Behind enemy lines: Cardinals-Browns Q&A preview with Browns Wire

Check out what Browns Wire managing editor Jeff Risdon has to say about the Browns as the Cardinals face them this weekend.

With the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns playing this weekend, Browns Wire managing editor Jeff Risdon answered a few questions about the team he covers to give Cardinals fans some insight into the team Arizona faces only once every four years.

Here is what there is to know about the Browns in 2019.

What have been the returns on Freddie Kitchens as head coach and Steve Wilks as DC, both former Cardinals coaches?

Kitchens is very unpopular with Browns fans. There is definitely buyer’s remorse. The experience of handling all the things that go on around Sunday have overwhelmed Kitchens and it has stifled his creativity on offense, too.

Wilks’ star keeps rising after a bit of a rocky start. He’s shown the ability to adapt to injuries and suspensions, plugging in unproven players and putting them in position to win. It took him a little time to figure out what he had, but he’s earned a lot of credit for tying it together nicely in the recent upswing.

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Dueling picks for Cardinals vs. Browns in Week 15

Browns Wire and Cards Wire make their score predictions for the Week 15 battle.

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The Arizona Cardinals take on the Cleveland Browns Sunday afternoon at State Farm Stadium at 2:05 p.m. The Browns are favored by 2.5 points but, of the three games left on the Cardinals’ schedule, this seems the most winnable.

So how will this game play out? The Cardinals have lost six games in a row, while the Browns have won four of their last five.

Browns Wire managing editor Jeff Risdon and I both made predictions for the game.

Here they are. We expect the victor to be the same but how it goes will differ.

Browns Wire: Browns 27, Cardinals 20

If the Browns are focused on offense, they should have a very good game. I can see Kyler Murray and the Cardinals passing game makes some waves but not quite enough of them. Browns win by a touchdown.

Cards Wire: Browns 30, Cardinals 27

As much as I would like to say I think the Cardinals win, I just can’t trust the defense. Cleveland’s offense has too many weapons and the Cardinals have just been bad defensively. However, this should be a high-scoring, competitive game that is fun to watch. The Browns give the Cards their seventh straight loss and beat them 30-27. It comes down to the wire and the Browns get a game-winning drive at the end.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Sub scribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 251:

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Ep. 250:

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5 player connections, many coaching connections for Cardinals-Browns

The Browns have three players and six coaches who are former Cardinals.

The Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns play this weekend in Week 15 at State Farm Stadium. It is the first time the two teams play each other since 2015. There are plenty of connections between the two teams.

On the Cardinals roster, there are two former Browns players. The Browns have three former Cardinals on the roster. But the connections go even beyond that. The Browns have six coaches on their staff who either were coaches or players for the Cardinals in recent years.

Who are those connections?

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Cardinals vs. Browns ultimate Week 15 preview

It’s Kyler Murray vs Baker Mayfield in this week 15 matchup between the Cleveland Browns and the Arizona Cardinals.

Sunday’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns was one of the more anticipated games of the 2019 season when the schedule released last April. While both teams haven’t had the kind of year they’d hoped, there are still storylines all over the field.

Baker Mayfield faces Kyler Murray in a battle of the 2018 and 2019 No. 1 overall picks.
Steve Wilks’ makes his return to State Farm Stadium as Browns defensive coordinator.
LSU standouts Patrick Peterson vs. Odell Beckham Jr. will certainly be one-on-one.

Before the season started, many thought this game had primetime flex potential. With a combined eight wins between the teams, that certainly didn’t happen. Still, the connections between these two teams make this an interesting matchup to watch.

Read on for our Week 15 preview:

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OBJ not opposed to playing for Jets again (Brownswire)

Browns’ star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been mentioned as a possibility of being traded to the New York Jets.

OBJ not opposed to playing for Jets again

Browns’ star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been mentioned as a possibility of being traded to the New York Jets.

Browns final injury report: Olivier Vernon ruled out, 2 OL questionable

Odell Beckham Jr. is good to go this weekend against the Cardinals.

