Detroit Lions vs. Cleveland Browns Matchup Preview (11/21/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

Detroit Lions vs. Cleveland Browns Matchup Preview (11/21/21)

In week 11 from the home of Motown, the Detroit Lions travel to the birthplace of rock n’ roll, Cleveland, Ohio to play the Browns.  Detroit is coming off a 16-16 tie against Pittsburgh in week 10, putting their record at 0-8-1.  The Lions Dan Campbell is still searching for his first win as Detroit’s head coach, but the good news is he won’t be the first coach to go 0-17 in a season.   The Browns enter week 11 after being destroyed by the Patriots 45-7, in week 10.  The loss was extremely disappointing as the Browns had 253 yards of total offense and gave up 283 yards on the ground to the Patriots.  This is a talented yet inconsistent team finding themselves in last place in the AFC North with a 5-5 record.  

Detroit Lions vs. Cleveland Browns Betting Odds

The Browns are a 10-point home favorite, which is surprising since their quarterback is injured and they’re coming off a game allowing 45 points.  The Lions are 5-4 against the spread this season; 0-4-1 on the road.  Cleveland is averaging 23.1 points per game, 18^th in the league and Detroit is averaging 16.7 points per game, ranking them 29^th in the NFL.  Both starting quarterbacks suffered injuries in week 10 and who’ll be under center for each team on Sunday is unknown at least for the Lions.  The battle of former number one picks could instead be a dual between David Blough/Tim Boyle and Case Keenum, as of mid-week Baker Mayfield was still listed as the starter.  Who’ll be the quarterback for the winless Lions come Sunday?  Can Kevin Stefanski design a low-risk offense that Baker Mayfield, if he plays execute successfully to get the ball to his playmakers?

My Prediction: Lions get their first win of the season 20-17, Browns do not cover and under the over/under set at 43.5 points.

TV Schedule

Date: November 21st, 2021
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Location: FirstEnergy Stadium – Cleveland, OH
TV Coverage: FOX

Detroit Lions vs. Cleveland Browns Live Stream

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Detroit Lions Analysis

Quarterback Jared Goff acquired in the Matthew Stafford trade this off-season triggers the Lions offense.  Against the Steelers, Goff was 14-25 for 114 yards without a touchdown and interception while being sacked four times.  As a Lion, the former number one overall pick in 2016 has thrown for 2,109 yards, eight touchdowns, six interceptions with a 66.1 completion percentage in nine games this season.  He’s also been sacked 26 times, losing a league leading 219 yards in the process.  With 115 career touchdown passes, Goff has averaged 1.5 touchdown passes per game; this season he’s averaging 0.8 touchdown passes per game. I wonder if he’ll be one and done in Detroit and the Lions will simply start over at quarterback.  The Cal-Berkley product suffered an oblique injury in week 10 and was held out of practice on Wednesday; his status for Sunday is questionable.  If he is unable to play, either David Blough or Tim Boyle; currently on IR will be under center against the Browns.  Blough has thrown for 1,033 yards and four touchdowns in seven appearances in his NFL career.  Boyle who was once Aaron Rodgers backup with the Green Bay Packers has thrown four passes in his NFL career.

The Detroit running attack is averaging 108.2 yards per game.  D’Andre Swift carried the load for the Lions in the game vs. the Steelers.  The Georgia product had his second 100-yard rushing game, finishing the contest with 130 yards.  He’s leading the Lions in rushing this season with 419 yards on 123 carries and three scores this season; averaging 46.6 yards per game.  In the tie to the Steelers the Lions totaled 229 yards rushing; Godwin Igwebuike had a 42-yard touchdown run and Jermar Jefferson added a 28-yard touchdown scamper, contributing to the ground game.  Jamaal Williams who’s started seven games in 2021 but was out with a thigh injury in week 10, has 71 carries for 312 yards and two touchdowns: averaging 4.4 yards a carry.  

The Lions’ defense is allowing 379.8 yards per game which is 28^th in the league this season.  Ranked fifth in the NFL in run defense Detroit is allowing 94.7 rushing yards a game.  Linebacker Charles Harris is leading the team in sacks with four.  He also has 20 solo tackles, four tackles for loss and six quarterback hits.   Starting nine games this season, linebacker Alex Anzalone leads the team with 57 combined tackles (37 solo and 20 assists).  He also has a sack, interception, and a tackle for loss in 2021.  The secondary is led by Amani Oruwariye who has a team leading three interceptions on the season.

Detroit Lions Depth Chart

QB: Jared Goff
RB1: D’Andre Swift
RB2: Jamaal Williams
WR1: Amon-Ra St. Brown
WR2: Kalif Raymond
WR3: Khadarel Hodge
TE1: T.J. Hockenson
TE2: Brock Wright

Cleveland Browns Analysis

Baker Mayfield tore his labrum in his non-throwing shoulder in week 2, he’s also battling left foot soreness and a right knee contusion that knocked him out of the game against the Patriots in the third quarter in week 10.  In statements to the media on Wednesday, Mayfield said he’s still planning on playing against the Lions.  These injuries certainly have contributed to his roller coaster season.  The 2017 Heisman Trophy winner was 11-21 for 73 yards in the embarrassing loss to New England.  He averaged a season-low 3.5 yards per passing attempt against the Patriots.  On the season, Mayfield has been inconsistent, throwing for 1,990 yards, nine touchdowns, four interceptions with a 65.4 completion percentage.  At times the fourth-year quarterback has overthrown receivers, thrown into double coverage, or has simply made bad reads.  Is he worth $40 million dollars a year?  This is a question that will follow the Browns for at least the rest of the season.  The former number one overall pick in 2018 currently ranks 25^th in the NFL with a 42.9 QBR.  At times he looks like a franchise quarterback, but other times he looks like the second coming of failed former first round, first overall pick Tim Couch.

The supremely talented Browns defense is allowing 363.8 yards per game this season ranking them in the bottom half of the NFL.  Cleveland leads the league in sacks with 29.  Myles Garrett has 13 sacks this season to lead the NFL.  He has the second-best pass-rush grade through 10 weeks this season at 92.6 per PFF.   The first overall pick in 2017 has at least 0.5 sacks in eight straight games, the longest streak by a Browns player since at least 1982; when sacks became an official stat.  Starting all nine game this season, Jadeveon Clowney has 3.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss and 12 quarterback hits.   The first overall pick in the 2014 draft is having his best season since his 2018.  Per PFF, Garrett and Clownery are third in the NFL in total pressures among pass-rush duos with 84.  

Cleveland Browns Depth Chart

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

Detroit Lions vs. Cleveland Browns Daily Fantasy Picks

Detroit’s tight end T.J. Hockenson is second on the team in receptions with 48 and leads the team with 448 receiving yards; he also has two touchdowns on the season. He’s a player that will be mentioned in the same category as Travis Kelce and George Kittle in the future.  Hockenson has been targeted 32 times the last four weeks and with the possibility of Blough or Boyle starting, he could be their security blanket.

Nick Chubb is the Browns leading rusher with 721 yards in seven games this season, but he has been out due to COVID-19 but might play this weekend.  I’d keep Chubb on the bench with his status up in the air.  Kareem Hunt the Browns second leading rusher with 361 yards has already been ruled out for the game against Detroit.  D’Ernest Jackson could be an option if you need a player to fill the flex spot on your roster.  Against the Patriots, Jackson making his second career starts ran for 99 yards on 19 attempts and added another 58 yards receiving.  In two starts this season, he’s run for 245 yards and a touchdown; averaging 6 yards a carry.