Browns 1st and Goal Report: Can the Browns win on the road?

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1st and Goal: Can the Browns win one on the road?

The Cleveland Browns are favored to beat the New York Jets on Sunday. The game is being played in New York, and while Cleveland has a slightly better 2-6 record than the New York record af 1-7, there’s nothing guaranteed for the Browns and a victory. Cleveland hasn’t won a road game since Week 2 of the 2024 season, when the Browns beat the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

Both teams are coming off a bye week, and the Jets just traded away their best defensive players at the recent NFL trade deadline, so you’d think Cleveland would be in a great spot to win. However, this season has been disappointing to say the least, and the Browns’ offense is terrible. Their coach, Kevin Stefanski, finally gave up play-calling this season and is allowing new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees the opportunity to call plays. Maybe the offense will get a boost. We’ll find out Sunday.

2nd and Goal: QB Dillon Gabriel set to start again, but Shedeur Sanders will be ready

Dillon Gabriel is set to start the game against the Jets. But if he comes out firing duds again, where he is throwing five-yard passes or check-downs to the running backs or tight ends, then the other quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, will be ready to take over. 

There continues to be a divide amongst fans and analysts of the team on the two rookie quarterbacks. However, most fans haven’t seen anything from Gabriel in recent weeks that would suggest he is no more than a lifetime backup quarterback in the NFL.

With the Browns’ season unraveling as we speak, a lot more fans are ready to see what we have in Sanders. Maybe Sanders would give the dismal Cleveland offense a boost. At this point, the team has nothing to lose in moving on to Sanders. 

3rd and Goal: Paul Depodesta leaves

The “Moneyball Movie” guy, played by actor Jonah Hill, who’s been a part of the Browns organization for almost the past 10 years (hired by Brown in January of 2016 as their chief strategy officer), has left to become the new president of operations for the baseball team Colorado Rockies. 

While there’s been a lot of chatter on his departure from Cleveland in recent days, the negative reviews of his time here are really unfortunate. While Browns fans are frustrated with their team’s run of luck in recent years, blaming the chief strategy officer for that bad luck is a bit of a stretch.  

I wish the Moneyball guy the best of luck, and hopefully, he can help the Rockies be more successful in their future. 

4th and Goal: Oddsmakers favor the Browns

Despite the Browns not having beaten a team on the road in almost two seasons, they are favored in this one. Currently, they are 1.5 favorites. The over/under is at 37.5, so Vegas doesn’t trust either offense.

If the Browns’ defense decides to come to play, then Cleveland should have a good shot at victory. 

Gabriel is projected to throw for 180 yards, and if he throws two touchdowns, you could win on your bet as he’s listed as a +164 if he goes for those two scores.

At running back, new rookie Quinshon Judkins could have a solid game, and if he goes for more then 90 yards, you’d win some money as that bet is listed at +117 today.

Go Browns!