As the Browns travel to New Orleans and kick off the second half of the season following their bye week, they will face a 3-7 Saints team who has endured some ups and downs over the course of the season.
The Saints, who are coming off a change to their head coach and a win over the Falcons in Week 10, present different challenges for the Browns on all three sides of the ball.
"Got to play sound football on all three sides of the ball," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Got to play complimentary football to go try to find a way to get a win versus a good football team."
Here are three keys to the Browns' Week 11 matchup against the Saints.
Limit offensive giveaways
The Browns and QB Jameis Winston must protect the ball and limit their giveaways against the Saints in Week 11.
The Saints excel at forcing takeaways this season, as they have 12 interceptions this season and three fumble recoveries. Their 12 interceptions are the fourth most in the NFL, while their turnover margin of +4 is tied for ninth in the NFL.
"They do a great job at taking the football away, they're aggressive," offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said. "I think the 'why' behind it is one: they've got, schematically, they create some issues in terms of post snap, doing some different things, showing looks and then running out and giving you different looks up front, especially on third down, I think that's one big thing. I think the other thing is they've got players who are effective at it. They've got aggressive safeties, physical corners that'll come up and press you and get hands on you. And I think that's the scheme of how they do things is really what they're taught. They're taught to be aggressive, and they're taught to play that way, and they do it effectively."
Through the first nine games of the season, the Browns have thrown eight interceptions and fumbled the ball nine times – losing four of those fumbles. They have a -7 turnover margin, tied for 28th in the league.
Winston threw three picks in Week 9 against the Chargers and knows the importance of making solid decisions to limit his turnovers.
"Everything in terms of every play is just off decisions," Winston said. "So, I'm assessing, like, how was the decision, right? A lot of situations can arise up in the game, but as long as the decision is right, then I'm building on it and I'm just eliminating the negative part."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the New Orleans Saints at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
A football during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelon Darden (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Pressure QB Derek Carr
The Browns defense will face another dynamic quarterback when they see QB Derek Carr at the helm of the Saints offense.
In their Week 10 win over the Falcons, Carr was efficient and explosive in the pass game. He completed 16 of 25 passes for 269 passing yards and two touchdowns. He did not throw an interception and had a 126.9 passer rating. The Browns pass rush will have a tough task in pressuring Carr and limiting those explosive plays.
This season, Carr has a 91.8 passer rating under pressure, which is sixth in NFL, throwing four touchdowns and two interceptions. He has thrown 18 passes of 20+ yards and six passes of 40+ yards this season, with his longest completion for 70 yards.
"He's a guy that has a great arm, he can challenge all parts of the field, he has tremendous confidence in throwing deep balls. I think he's an outstanding quarterback," defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said.
Restrict TE Taysom Hill
The Browns defense will face a multidimensional player on the Saints offense when TE Taysom Hill lines up on the line of scrimmage. While he's officially listed as a tight end, the Saints have been able to use Hill in a number of different ways and take advantage of his versatility on offense and special teams.
This season, Hill has recorded 27 carries for 130 yards and three touchdowns, as well as 10 receptions for 100 yards. He's also completed one pass for three yards and contributed on several special teams units.
"I got a lot of respect for that player. He's tough, he plays the game the way it should be played," Schwartz said. "You can't really put that guy in a box and say he's just a specialty quarterback or he's only a specialty tight end or whatever it is. I mean, don't hand him the ball in short yardage, they'll let him be the quarterback."
Beginning his NFL career as a quarterback, Hill took on special teams roles beginning in 2017. His usage all over the field began to increase and served on special teams, as a pass catcher, run threat and a quarterback over the course of his career.
Schwartz said when he was in Philadelphia, they faced Hill when he started at quarterback for the Eagles in 2021 and they saw how Hill can run the ball.
"He ran the whole offense. His threat as a runner, he can play running back, he can play tight end, he can play wide receiver," Schwartz said. "Multidimensional players like that make it a little bit hard to zero in on your game plan because you can't just say, when he goes in the game, he's a running back."
Over the course of his eight-year career, Hill has rushed for 2,289 yards on 425 carries and 30 touchdowns, as well as 856 receiving yards on 86 receptions and 11 touchdowns.
