Sobering defeat
Last week's loss was quite sobering for the Cleveland Browns. They were 9-3 entering a divisional rivalry with Baltimore Ravens, but got defeated by the arch rival yet again. They allowed whooping 47 points in this defeat, to a team that doesn't even throw the ball that well. It is definitely a wake up call for their defense. If they don't get their act together soon, they'll be nothing more then one and done in the playoffs.
Luckily for them, defense could get one of their best players back in time for this game. I am talking about Denzel Ward, who was injured for quite some time, leaving their defense without a true No.1 corner on the outside. Offense on the other hand seems to be clicking at the moment. They needed some time to completely get a full grasp of Kevin Stefanski's system, but now they are playing on a pretty good level. Baker Mayfield managed to get his numbers up, using play-action pass, that is beautifully set up by their strong running back duo, Nick Chubb & Kareem Hunt.
Opportunity for McCoy again
On the other side, we have another team that is coming out of a loss. The New York Giants are still in the race for divisional title, even though they are only 5-8 at the moment! Yes, you heard it right. They are just one win behind Washington that is in the lead, but will play this week without Alex Smith, who managed this offense so well this season. Unfortunately for the Giants, they as well have an issue at the most important position in the game. Daniel Jones is out of this game and will be replaced by Colt McCoy again.
When I say again, I'm referring to McCoy's start two weeks ago in Seattle, when they shocked the Seahawks with a low scoring 17-12 win. Because of that, I'm not really sure if this is a significant downgrade. McCoy is an experienced journeyman, that nobody really viewed as more than a backup in his career. But he several times showed that he's a capable quarterback that can win games, when called upon. A Bigger problem could be the absence of the cornerback James Bradberry. He is on a covid list and will most likely not be cleared for the game. He played really good so far this season and was one of the cornerstones for this defense. His absence will be welcomed by the Brown's outside receivers.
Giants vs Browns betting tips
To be honest, I'm not completely sure where this one is going. Giants could quite possibly rally around Colt McCoy as they did in Seattle. And show a good effort, motivated by their chances of finding themselves in the playoffs. But on the other hand, they also might get mauled by that physical front of the Browns and their running game. And Myles Garrett & Co. could be too much to handle for New York's shaky OL.
Where I do see some opportunity for good bets are player props. Every quarterback has some tendencies of where he likes to go with the ball. Vs Seattle, McCoy mostly worked the middle, with his top three receivers being a tight end and two slot WR's. Saying that, I like Darius Slayton under 2.5 receptions in this spot. His form is in decline. McCoy doesn't throw outside that much and he could see Denzel Ward quite a lot which would be a very tough match-up
Also, don't forget to check out our new feature for comparing outright odds. These two opponents are both part of the NFC conference. Odds for winning it can be found with this link: https://theplayer.com/odds/american-football/usa/nfl/nfl-nfc-conference-winner
