Cleveland (3-8) is set to face off against Denver (7-5) on Monday Night Football, starting at 8:15 PM EST on ESPN.
According to BetMGM, the Broncos are favored by 5.5 points in this matchup. When it comes to covering the spread, the Browns have a record of 4-7 while the Broncos stand at 9-3. Historically, the series has been dominated by Denver, which leads with a record of 25-7 against Cleveland. The last encounter between the two teams took place on November 26, 2023, where Denver came out victorious with a score of 29-12.
In their last games, Cleveland secured a win over the Steelers with a score of 24-19, while Denver defeated the Raiders, finishing 29-19 in their favor.
Looking at the offensive stats, the Browns currently rank 29th overall, including 29th in rushing yards, 21st in passing yards, and 30th in scoring. Their defense holds the 21st position overall, ranking 24th against the run, tied for 15th against the pass, and 22nd in scoring defense. Meanwhile, the Broncos’ offense ranks 23rd in total yards, with 23rd in rush yards, 22nd in pass yards, and 22nd in scoring. On the defensive side, Denver shines with a 3rd overall ranking, 6th against the run, 9th against the pass, and also 3rd in scoring defense. This marks a notable difference in turnover differentials, with the Browns sitting at minus-7 while the Broncos are at plus-2.
A standout player for the Browns to watch is wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy, who was a first-round pick for Denver in 2020 before being traded to Cleveland in March, has been putting up impressive numbers lately. He has made 19 receptions over the past three games, showing strong chemistry with quarterback Jameis Winston. Since Week 8, Jeudy has averaged an impressive 94.8 receiving yards per game.
On the Broncos’ side, wide receiver Courtland Sutton is a player to keep an eye on. Sutton has emerged as a reliable target, recording over 70 receiving yards in five consecutive games. Last week, he enjoyed a breakout performance with two touchdown catches from rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who has been quickly developing into a significant contributor.
A key matchup will be between Browns cornerback Denzel Ward and Courtland Sutton. Ward, a three-time Pro Bowler, may be experiencing his best season yet, leading the NFL in passes defended with a total of 17. His challenge will be containing Sutton, who has amassed 36 receptions for 467 yards in his last five outings.
In terms of injuries, the Browns are dealing with a few key issues. Wide receiver Cedric Tillman remains in concussion protocol, left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) has missed the previous two games, and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck) continues to be sidelined on injured reserve without a clear return timeline. For the Broncos, defensive end Zach Allen is nursing a heel injury that kept him out of last week’s game, and cornerback Riley Moss is managing a knee issue from the Raiders matchup.
Historically, the Broncos have enjoyed success against the Browns, inflicting some unforgettable moments in Cleveland’s sports history with play-defining events like “The Fumble” and “The Drive” during the AFC championship games in the late 1980s. The Browns have struggled in recent visits to Denver, going just 1-7 in their last eight matchups at Mile High Stadium.
The statistics suggest that the Browns come into the game well-rested after their notable snow win against the Steelers last Thursday. Even though their playoff chances are slim, Cleveland has the potential to disrupt the Broncos’ hopes as the season progresses. Since taking over as the starter, Winston carries a record of 2-2 and has averaged 295.8 passing yards since Week 8, trailing only behind Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow. Winston attributes his success to the time spent under Broncos coach Sean Payton in New Orleans. In their latest game, running back Nick Chubb made a return with two touchdown runs against the Steelers, while defensive end Myles Garrett significantly influenced the game with three sacks, solidifying his stance for repeating as the AP Defensive Player of the Year. He is close to reaching the milestone of 100 career sacks and has maintained a streak of at least 10 sacks for seven consecutive seasons.
Cleveland’s performance on Monday Night Football reads 18-19, while the Broncos are also closer to a winning record for the first time since the beginning of the 2021 season. Quarterback Bo Nix recently set a rookie record for the Denver team with 16 touchdown passes and has achieved three consecutive games with over 200 passing yards alongside multiple touchdown throws. Kicker Wil Lutz has also made headlines, scoring a career-high 17 points in a game against the Raiders, hitting five field goals and two extra points.
For fantasy football enthusiasts, the Broncos’ defense presents a solid option, as they rank among the top seven in four critical defensive categories and have held opponents under 20 points eight times this season, contrasting sharply with the Browns, who have managed to score 20 or more points only twice all year.