Cleveland Browns (2-6) at Atlanta Falcons (5-3)
KICKOFF: Sunday, 1:00 ET
GAMEDATE: 11/12/06
SURFACE: FieldTurf
TV: CBS, Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
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SERIES: 12th meeting. The Browns lead the series 9-2. The
Browns and Falcons have met only one time since 1993 in a game won by the Browns
24-16 in 2002.
2006 rankings: Browns: offense 29th (31st rush, 25th pass);
defense 17th (29th rush, 6th pass). Falcons: offense 9th (1st rush, 30th pass);
defense 22nd (12th rush, 31st pass)
PREDICTION: Falcons 27-23
KEYS TO THE GAME: It's no secret that the Falcons will
attempt to pound away at the Browns, who are allowing 142.9 rushing yards per
game and 4.8 yards per carry. Cleveland was torched for 190 yards by the
league's No. 2 rushing attack in San Diego last weekend and must do a better job
of plugging the gaps against the Falcons' top-ranked running game averaging
205.1 yards per game. SS Sean Jones will have to help in run support, meaning FS
Brian Russell will often be the last line of defense when QB Michael Vick
attempts to burn the Browns over-playing the run. Offensively, the Browns are
still seeking improved line play to help keep QB Charlie Frye upright. The
Falcons have had coverage issues, but Frye can't exploit them unless given time,
and he has to get rid of the ball before taking unnecessary sacks that kill
drives.
FAST FACTS: Browns: Rookie LB Kamerion Wimbley leads the
team with 4.5 sacks. ... Have won seven of the past eight meetings. Falcons: Are
8-2 against the AFC under coach Jim Mora. ... Rookie RB Jerious Norwood leads
the NFL with 268 fourth-quarter rushing yards.
PERSONNEL NEWS
Browns:
--TE Kellen Winslow continues to be listed as questionable on the weekly
injury report, but come game time Winslow shows up. He has 51 catches, the
highest total in the league for a tight end.
--OT Ryan Tucker returned from a two-week absence caused by an undisclosed
illness and immediately returned to the starting lineup. Tucker's presence
should help the pass protection a bit, provided he's physically ready to play
after missing two games.
--QB Charlie Frye may have the right opponent if he wants to rebound from a
bad game in San Diego. Atlanta is ranked 31st in the league in pass defense.
--CB Leigh Bodden will not play against Atlanta due to a high ankle sprain.
Bodden's absence will be felt, but the Browns have covered up absences in the
secondary fairly well all season.
--CB Daven Holly should return after missing a game with an illness. Holly
has filled in capably all season after being signed late in training camp.
Falcons:
--CB Jimmy Williams, who will start in place of Jason Webster (groin),
tweaked his ankle during special teams drills and did not practice Thursday.
Though listed as questionable, he is expected to play Sunday.
--CB DeAngelo Hall did not practice because of a sore hamstring. He is listed
as questionable, and Hall said his hamstring is really bothering him. Though it
seems likely that Hall will play, the injury will be worth monitoring Friday and
Saturday.
--MLB Ed Hartwell's return seems unlikely Sunday. He has not practiced this
week as he continues to rehabilitate his arthroscopically repaired knees, which
became irritated after he tried to play in consecutive games after missing the
season's first five games.
--LG Matt Lehr, suspended for four games for violating the NFL's steroid
policy, will return to practice Monday. His starting left guard spot is not
assured, as P.J. Alexander, signed as a "street" free agent, has played well.
Lehr could be used as the swing guard who is able to backup both guard spots.
--TB Jerious Norwood (strained right knee) did not practice Thursday. This
could result in starter Warrick Dunn carrying a heavy load. It also would affect
Atlanta's special teams, since Norwood is one of the top kickoff coverage
players and the second deep kickoff return man. Of the Falcons listed as
questionable -- excluding MLB Ed Hartwell -- Norwood seems the most unlikely to
play against Cleveland.
INSIDE THE CAMPS
Browns:
Charlie Frye has the second-highest interception total in the league. Only
Ben Roethlisberger, with 14 interceptions, has thrown more to the other team
than Frye, who has been picked off 12 times.
But the Browns are not giving up on Frye, perhaps because they know that half
of Frye's interceptions were not all his fault.
Four bounced off the hands of Browns receivers and into the hands of the
other team, and one was tipped at the line and into the air.
Another occurred because Frye was hit as he threw.
The Browns are not giving up on Frye as the team's quarterback.
"I'm still confident in Charlie and his abilities," coach Romeo Crennel said.
"I think he will be a good quarterback for us and make us a winning team. I'm
confident in that."
Intangibles remain the main reason for Crennel's feeling.
"He has good leadership ability, which you need," Crennel said. "He's got
toughness and his teammates rally around him. You need that, too. He is adequate
with his skills as a quarterback.
"All of those things can make him a winner."
Falcons:
For the second time in less than a week, the Falcons were stung by a major
injury.
Starting right cornerback Jason Webster suffered a torn groin at practice
Wednesday and is expected to miss at least a month. It was not disclosed whether
surgery was recommended.
Rookie Jimmy Williams will start in Webster's place Sunday against Cleveland
and for the foreseeable future.
Webster is the second of Atlanta's top five defensive backs to suffer a major
injury this week, and the unit's lack of depth is suddenly a significant issue.
Safety/nickel back Kevin Mathis fractured his neck in Sunday's 30-14 loss to
Detroit and was placed on injured reserve.
Williams was to replace Mathis as the nickel back but now he has been thrust
into the role he was being groomed to assume, although ideally not yet. Williams
has seen very little action at cornerback, except in packages where offenses
utilized two-end sets.
Allen Rossum, who returns punts and kickoffs, will be used at nickel back.
The Falcons would rather not use Rossum in nickel packages because it could wear
him down for special teams, but they have been forced into making this move,
which could last through the regular season.
Recently signed safety Lance Schulters was expected to be slowly eased into
the system, but he might be pressed now in case there is another injury to the
secondary.