After a Monday night win on the road, the Browns return home Sunday for another primetime game. This time, the opponent carries a sparkling resume.
The defending NFC champion Los Angeles Rams come to town for a big Week 3 game in front of a national audience. To add to the challenge, the Browns are going to be without a few key players in a week in which the injury report resembled a large family's grocery list by Friday.
Here are the three key ingredients that will help produce a winning mix for the Browns on Sunday night.
1. Force turnovers
The injury report puts the Browns at a slight disadvantage, but they are not at all doomed. They'll just need to force some mistakes to tilt the field in their advantage.
The most bountiful of mistakes is a takeaway, and the Browns will need to record a couple of these in order to maximize their chances of success. Pressuring Jared Goff is key, but so is playing tight coverage. They'll need to play complementary defense, a key focus of defensive coordinator Steve Wilks since he's arrived, and hope that their stellar front four can cause Goff to deposit a throw or two into the arms of a Browns defender.
Remember Mack Wilson's interception-heavy preseason? He's expected to play this week in place of Christian Kirksey, who was placed on injured reserve Saturday with a chest injury. Perhaps No. 51 comes down with another turnover and gives the offense great field position. These types of plays will be necessary to score the upset at home.
2. Play disciplined football
Rams head coach Sean McVay is a master of creating mismatches and confusion at the line of scrimmage with a variety of motion and pre-snap looks. He'll do plenty of this Sunday night.
The key for the Browns: Don't fall for the traps.
Cleveland will need to play disciplined, sound fundamental football in order to both avoid penalties and also prevent the big play from happening. That means sticking to gap responsibility, run fits and maintaining contain. Forcing the Rams to take the short gain might help Los Angeles in the time of possession battle, but it will also lessen their chances of putting up plenty of points. A low-scoring game is one the Browns will want.
Check out photos from the three times the Browns have hosted Sunday Night Football since 1999

Fireworks explode over Cleveland Browns Stadium as the Cleveland Browns return to the NFL with their season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Sept. 12, 1999 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown, center, walks onto the field for the coin toss with actors Dennis Quaid, left, and Charles Dutton, right, before an NFL football game between the Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Cleveland Browns fans dressed as the rock band, Kiss, party near the stadium before the Browns season opener with the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Sept. 12, 1999. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Dennis Northcutt (86) catches a long pass in front of Baltimore Ravens defender Gary Baxter in the third quarter Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Harrison breaks a tackle during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson (3) fires a pass during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Cleveland Browns players take the field for the team's first regular season game in three years Sunday, Sept. 12, 1999 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Cleveland Browns head coach Chris Palmer, left, goes over strategy with quarterback Ty Detmer (11) before the Browns first offensive series against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Sept. 12, 1999 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Cleveland Browns fan Tom Tomasheski sits in stunned silence as the Browns lose to the Baltimore Ravens 26-21 Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002, in Cleveland. Cleveland entered the fourth quarter down 23-0, but their comeback fell short. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Comedian Drew Carey introduces the Cleveland Browns before they take the field in their home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Sept. 12, 1999 in Cleveland. The Steelers spoiled Cleveland's party with a 43-0 thrashing. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

A denizen of the "Dawg Pound" at Cleveland Browns Stadium cheers as the team takes the field in it's home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Sept. 12, 1999. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis (31) is stopped by Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers James Farrior (51) and Larry Foote (50) during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
3. Ride the home crowd
Sunday night promises to be energetic. The national stage, the thrill of night football along the lake, and the halftime Ring of Honor induction of Clay Matthews will have Browns fans riled up. The players need to take their cue.
Every NFL player is motivated for a game, but there's something special about one under the lights. The fans brought it in Week 1, arriving early and remaining loud for the majority of the contest. As defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson said Friday, "the crowd was good the last time we were there, we just blew it."
The energy of another riled-up Browns crowd in an important early-season game could help propel the team to a big win — as long as they keep their composure.