With Carlos Hyde gone to the Jacksonville Jaguars, vote for who you think will lead the Browns in rushing.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns traded their leading rusher through six games, Carlos Hyde, to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday for a fifth-round pick in 2019.

Hyde rushed for 382 yards and five touchdowns with Cleveland.

The deal also frees up a logjam at running back between Hyde, Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson.

Chubb has 173 yards and two TDs on just 16 carries as a rookie. Johnson has rushed just 19 times for 111 yards and a TD.

So who will lead the Browns in rushing this season? 

Will it be Chubb or Johnson? Or will it be someone else like Baker Mayfield?

Let us know in the poll and comments below. Also, get caught up on which picks the Browns have in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Retired boxer Floyd Mayweather says a fight with current UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is going to happen.

Retired boxer Floyd Mayweather says a fight with current UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is going to happen, setting off a flurry of speculation as to who would win. Mayweather already pummeled former two-belt holder Conor McGregor last year and a fight with the Russian grappler could yield the same result. Still, Mayweather is getting older and he might not be able to dodge the shots that Nurmagomedov can drop. What do you think? 

PERSPECTIVES

Different fighter, same story. These MMA guys think they can just step into a boxer's world and rule the ring, but it just isn't going to happen -- especially against one of the greatest to ever step into the ring. Mayweather made an example of Conor McGregor and he would have no trouble beating Nurmagomedov.

The current UFC Lightweight Champion has power, but his strength lies in his wrestling. He might get a good shot in, but Mayweather can evade anything he can bring. The undefeated boxer picked apart one UFC fighter. He would do it to another.

Mayweather may have beaten McGregor, but Nurmagomedov is a different animal. This is the same guy that trains for fights by wrestling bears. BEARS. If he's willing to go that far to train, he should have his own "Rocky IV" montage.

Nurmagomedov doesn't need to outbox a seasoned fighter. He has enough power to knock anyone out with one shot. He proved that he could strike with McGregor and he would put a "1" in Mayweather's loss column.

The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

Nance, who missed the season opener against the Raptors on Wednesday night because of a sprained ankle, went through shootaround early Friday morning in Minnesota, testing the injury.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Larry Nance Jr. will not play in the Cleveland Cavaliers' second game of the season against the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday night. 

Nance, who missed the opener against the Raptors on Wednesday because of a sprained ankle, went through shootaround early Friday morning in Minnesota, testing the injury. After meeting with the training staff, the determination was made to sit Nance once again.

Head coach Tyronn Lue said Nance suffered a bit of a setback, experiencing some soreness following Tuesday's practice. He's been trying to work out each day since, hoping to feel healthy enough to get back on the floor. 

For Nance, this is the first sprained ankle in his entire basketball career, something Lue said is "crazy" to think about. The part-time starting center suffered the injury during practice on Oct. 11, when he landed awkwardly going for a rebound.

There was no timetable given at that time and the Cavs will continue to monitor his progress. 

Friday marks Nance's third straight missed game, including the preseason finale. 

Check here for the live third-round leaderboard for the PGA Tour's The CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges 2018 in South Korea.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scott Piercy and Brooks Koepka were the leaders early in the third round of the PGA Tour's CJ Cup at Nine Bridges 2018 this week in South Korea.

Chez Reavie, Marc Leishman, Si Woo Kim, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Jason Day, Hideki Matsuyama, Alex Noren, Adam Scott, Ryan Armour and Ian Poulter are among notables in the field.

• CJ CUP AT NINE BRIDGES TEE TIMES

• CJ CUP AT NINE BRIDGES LEADERBOARD

PGA TOUR
CJ CUP AT NINE BRIDGES
Site: Jeju Island, South Korea.
Course: Club at Nine Bridges. Yardage: 7,196. Par: 72.
Purse: $9.5 million. Winner's share: $1,710,000.
Television: Wednesday-Saturday, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. (Golf Channel).
Defending champion: Justin Thomas.
FedExCup leader: Kevin Tway.
Last week: Marc Leishman won the CIMB Classic.
Notes: Brooks Koepka plays his first event since being voted PGA Tour player of the year. He also will be in Shanghai next week for the HSBC Champions. ... Thomas won the inaugural tournament in a playoff over Marc Leishman. ... The field includes 54 players who were in Malaysia last week for the CIMB Classic. ... Among those making their 2018-19 season debut are Adam Scott, Hideki Matsuyama and Ian Poulter. ... The $9.5 million purse trails only The Players Championship, the World Golf Championships and the majors on the PGA Tour schedule. ... Marc Leishman has won three of his four tournaments in the last 19 months. ... Shubhankar Sharma of India, tied for the 54-hole lead in Malaysia, tied for ninth. He is leading the Order of Merit on the Asian Tour.
Next week: WGC-HSBC Champions and Sanderson Farms Championship.
Online: www.pgatour.com

(Fact box from Associated Press.)

Shades of Wednesday night in Toronto, the Cavaliers were defenseless as the Minnesota Timberwolves sprinted in front against Cleveland's mostly-unreliable reserves in the pivotal quarter.

