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After a horrific Week 5 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Cleveland Browns are facing an essential must-win scenario this Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Browns are currently 2-3, and after playing the Seahawks, they will have a bye week before heading to Foxborough to battle the New England Patriots. So, the potential for Cleveland being 2-5 by the time Week 9 rolls around is there.
Clearly, the Browns really need to pick up a win to save their season, even in a weak AFC North division.
The problem is, Seattle is no joke, as Russell Wilson and Co. have gone 4-1 thus far.
Here are three keys for Cleveland to come away with a pivotal win this weekend.
3. Stuff the Run
Last year, the Seahawks were the top rushing team in the NFL. This season, they have been pretty ordinary, ranking 12th in the league in ground offense.
But that doesn't mean Seattle's ground attack isn't still dangerous.
Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny are a very solid tandem, and we know that Wilson can take off and run better than most quarterbacks in the NFL.
Given how well Wilson is throwing the football this year, it is absolutely crucial for the Browns to cut the Seahawks' run game off at the point of attack and prevent Carson and Penny from having big games.
It's also important to note that Carson and Penny are dealing with minor injuries, so they may not even be 100 percent on Sunday. That makes it all the more imperative for Cleveland to stuff the run.
2. Get Odell Beckham Jr. the Ball
Odell Beckham Jr. has caught just four passes over the last two weeks. That is not going to cut it.
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The Browns traded for Beckham during the offseason to make him their No. 1 receiver, but outside of a monster performance against the lowly New York Jets in Week 2, the 26-year-old has largely been held in check thus far.
Make no mistake: Cleveland is not going to experience the type of success it desires unless it gets Beckham the ball, and there really is no excuse for the Browns to not be doing that.
Beckham is far from their only weapon in the passing game, as Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, and Antonio Callaway all represent very viable options to prevent Beckham from seeing double teams.
Look for the Browns to try and get Beckham involved early and often against Seattle.
1. Protect Baker Mayfield
The offensive line was a strength of Cleveland's last year. Thus far this season, however, it has been less-than-stellar, as it has allowed Baker Mayfield to take 16 sacks, and when Mayfield isn't getting sacked, he is frequently under duress.
The good news for the Browns is that the Seahawks are not a great pass-rushing team, as they have totaled just 10 sacks on the year. That means there is no excuse for Cleveland to not provide Mayfield with adequate protection this weekend.
One of the biggest problems for Mayfield this season has been the fact that he hasn't had enough time to throw, which has resulted in him making more mistakes than he would like.
If the Browns' offensive line can keep Mayfield on his feet and in the pocket, their aerial attack should have some success against what has been a porous Seattle pass defense that ranks 26th in the NFL.
