The Call
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Picks drop the day before kickoff
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The Wire
CLE @ NO · odds in decimalLoading events...
Cleveland Browns vs New Orleans Saints Game Preview
Cleveland and New Orleans present an unusual drive-efficiency paradox. The Browns rank at the 53rd percentile on early downs but near the absolute bottom in third-down conversion (9th percentile) and red zone touchdowns (6th percentile), a team that moves the ball and then stalls. A 0th-percentile sack rate allowed adds a pass protection crisis on top of those finishing problems.
New Orleans operates in reverse: the Saints struggle on early downs (19th percentile) but convert third downs at an 84th-percentile rate and finish in the red zone at a 97th-percentile clip. The Saints' pass rush ranks at the 66th percentile, pointing directly at Cleveland's protection issues as the game's central structural tension.
Check back the day before the game for the full preview and picks.
Cleveland Browns vs New Orleans Saints Key Insights
- New Orleans's pass rush (66th pctl sack rate generated) against Cleveland's historically poor pass protection (0th pctl sack rate allowed), the most severe protection mismatch of the week
- New Orleans's elite drive-finishing ability (97th pctl red zone TD rate, 84th pctl third-down conversion) if the Saints can sustain possessions despite early-down inefficiency
- Cleveland's turnover generation (58th pctl) as the Browns' most viable path to disrupting a New Orleans offense that converts at elite rates once it gets moving
Key Players
Passing YardsCLE
Deshaun Watson
1,806YDS
163/249, 7 TD, 3 INTQB
Rushing YardsCLE
Quinshon Judkins
342YDS
101 CAR, 3 TDRB
Receiving YardsCLE
Harold Fannin Jr.
411YDS
35 REC, 3 TDTE
SacksCLE
Mason Graham
4SACKS
DT
TacklesCLE
Carson Schwesinger
74TOT
LB
Passing YardsNO
Tyler Shough
1,721YDS
183/273, 13 TD, 6 INTQB
Rushing YardsNO
Kendre Miller
159YDS
57 CAR, 2 TDRB
Receiving YardsNO
Chris Olave
636YDS
49 REC, 2 TDWR
SacksNO
Chase Young
7SACKS
DE
TacklesNO
Pete Werner
54TOT
LB
Recent Form
Cleveland Browns
W27-24Pittsburgh Steelers
L17-12New York Jets
W13-10Baltimore Ravens
W27-24Tennessee Titans
L27-6Pittsburgh Steelers
New Orleans Saints
L35-27Las Vegas Raiders
L45-24Atlanta Falcons
L23-13Minnesota Vikings
W34-27New York Giants
L16-10Pittsburgh Steelers
Early look at Cleveland Browns vs New Orleans Saints. Full preview and picks land the day before the game.
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