot corner. With Newsome playing almost entirely outside corner, Williams will be have comfort out there.

Where he may not have comfort is in zone coverage looks that Joe Woods has been deploying. The Browns have run zone coverage over 60% of the time, according to Sports Information Solutions, and as high as over 80%, according to PFF.

As a rookie, offenses found a way to target Williams quite often. While Troy Hill and Ward, along with the Browns quality safeties, can help, in zone coverage the Vikings will be able to isolate Adam Thielen or Justin Jefferson in Williams’ area quite often.

In 2019, teams targeted Williams 52 times in coverage despite him only playing in 12 games. In the second half of the season, Williams was targeted on six or more passes five of the last eight games as their film study of him grew.

In 2021, Williams has only played in 14 coverage snaps so far. He was graded very poorly (31.5) in seven snaps in Week 1 but graded very well in Week 3’s seven snaps. Week 4’s opponent is closer to the Kansas City Chiefs passing game than they are the Chicago Bears.

If Williams is a weak link in Week 4, Newsome’s absence will be noticed all the more. If Williams holds up well against a good passing offense, despite playing mostly zone, Cleveland’s confidence in their cornerback room will soar.

Fan seemingly trolls Vikings with legacy brick engraving

In what seems like a troll move, a “Legacy Brick” outside of the Vikings stadium is something many Browns fans could have related to over much of the last 20 years, but not anymore:

As the Cleveland Browns travel to face the Minnesota Vikings, plenty of Browns fans have made their way to the Twin Cities. Given the large contingent of Browns Backers clubs all over the country and world, it is not surprising to see many Cleveland fans at away games.

With the Browns having a great 2020 season and high hopes for the 2021 campaign, many more will likely show up as they have in Minnesota.

While walking around the new stadium, fans will notice what are called “Legacy Bricks.” Prior to the opening of the Vikings new stadium in 2016, fans were given a chance to purchase bricks with engravings on them:

There are three paver styles ranging in price from $160 to $360. Along with the engraved brick on the plaza, fans will receive a complimentary replica and a certificate of ownership.

One of the many Cleveland fans in the area for Sunday’s game found that one fan paid that price to, seemingly, troll Minnesota’s football team:

While “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed” could just be their way of commemorating a loved one that said that a lot, it seems more like a diss at the team.

With all the years of disappointment on Lake Erie, it is certain that some Browns fans could relate to that statement many times over the past few decades.

Browns Vs Vikings: Game time decisions huge for Minnesota’s defense

While Dalvin Cook gets most of the press, three defensive game-time decisions will be vital for the Vikings today:

The Cleveland Browns have shown a diverse, explosive offense so far in 2021. The run game with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt has exploded with the great offensive line in front of them. Baker Mayfield and the passing attack has kept up when it has needed to.

The return of Odell Beckham Jr. was an extra spark for the offense last week despite the 11-month layoff. With a game under his belt to knock the rust off and playing on turf (much faster), Beckham could be in for a huge game.

For the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday’s matchup with the Browns offense will be difficult no matter what. The Vikings have given up 78 points in the first three games of the season (compared to the Browns 60).

The home team has a few game-time decisions that could play a huge role in the outcome of the game. While much of the conversation will be about Dalvin Cook, it seems like he will be playing. It is the defense, with three players having to be checked after warmups, where game-time decisions could drastically alter Week 4’s results:

Barr and Pierce are vital to the Vikings ability to try to limit Chubb and Hunt on the ground. Barr’s ability in coverage is also important against the Cleveland screen game and tight ends.

With Beckham returning, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rashard Higgins and Anthony Schwartz, teams need as many cornerbacks as possible to cover. While Boyd is a backup, less depth could be harmful.

Boyd has also played in 55 of the team’s special teams snaps this season.

Of the three, Barr is by far the most talented and most important but Pierce’s play on the interior can also make things difficult for someone like JC Tretter, who is also questionable with his ongoing knee issues.

We will have the final inactives for today’s Browns Vs. Vikings matchup as soon as they are available to find out how the game-time decisions played out.

Browns Vs Vikings final injury report: 7 questionable, 3 out in total

Both teams have a few key players out or questionable for Week 4’s matchup Sunday:

The Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings square off in an important battle in Week 4. The Vikings look to even their record while the Browns want to keep pace in the competitive AFC North.

Injuries could play a big role as, combined, the two teams have seven players listed as questionable for the game while three others are already listed as out.

For Cleveland, backup offensive lineman Chris Hubbard and rookie cornerback Greg Newsome II were listed as out earlier in the week. For Minnesota, wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette is out for the game.

That trade-off is a significant negative on the Browns ledger.

The following are listed as questionable for the game with most likely to play but not certain:

Cleveland Browns

  • LT Jedrick Wills – Ankle
  • C JC Tretter – Knee
  • LB Sione Takitaki – Hamstring

Wills and Tretter are expected to continue to tough out their injuries. Wills has left the first three games of the season due to his injury, can he finish Week 4’s matchup?

Minnesota Vikings

  • LB Anthony Barr – Knee
  • CB Kris Boyd – Hamstring
  • RB Dalvin Cook – Ankle
  • DT Michael Pierce – Arm

As we reported on yesterday, Cooks is likely to play while Pierce is much more unlikely to be able to play. If Barr joins Pierce on the sideline, it would be a huge hit to the Vikings defense against the strong run game and versatile passing attack of the Browns.

The full injury report can be found here:

Vikings Dalvin Cook likely to play Sunday versus Browns

It looks like the Vikings offense will be whole when the Browns roll into town:

The Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Viking square off in a pivotal game for both teams in Week 4. The Vikings need to square their record at 2 – 2 to keep pace in the NFC North and NFC wild card chases while the Browns need to match the Cincinnati Bengals 3 – 1 record.

While the return of Kevin Stefanski to Minnesota is a big storyline, injuries and similar schemes will also be important to watch as well.

One big injury for the Vikings is running back Dalvin Cook. Cook rushed for 131 yards in the team’s Week 2 loss to Arizona but missed Week 3 with an ankle injury. Alexander Mattison filled in quite well in Minnesota’s victory over Seattle with 112 yards of his own.

With the Vikings need for a balanced attack against the Browns, it looks like the team will get Cook back after missing only one week:

If Cook’s estimate, in the 90% healthy, is accurate, Cleveland can expect a full dose of the Vikings star back. If the Browns struggle to stop the run, they could make things more difficult for pass rushers Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney. If the Minnesota run game can be shut down, Cleveland’s defensive line can pin their ears back and get after quarterback Kirk Cousins.

As with most injuries, anything can happen in warmups to change the status but, as of Friday, it looks like Cook will be causing problems for the Browns defense on Sunday.

Browns Vs Vikings: How Minnesota has won one, lost two

How did the Vikings lose two games and how did they blow out the Seahawks last week?

The Cleveland Browns face off with Kevin Stefanski’s old team, the Minnesota Vikings, in Week 4 of the NFL season. Browns Vs Vikings could be a very interesting game with talented players littered all over both rosters.

While the Browns are a slight favorite, the home team Vikings present a far better challenge than either of the visitor’s last two opponents, despite their 1 – 2 record.

Minnesota is fresh off a dominating victory over the Seattle Seahawks at home where the offense exploded and the defense made timely plays.

Taking a quick look at the Vikings first three games, we want to get an idea of what led to their losses and what led to their win.