CLEVELAND, Ohio — It’s an international affair for the Cleveland Browns this weekend, as they prepare to take on the Minnesota Vikings in London on Sunday.
The game will kick off from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Dillon Gabriel will get his first shot to start at quarterback and Cleveland will look to him to provide a spark for the offense — and hopefully ride the stellar play of Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward and the No. 1 defense of the league in terms of total yards allowed.
Here are several key storylines for the game, as well as predictions on how I think each will go.
The Browns D-line vs. the Vikings O-line
The Browns D-line has been aggressive all season and has also finally gotten consistent interior pressure thanks to Mason Graham and Maliek Collins.
The Vikings O-line, however, is in shambles.
The Vikings on Friday ruled out starting center Ryan Kelly (concussion), backup center Michael Jurgens (hamstring), right tackle Brian O’Neill (knee) and left guard Donovan Jackson (wrist).
As a result, they will move guard Blake Brandel — who would have started for Jackson — to center, a position Brandel told reporters earlier this week that he has never played in a game.
Undrafted rookie Joe Huber is reportedly expected to start at left guard, while Justin Skule will start at right tackle. Skule started two games earlier this season at left tackle in place of Christian Darrisaw, who returned to the lineup in Week 3, working his way back from the knee injury he suffered last season.
Prediction: The Browns have an undisputed edge here.
On top of the injuries, Carson Wentz holds onto the ball long, something Garrett pointed out on Friday when he spoke with reporters at the team’s practice.
“He’s known to be a playmaker,” Garrett said. “You know, he wants to make that big play and it’s not a bad thing. You want that as an offense. But in opposition to that, he does take sacks because he does hold on to the ball.”
Not only do I expect at least three sacks from this line, I think it will be the deciding factor in the game.
Can Cleveland play clean football?
Turnovers have been the bane of the Browns’ existence in the first four games of the season, and they are currently tied for the league-worst mark with eight.
Joe Flacco had three giveaways in last week’s loss to the Lions with two picks and a lost fumble.
So can Gabriel reverse that trend?
Prediction: Gabriel isn’t the same kind of gunslinger as Flacco, but he’s going against a defense that has had some takeaway success this season.
The Vikings are tied for fourth in the league, with the defense having caused seven turnovers.
Gabriel is a good processor, according to the Browns, and I think offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and Kevin Stefanski will scheme up plays that will help ensure Gabriel takes care of the football.
Even though he’s a rookie, from everything we’ve seen from him — including preseason poise — I think he will play a clean game.
Can the Browns’ pass game look revitalized?
No. 1 receiver Jerry Jeudy and Flacco were never able to get anything going in this offense.
Can Gabriel turn the tide?
Jeudy — who made his first Pro Bowl and had his first 1,000-yard season in 2024 — has caught just 13 passes for 182 yards and has no touchdowns in Cleveland’s first four games. He’s tied for second in the NFL with four drops.
The Browns offense as a whole has been stagnant, averaging only 14 points per game (31st) and 279.8 yards (27th).
Prediction: I believe the Browns made the QB switch with the hope that this part of their game will turn around — and fast.
Jeudy has been close to some big plays (including on the downfield drop he had last week against the Lions, and a route on which he tripped and Flacco threw one of his picks).
Even though the Browns have had O-line issues, receivers struggling to get open, and really lacking a run game in the opening week of the season, sometimes a QB change is enough to create a spark here.
I’m predicting a season-high in receiving yards for Jeudy in this game.
My pick
I think this is going to be a weird game and the neutral site will only add to it.
But I do think the Browns’ D-line is going to take advantage and win them this game against a depleted Vikings offense.
I’m going Browns 19-15.
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