Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots Matchup Preview (11/14/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots Matchup Preview (11/14/21)

Are the Cleveland Browns finally getting it together? The team has been up and down this year, and a much-needed win against the Cincinnati Bengals was just what the doctor ordered. Injuries and COVID-19 struggles are partially to blame, but Cleveland still needs some big wins to show they can be a pretender once more. The team’s strength is the running game, and with three of their running backs looking to be out on Sunday, that’s going to be a big issue against another team fighting for a postseason spot.

The New England Patriots are feeling better than they ever have in a post-Tom Brady world. The team is sitting at 5-4 and just one game back in the AFC East right now. Rookie QB Mac Jones is finding his groove, and the team’s confidence in him is starting to pay off. The team seems more like early 2000s Bill Belichick teams, and that’s not a bad thing at all. With the Cleveland Browns traveling to Gillette Stadium to take on the Pats, here’s what bettors should take a look at.

Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots Betting Odds

As the line suggests, this is a difficult game to bet. The teams seem fairly evenly matched, making it tough for the public to go one way or the other. However, I think two X-factors will make all the difference: the Cleveland defense and running back D’Ernest Johnson. I’m big on the Cleveland third-ranked defense, which has smothered a number of opposing offenses, including the Cincinnati Bengals and the Minnesota Vikings. Plus, I like D’Ernest Johnson a lot in this spot. The running back amassed 146 yards and a touchdown in his sole start this season, and the Browns will once again lean on him to take down the Pats.

Brand-name bias will get a lot of money flowing towards the Patriots, but I see value in the Browns. New England is going to have trouble moving the ball against the Cleveland front while the Browns bleed the clock with the running game. It’s going to be close, it’s going to be ugly, and it’s going to be low scoring, and Cleveland is going to escape with a win here. 

My predictions: Browns win 17-14, Browns moneyline, under 45 points

TV Schedule

Date: Sunday, September 14
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Location: Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, MA
TV Coverage: CBS

Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots Live Stream

Where can you watch Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots online? You can stream this game, and many other NFL games live online with Hulu. Hulu has a 7 Day free trial and is cheaper than cable options at $5.99/month. Watch Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots Free Online Now.

Injuries

Cleveland Browns: QB Baker Mayfield (foot/shoulder) Q, TE Harrison Bryant (thigh) Q, C J.C. Tretter (knee) Q, De Jadeveon Clowney (ankle/knee) Q, DT Malik Jackson (knee) Q, DE Myles Garrett (foot) Q, RB Demetric Felton (illness) O, C Nick Harris (COVID-19) O, RB Kareem Hunt (calf) IR, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (ankle) IR, RB Nick Chubb (COVID-19) O, WR Jarvis Landry (knee) Q, RB John Kelly (COVID-19) O, DE Takkarist McKinley (groin) Q, CB Greedy Williams (shoulder) Q, T Jack Conklin (elbow) IR, S M.J. Stewart (hamstring) IR
New England Patriots: WR N’Keal Harry (knee) Q, TE Jonnu smith (shoulder) Q, LB Jamie Collins Sr. (ankle) Q, LB Kyle Van Noy (groin) Q, G Shaq Mason (abdomen) Q, CB Jalen Mills (thigh) Q, K Nick Folk (knee) Q, Dont’a Hightower (ankle) Q, Ja’Whaun Bentley Q, P Jake Bailey (knee) Q, RB Rhamondre Stevenson (concussion) Q, DT Byron Cowart (undisclosed) O, WR Gunner Olszewski (head) Q

Cleveland Browns Analysis

Can we please get a game with the full Cleveland Browns offense? It’s seemed like for the past month and a half this team has been a Frankenstein monster of different running backs, wide receivers, and even quarterbacks. Still, despite all this, they’ve kept their heads above water, and a lot of that credit should go to head coach Kevin Stefanski. If they can win on the road this week in hostile New England, the momentum could help them contend for the AFC Nort crown. 

I’m sure everyone’s sick of hearing about how QB Baker Mayfield is better without Odell Beckham Jr., so I’m going to skip that for now. Most importantly, Mayfield is coming off an efficient two-TD performance against the Bengals. However, he still only passed for 218 yards. Playing mistake-free ball is well and good, but he’s going to need to rack up yards, especially with his talented running back cupboard nearly depleted with RBs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt out of the lineup.

While it doesn’t get nearly enough publicity, the Cleveland defense has been spectacular this year. The team is ranked third in the league, allowing just 309.7 yards per game. The most impressive number on the year is the 27 sacks, thanks in big part to DE Myles Garrett. So far, Garrett is leading the team with 12 sacks, and opposing offenses should go above and beyond to keep him against the QB. Even when the offense sputters, Cleveland’s been able to rely on defense this season.

Cleveland Browns Depth Chart

QB: Baker Mayfield
RB1: D’Ernest Johnson 
RB2: Andy Janovich
WR1: Jarvis Landry
WR2: Rashard Higgins
WR3: Donovan Peoples-Jones
TE1: Austin Hooper

New England Patriots Analysis

The Pats were pretty difficult to analyze before the start of the season. Last year’s losing record still seems odd and led to plenty of questions about how this team can succeed without a Hall-of-Fame QB. However, they’ve got a legitimate chance to win the AFC East right now. The team’s on a three-game winning streak, and they’ve beaten some quality teams along the way. Will this week be the fourth win in a row? 

The offense has been good, not great, this season. Mac Jones doesn’t need to rip it up every week to win, although he’ll need to air it out to stay competitive. He’s got five games with less than 250 yards this season, and that doesn’t make me confident that he can put together a big drive when needed. Jones has been forging a great connection with tight end Hunter Henry recently, as the receiver has found the end zone five times this year. If Jones can keep this connection rolling and spread it out to his young receiver group, he could end up catching fire in the second half of the season. 

New England is fielding a top 10 defense this season, and that’s going to be essential as the season goes on. The team has an absolute stud in LB Matthew Judon, who has nine sacks on the year to go with 36 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. And, although the trading of Stephon Gilmore was a difficult one, the team still has talent in the secondary with CB J.C. Jackson and safeties Kyle Dugger and Adrian Phillips.

New England Patriots Depth Chart

QB: Mac Jones
RB1: Damien Harris
RB2: Brandon Bolden
WR1: Jakobi Myers
WR2: Nelson Algohor
WR3: Kendrick Bourne
TE1: Hunter Henry

Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots Daily Fantasy Picks

D’Ernest Johnson is a huge value this week. The running back is listed as just $4,700 on DraftKings, and a tremendous pick for your second runner this week. Johnson amassed 27.8 fantasy points the last time he was in the starting role, and he’s worth that price if he has even half that many points. Save some cash and score some points with Johnson.