Cleveland @ Philadelphia preview
Lincoln Financial Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2023 ) Cleveland 18, Philadelphia 18
Two head coaches try to cool down their hot seats and two quarterbacks try to regain their successful form when the Cleveland Browns visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Fourth-year coach Nick Sirianni looks to improve to 4-0 after a bye week with the Eagles (2-2), who alternated wins and losses in September. Since losing six of their last seven games in last season's collapse, Philadelphia has yet to get back on track.
The Eagles are just 13-10 (including the postseason) since Sirianni and Jalen Hurts won the NFC Championship Game in their second season together in 2022. Hurts turned the ball over 28 times in those 23 games, including seven times (four interceptions, three fumbles) already this season.
Asked about the New York Jets' firing this week of head coach Robert Saleh, Sirianni said he isn't listening to the outside noise about his own job security.
"Anything out of your control or anything that consumes your mind that's not focused on not getting better is a waste of time," Sirianni said Wednesday. "It only clouds the process. ... If you're focused on things that you can't control, that's gonna cloud that hunger and drive to get better."
Philadelphia has been idle since a 33-16 defeat at Tampa Bay on Sept. 29. Playing without leading receivers A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion) and All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson (concussion), the Eagles quickly fell behind 24-0 and were outgained 445-227 by the Buccaneers.
Brown, Smith and Johnson practiced this week and are returning to action against the Browns (1-4), who are riding a three-game losing streak and playing their third consecutive road game.
The teams are meeting for the first time since 2020, a 22-17 home win by the Browns in head coach Kevin Stefanski's first season in Cleveland.
Stefanski is sticking with struggling signal-caller Deshaun Watson, who has more interceptions (12) than wins (nine) since the Browns gambled $230 million on a player who made three straight Pro Bowls with the Houston Texans from 2018-20.
"This is not a one-person type of deal," Stefanski said Monday. "When we're playing how we're playing on offense, we need everybody to do their job and do their job better. And I look at myself and how I can do that. But I believe in Deshaun, I believe in what he brings to this offense, and I believe he will play better."
In Watson's defense, he has been under constant pressure and sacked more times (26) than any other quarterback in the NFL this season. The Washington Commanders sacked him seven times in last weekend's 34-13 romp.
Stefanski bought more time in Cleveland with last season's late playoff push, engineered by 38-year-old backup Joe Flacco, but his overall record with the Browns is a middling 39-36 (including the postseason).
On Sunday, Watson takes aim at an Eagles defense that ranks 24th against the pass (237.0 yards per game) and has intercepted only one pass in its last 13 quarters.
Hurts and Saquon Barkley could find room to roam against a Browns defense that ranks 25th against the run (141.6 ypg) and has allowed eight rushing TDs.
Eagles receivers Johnny Wilson and Smith cleared concussion protocol and are available for Sunday's game. Brown missed the last three games after injuring his hamstring during practice before the game against the Atlanta Falcons. Every Eagles player practiced fully on Friday, including linebacker Nakobe Dean (ankle), who limited on Wednesday and Thursday.
Cleveland on Friday ruled out running backs Nick Chubb (knee) and Nyheim Hines (knee), safeties Grant Delpit (concussion) and Ronnie Hickman (ankle), offensive tackle James Hudson III (shoulder) and center Ethan Pocic (knee).
The Browns listed cornerback Denzel Ward (hamstring), linebackers Jordan Hicks (ankle) and Mohamoud Diabate (hip) and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (elbow, triceps) as questionable against the Eagles.
--Field Level Media