The Browns are headed back to primetime for the second consecutive week, as they take on the Broncos on Monday Night Football.
They are coming off an important win over the Steelers in Week 12, in which they defeated their division rival 24-19 on Thursday Night Football. Now, as they travel out West for Week 13 against the Broncos, they are looking to build off that win.
Here are three keys to Monday's game against the Broncos.
Protect QB Jameis Winston
The Browns offensive line has another tough task in protecting QB Jameis Winston, as the Broncos lead the league in total sacks this season at 44. They apply pressure to opposing quarterbacks and spread around the ability to bring down the quarterback, as 14 different players have recorded at least half a sack this season. LB Nik Bonitto leads the Broncos with 10 sacks and is tied for third in the league with DE Myles Garrett.
Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said Denver's defense is aggressive not only in their style of play, but also individuals who make up their front seven and the secondary.
"They've got a lot of guys who can rush the passer," Dorsey said. "When you look at it, it's not just one guy, it's multiple guys, both on the outside and inside. And then (defensive coordinator Vance Joseph) does a great job getting him in position to do that and creating matchups, creating opportunities for those guys. Whether it's the front variations, whether it's the different pressure variations and things like that. And then obviously, I think that pass rush allows those outside guys to be extremely effective as well."
As an offensive line, LG Joel Bitonio said the Broncos defensive line rushes well together as a unit. Their defensive ends collapse the pocket and get around the edge, while their interior rush the pocket well. As an offensive line, Bitonio said they have to be fundamentally sound.
"It's a good test for us," Bitonio said. "They've done a good job working together and making plays."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Denver Broncos at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Assistant Special Teams Coach Stephen Bravo-Brown and Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) and Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Offensive tackle Michael Dunn (68) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Center Cameron Tom (64) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Marcus Haynes (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Monty Gibson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Marcus Haynes (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive tackle Jowon Briggs (97) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Cover WR Courtland Sutton and WR Marvin Mims Jr.
The Browns secondary will face a talented receiving corps when they take on the Broncos, one that brings a level of size they have to prepare for in coverage.
Their receiving corps is led by WR Courtland Sutton, who is QB Bo Nix's top target with 95 targets this season. Yet, WR Marvin Mims Jr. has also had an increased role in their offense. Sutton has 57 receptions for 744 receiving yards and five touchdowns this season, while Mims has 16 receptions for 162 receiving yards and one touchdown.
"If he's covered, he's still open," defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said of Sutton. "That's the way their offense looks at it. And I think Sutton is sort of the same way. Nix will put it up to him and just give him a chance. But not just him, all their wide receivers, he has a lot of trust in that they can go up and make those kinds of plays."
Both Sutton and Mims present challenges for the secondary, and Schwartz said the Broncos receiving corps has the height, length and strength that allows them to be successful.
"I think they're dangerous on deep balls, particularly (Courtland) Sutton, just because they're so strong and go over the top," Schwartz said. "But Mims is a unique challenge — punt return kind of stuff, they use him in a lot of different ways. Put him in the backfield at times, line him up all over the place and they use him in a specialty package, plus, just as a normal wide receiver, a little different skill set than the other guys. We'll be on the lookout when he comes in the game."
Win one-on-one matchups with CB Pat Surtain II
The Browns receiving corps will also have a tough one-on-one matchup in CB Pat Surtain II as they try to move the ball downfield. Dorsey complimented the talent level of the Broncos secondary as a unit and noted how that level of their defense presents a challenge in the pass game. Surtain has recorded three interceptions for 128 yards, one interception returned for a touchdown, eight passes defensed, 27 tackles and one tackle for loss.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski called him "the prototype" of corners. His size, strength, speed, quickness, athleticism and ball skills help him stand out as a top corner in the league and make him a difficult matchup. Surtain typically follows the top receiver in coverage, which Stefanski said they have noted, but will be prepared for any changes on Monday night.
"Obviously, (Pat) Surtain II is a very, very good corner. We played him last year, know how talented he is," Stefanski said. "But they have a bunch of guys in that back end that can produce, that can tackle, that can make plays on the ball. They're sound, they can pressure you, they can play coverage. Rush and coverage go together and they're doing a very, very good job."
