With four games to go in the 2024 season, the Browns are motivated to finish strong after starting with a 3-10 record.
Their first of four remaining opportunities to play winning football will come in Week 15, when they host the Chiefs, the back-to-back Super Bowl champions.
"A team that everyone expects to go back to the Super Bowl, they have a h* of a cast with two of the very best players in the league, if not three," DE Myles Garrett said. "So, we want to leave this year on a good note, with a good taste in our mouths with four straight wins and do what we need to."
As the Browns look to earn a home win over the Chiefs, here are three burning questions to consider ahead of their Week 15 matchup.
Can Jerry Jeudy exploit the Chiefs secondary?
Since QB Jameis Winston became the Browns starting quarterback in Week 8, WR Jerry Jeudy has 38 receptions for 678 yards and three touchdowns. At 944 total receiving yards this season, Jeudy is just 29 yards away from a new career-high and 56 yards away from his first 1,000-yard season.
"It would mean a lot, just because it's going to be my first 1,000-yard season. With a new team, first year, it's a great feeling," Jeudy said. "All the elite receivers hit 1,000 yards and I feel like I'm one of the receivers who can do that. And this year, I finally have the opportunity."
Throughout the season, Jeudy has displayed his ability to find holes in the secondary and create explosive plays. Through Week 14, Jeudy has caught seven passes that traveled 20 or more yards downfield for 292 yards and three touchdowns%2C%20per%20Pro%20Football%20Focus.&text=Because%20the%20Browns%20offense%20was,fewer%20passes%20that%20traveled%20deep.).
Jeudy will face a familiar opponent in Week 15, as the former Bronco will go against the Chiefs for the ninth time in his five-year career. Against the Chiefs, Jeudy has totaled 29 receptions for 307 yards and four touchdowns.
The Chiefs secondary has been susceptible to allowing explosive plays at times this season, allowing the 12th-most passing plays of 20 or more yards with 39 and the sixth-most passing plays of 40 or more yards with 8 through the first 13 games of the year.
Building on their continued connection and communication will be vital if Jeudy and Winston are to take advantage of the big plays the Chiefs secondary have allowed at times this season.
"I feel like Jameis does a great job and he's got a great feeling, and he does a great job of looking downfield with pressure on," Jeudy said. "He does a great job of giving people opportunities to make plays with the ball."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Kansas City Chiefs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Director of High Performance Shaun Huls during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Kicker Riley Patterson (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Tight end Tre' McKitty (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Kicker Riley Patterson (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Ashton Grant during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Kicker Riley Patterson (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Can the Browns create pressure against Mahomes?
Throughout the season, Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has emphasized the importance the pass rush plays in his scheme. Led by Garrett, who has the second-most sacks in the league with 11, the Browns defense has accounted for the highest quarterback pressure rate in the league at 38.8 percent.
Pressuring Mahomes will play an important part in the Browns' chances of beating the Chiefs. When not facing any pressure from the pass rush, Mahomes holds a 100.9 passer rating and has thrown 15 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. When under duress, Mahomes holds a 63.8 passer rating, the 26th in the league, and has thrown five touchdowns and four interceptions.
Schwartz said that he wants his defensive line to create more pressure in Week 15 than they have in their four games since their Week 10 bye week.
"Over the last maybe four or five games, we haven't done a good enough job of rushing the passer and creating pressure," Schwartz said. "I mean, Myles still sees a lot of the tricked-up schemes that he's always seen. But when teams take the approach of taking one player out, it just puts more of a spotlight on the other guys to go win those one-on-ones."
Since returning from the bye week, Garrett has four sacks in four games while the rest of the Browns defense have combined for just two. Depending on how the Chiefs choose to defend Garrett, other Browns on the defensive line, like DE Ogbo Okoronkwo or DE Isaiah McGuire, will need to contribute pressure on the other side of the offensive line.
McGuire, who saw an uptick in usage after the Browns traded DE Za'Darius Smith ahead of Week 10, has made big plays throughout the second half of the season. In Week 14 against the Steelers, McGuire knocked the ball out of QB Russell Wilson's hands to cause a fumble in the fourth quarter.
"He's still a young player and there's still improvements that he's making, but he's done a good job, particularly in the run game of creating some plays," Schwartz said. "(McGuire) has good size, he's got really good instincts, he's still a developing player. We look forward to him making plays for us going forward."
Can the Browns counter the Chiefs' fourth-quarter magic?
Of the Chiefs' 12 wins this season, 10 have been by one score. Mahomes has led seven game-winning drives in the fourth quarter this season as the Chiefs continue to find ways to win.
In their most recent win – Week 13 against the Chargers – the Chiefs took over possession with just over 4:35 left on the clock trailing 17-16. Mahomes chewed the entire clock, completing a key pass on third down in Chargers territory to set up a game-winning field goal as time expired.
"I think if you look at a lot of those comebacks, some of them are spurred by a great scramble," Schwartz said. "Some of them are spurred by just making an off-schedule play. Some of them are spurred by just ripping the ball down the field and taking what the defense gives him. I'm old enough to have seen Joe Montana do that stuff and all those different guys. […] Let's just put it this way, he's right up there with those guys."
While the Chiefs have excelled in late game situations, the Browns have struggled to make plays in the final moments of games this season.
The Browns are 3-4 in one score games this season. In three of their one-score losses, the offense had the ball in the fourth quarter with a chance to go ahead but failed to reach the end zone.
"(The Chiefs) find ways to win, man, and that's what we've been struggling with," S Grant Delpit said. "So, hopefully this good competition, a team like this, we can take advantage of it being a close game and finish it up at home."
