The Browns return home for one of their final two home games of the season at Huntington Bank Field when they host the Chiefs in Week 15.
While the Browns have been eliminated from playoff contention, and the defending two-time Super Bowl champions come to town with a 12-1 record, there is still much to play for in the matchup.
"It's tough because we're not in the playoffs but every time you go out on the field, it's a blessing to play in this league," LG Joel Bitonio said. "If we can go out there and compete with them and beat them, I think it just shows that the guys are still bought in, the guys are still fighting for that pride."
Here are three keys to Sunday's Week 15 matchup against the Chiefs.
Get stops on third down situations
The Chiefs excel in converting third down situations this season. They lead the league in third down conversion percentage this season, converting 93 of 179 – or 52 percent – of their third down situations.
Defensively, the Browns allow just 35.9 percent on third down conversions this season, which ranks 11th in the league. They have only given up 61 third down conversions and forced teams into three-and-out situations over the course of the season.
"We're going to have to rely a lot on our pass rush to make sure the plays can't get extended and work in combinations of zone, man and pressures," Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. "But that's a huge matchup in this game is the ability to win on third down and they've done a good job all season."
Schwartz said their success in third downs starts with QB Patrick Mahomes and his ability to find spots in zone coverage, and his accuracy and quickness in throwing the ball in man coverage.
Yet, it extends past Mahomes to his pass catchers – particularly TE Travis Kelce. Schwartz said Kelce brings athletic ability and instinctiveness to find spots in zones.
"There's a lot of plays that, the route was drawn up a little bit different, but he'll see a spot in zone, and he'll set down in that spot," Schwartz said. "Like, the call actually sort of took care of the pass, but it didn't account for Kelce just seeing what the quarterback saw and sitting down in zone. So, it just puts a lot of pressure along the way."
Protect QB Jameis Winston from pressure
The Chiefs are tied for 25th in the league in sacks this season, with 27 sacks for a loss of 153 yards. Yet, they can still bring pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Chiefs pass rush is 22nd in pressure rate at 32 percent this season, totaling 158 pressures, per Next Gen Stats.
"They do a great job creating pressures, whether it's through blitzing or through getting elite players matched up one-on-one," offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said.
Their pass rush is led by DT Chris Jones, who has a 10.0 percent pressure rate this season, with 47 total pressures, per Next Gen Stats. His pressure rate is the third-best among pass rushers with 400 or more pass rush attempts.
Dorsey said Jones brings a unique ability on the inside because of how he can move around, and the Chiefs create matchups for him against opposing offenses.
"You got to be on top of it in terms of picking things up, and protecting, and the quarterback having a good time clocking his head and being decisive with it, and guys going and getting open," Dorsey said. "Because those presser packages, they give you different looks and I'm sure they'll have un-scouted things that they haven't shown, and you got to have base rules that will hold up and be able to protect those things because they are aggressive, and they do a good job with it."
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.
Find the balance of run and pass game
The Chiefs run defense has excelled this season in stopping the run, as they only allow an average of 88.3 net rushing yards per game – ranked third in the league. On the flip side, they allow 221.8 net passing yards per game, which ranks 20th in the NFL.
This season, the Browns have found more success in the pass game – especially since QB Jameis Winston took over at the helm of the offense. They average 224.5 net passing yards per game – which ranks 15th in the league. The run game has struggled, as the Browns average 88.5 net rushing yards per game – 30th in the NFL.
Yet, Dorsey said in facing the Chiefs, they have to still have to be able to run the football and throw the ball – knowing that some games may take on their own life as the game progresses.
"You want to make sure to constantly give yourself that ability to stay balanced and play in the green, play in positive scenarios and be able to use the sticks to your advantage," Dorsey said. "So, we got to be able to do that, both run and pass, and be efficient on first and second down, which is going to help you on third down and then hopefully skip some of those third downs. So, whether it's running the ball or throwing the ball, obviously they do a good job. They've got a tough front to run against and then they do a good job with getting in your face and disrupting the pass game. So, execution is definitely at a premium and that's through knowing what to do, how to do it with great technique."