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The Cleveland Browns come to town this weekend to play the Arizona Cardinals and released their final injury report of the week. Two players were ruled out and two are questionable for Cleveland.

Ruled out

DE Olivier Vernon (knee)
DB Eric Murray (knee)

Murray missed last week. With Myles Garrett suspended, Vernon being out limits the potential pass rush against the Cardinals.

Questionable

C J.C. Tretter (knee)
T Chris Hubbard (knee)

Hubbard was limited in practice all week. Tretter did not practice the first two days of the week and was limited on Friday. He missed one practice last week and was limited twice and still played in Week 14.

Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was limited for the third day in a row with a groin injury but has no game designation. He has played all season battling through pain.

Everyone else practiced fully, including receiver Jarvis Landry (hip).

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Sub scribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 251:

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Ep. 250:

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Cardinals seeking fourth straight win over Browns

The Browns have not won in Arizona since 1988.

The Arizona Cardinals are on a long losing streak right now, having lost their last six ballgames. However, they do enter this weekend with a winning streak.

They have won the last three games in the series with the Cleveland Browns, their Week 15 opponent.

Overall, the Browns hold a 33-14-3 series lead over the Cardinals but haven’t beaten the Cardinals since 2003.

The Browns have not won a road game against the Cardinals since 1988.

How have the last three games gone? Read on for the details.

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Bragging rights on the line for QBs in game between Cardinals, Browns

The two starting QBs were former teammates at Oklahoma.

The Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns play this weekend at State Farm Stadium and one of many storylines is the one of the two teams’ starting quarterbacks. The Browns have Baker Mayfield and the Cardinals have Kyler Murray. Both were teammates at Oklahoma in college. Both were Heisman Trophy winners. Both were drafted first overall.

While both obviously want to win this game for professional reasons, there is a little extra because of the personal connection.

“This is real bragging rights,” Mayfield told reporters this week. “Being in the same quarterback room for a few years and razzing each other back and forth. It’s going to be a fun one.”

Murray, who is not nearly as talkative as his former teammate, when asked if the game was important for bragging rights, simply said, “Yeah, for sure.”

“It’s going to be fun,” he said. “I haven’t seen him in a while, so I’m looking forward to that, but at the same time, it’s kind of special just being able to be on the same field, opposing teams, and just playing against him is obviously special.”

The Cardinals and Browns only play each other once every four years so whoever wins will get to hold it over the other for a while.

No matter what the outcome is, there is sure to be a fond reunion on the field after the game.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Sub scribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 251:

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Ep. 250:

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Browns DC Steve Wilks has no extra emotions in return to Arizona

He isn’t admitting it, at least.

When the 2019 schedule came out for the Arizona Cardinals, one of the dates many had circled for a number of reasons was December 15 when the Cleveland Browns come to town. There are a number of storylines that connect the two teams. Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray were college teammates, Heisman Trophy winners and No. 1 overall picks. Murray played under Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury before transferring after losing his starting job. There are a number of former Cardinals coaches and players on the Browns coaching staff.

That includes defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who was fired by the Cardinals as their head coach after one season.

Many have dubbed this game as the Steve Wilks Revenge Game.

Wilks downplayed the return to Arizona when he spoke with reporters Thursday.

“To be honest, I do not really have emotions in regards to this week,” he said. “I want to win this game just like I wanted to win last week’s game, just like I wanted to win the first game against Tennessee. My focus is trying to get these guys in position to be successful. Hopefully, we can go out there and get a win.”

This is almost believable. Wilks, as we learned in his year as head coach, is very good about keeping things in focus and being methodical about his approach. He wants to win every game. However, there has to be a little more invested in this game, as it is the team who fired him despite giving him a bad team to coach.

He will surely have his defense ready to play.

And while he might be any more emotional outwardly, internally this game will have to mean a little more than the others.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Sub scribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 251:

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Ep. 250:

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