MINNEAPOLIS -- For the second straight game, the Cleveland Cavaliers hung with a superior opponent in the first quarter and were forced to fight their way back the rest of the night because of one lousy quarter, something they can no longer afford. 

Once again, it was the second. 

Shades of Wednesday night in Toronto, the Cavaliers were defenseless as the Minnesota Timberwolves sprinted in front against Cleveland's mostly-unreliable reserves, building the lead to 20 points at one point in the first half before thwarting the Cavs' late comeback attempt.

Cleveland lost its second straight game, 131-123.

"We start good every game and then the second quarter costs us too much," Cedi Osman said. "I really enjoy and I can see that everybody enjoys playing with each other. But the second quarter we have to learn how to play better defense. We gave up a lot of points in transition. Those are the small (things), but very important."

As for that second period, it belonged to the Wolves, as the crowd turned introduction boos for Jimmy Butler into MVP chants. The home team tallied 71 points in the first half and won that 12-minute stretch, 39-24. 

That was far too deep a hole.

Not even a 41-point third-quarter outburst was enough for the Cavaliers. Nor was a strong, gutty fourth quarter with a few timely baskets by rookie Collin Sexton and sophomore core piece Osman, both of whom showed plenty of promise in the second-half rally.

The Cavaliers' margin for error shrunk significantly in the aftermath of LeBron James' departure. Without him, the reigning Eastern Conference champions -- in name only -- can no longer rely on talent. Winning will require attention to detail at both ends of the floor, nonstop communication and a team-first approach.

It will also require eliminating those runaway quarters. 

Cleveland, as it has preached since training camp, never relented and the Cavs will be able to take some positives away, especially when it comes to the second half. 

Defense won't be one of them. It remains Cleveland's greatest defect.

Perhaps when Tristan Thompson proclaimed the Cavaliers a top 10 defense this season he was referring to their ranking in points allowed per game. 

One day after spending a large chunk of the team's film session searching for ways to fix the shoddy defense, the Cavs allowed a whopping 131 points. They let the Timberwolves shoot 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range. The Wolves raced out to 18 fastbreak points. They pounded the Cavs in the paint to the tune of 56 points. 

"Our halfcourt defense has been pretty good," Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue said. "I just think it's our transition. You know we had 27 points in transition in the first half. You don't want to give that up in two games. They had it in a half, so, it came off our turnovers, it came off our lack of getting back defensively in the backcourt, so, we just gotta continue to keep getting better at that."

The offense did its part on Friday night. The Cavs scored 69 points in a blistering second half. They shot 48.9 percent from the field overall and assisted on 26 of the 45 made buckets.

But if the Cavs want to keep fighting for a playoff spot, a stated goal since training camp, the defense will need to come around quickly.

There are steps every young team must take in order to grow. For the Cavs, the next is putting together 48 minutes -- at both ends.  

Back at home:

In the building where he became an All-Star, Kevin Love looked like his old self.

"I think getting his legs underneath him, made some shots, really commanded the ball in the post," Lue said. "Made some good passes. That's the Kevin we're used to and accustomed to, so we're going to continue to getting his legs and getting his wind and get better."

Love erupted for 16 of his 25 points in a throwback third quarter, helping pull the Cavs out of a 21-point hole and making the margin manageable. But Love went silent in the fourth quarter, missing a few chances in the final minutes to put even more pressure on the Wolves. 

Osman's breakout continues:

Osman, the second-year man who is starting in James' old spot, poured in a career-best 22 points to go with eight assists in the loss. With him initiating from a playmaker spot in ways head coach Tyronn Lue used James, the Cavs picked apart the Wolves' defense.

"I'm right now full confidence and I believe in my shots," Osman said. "I was working really hard during the summer. I know before my 3-point shots weren't that good. But I was working really hard this summer and I know that I improved a lot. There's always still room to improve a lot for me."

During Osman's 35 minutes, the Cavs outscored Minnesota by eight points. 

Clarkson provides a lift:

After the bench struggled mightily in the second quarter, a big reason for Friday's loss, Jordan Clarkson did his best to keep the Cavs within striking distance in the final 24 minutes. Clarkson, who was unstoppable during training camp practices, tallied 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting. 

Sexton bounces back:

Rookies will go through growing pains. But what the Cavs want to see from Sexton is an ability to have a short memory and rebound quickly. 

"I think Collin grew a little bit tonight, having a chance to play in that fourth quarter," Lue said. 

Sexton scored 14 points and earned crunch-time minutes against the Wolves, relegating starting point guard George Hill to an observer. Part of it was Sexton's effectiveness. The other part was getting him that invaluable experience in a high-pressure, tight game in the fourth quarter. That's what the Cavs envisioned when putting together their anti-tanking plan.

"Just want to give him an opportunity and tonight he played well," Lue said. "G Hill is a professional so he understands and he was all for it. Kept talking to Collin every time out, staying with him, being positive, so, we've gotta great group. They all continue to help each other."

Even though the Cavs lost the game, it's something Sexton can build upon.

Up next:

The Cavs will return to Cleveland for the home opener on Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks.

Check here for video highlights from NBA games of Friday, Oct. 19.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 131-123; the Toronto Raptors toppled the Boston Celtics, 113-101; and the New Orleans Pelicans drilled the Sacramento Kings, 149-129, as part of the early games on the NBA schedule for Friday, Oct. 19.

Jimmy Butler scored 33 on 10-of-12 shooting for the Timberwolves (1-1). Kawhi Leonard scored 31 for the Raptors (2-0). Nikola Mirotic scored 36 for the Pelicans (2-0).

The late games featured the Golden State Warriors at the Utah Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the L.A. Clippers.

At the very top of the list is what matters most: winning. Thus far, that column remains empty.

MINNEAPOLIS - Internally, the Cleveland Cavaliers have numerous goals for the 2018-19 season.

At the very top of the list is what matters most: winning. Thus far, that column remains empty.

"We want to win so it's not like we're happy for the loss," head coach Tyronn Lue said following the 131-123 defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves. "It's not a moral victory for us at all."

Beyond winning, the Cavaliers want to play an inspirational brand of team basketball. At least, that's how chairman Dan Gilbert has phrased it.

From that standpoint, Friday night was a smashing success.

All-Star Kevin Love led the way with 25 points on an inefficient 6-of-19 from the field and 3-of-7 from 3-point range. He needs to get that shooting percentage up for the Cavs to remain competitive. But even on a night when his shot wasn't falling, Love found a way to impact the game in a positive way, getting to the free throw line 10 times, pulling down 19 rebounds and dishing out seven assists. Those are the gaudy numbers that the Cavs need from him on a nightly basis -- minus the poor shooting.

But, more importantly, he got plenty of help, which is exactly what the Cavs want this season.

Cedi Osman reached career-highs in points (22) and assists (8). Jordan Clarkson poured in 19 points, proving why he was one of the training camp stars and quite possibly the team's most reliable threat off the bench. Collin Sexton rebounded from a rough NBA debut with a 14-point night. Tristan Thompson recorded a double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 boards. Even Rodney Hood, who struggled in the second half, hit double figures.

The Cavs have also talked repeatedly about their desire to get the young core experience in tough, high-pressure end-of-game situations. Check that box, too. Down nine points entering the final frame, Lue turned to Sexton and Clarkson, riding the tandem the whole way.

Sexton scored 10 of his 14 in the fourth quarter, attacking the rim with force, triggering jumpers with confidence and digging in on the defensive end with the fiery eyes the Cavs see daily on the practice floor.

"I think Collin grew a little bit tonight, having a chance to play in that fourth quarter," Lue said. "Taking some big shots, big opportunities. 

"I just thought he did a good job of running the team, pick and choosing his spots. When to be aggressive offensively, when to get other guys shots. I thought he did a good job picking up full court, pressuring the basketball, and his fight and his toughness. Just want to give him an opportunity and tonight he played well.

"(George) Hill is a professional so he understands and he was all for it. Kept talking to Collin every time out, staying with him, being positive, so, we've gotta great group. They all continue to help each other."

Clarkson chipped in with eight points in the fourth, repeatedly getting to his favorite spots and draining pull-ups with a tweaked shooting motion that has led to a promising start. 

For the bulk of the fourth quarter, Lue's lineup was Sexton, Clarkson, Osman, Love and Thompson. Ante Zizic played the other five minutes while Thompson recharged to start the period. Larry Nance Jr. was unavailable because of a sprained ankle. Otherwise, he might have been the fifth piece. 

Think about those names. Get used to them. That quintet is a big part of Cleveland's future. It scored all but four points during a final rally which trimmed the Minnesota lead to four -- once after a Sexton layup and the other after an Osman 3-pointer, one of his two made bombs in the final quarter.

"I'm right now full of confidence and I believe in my shots," Osman said. "I was working really hard during the summer. I know before that my 3-point shots weren't that good. But I was working really hard this summer and I know that I improved a lot."

Osman made four triples on the night, the most in a game during his young NBA career, doubling his previous high of two. 

The other part of Cleveland's expected identity is a try-hard, don't-give-in team. Things aren't always going to be easy. Games won't be as pretty as the past. There are going to be a bunch of losses. But the one thing that should never waver is the effort, reflecting a determination to believe they still have a chance even when it seems unlikely.

Isn't that basically this season in a nutshell?

Many around the NBA are skeptical. Experts tossed them aside in July. Few, if any, think this make-the-playoffs approach will last. Heck, their home opener is scheduled for Sunday night at 6 p.m. against the woeful and lottery bound Atlanta Hawks -- hardly a prime spot. 

And yet, the Cavs believe they will prove the doubters wrong. Just like they believed they could cap an improbable rally against the superior Wolves Friday night. 

Down by as much as 21, the Cavs kept charging back. They made the crowd -- one that packed the arena to celebrate the home opener and boo Jimmy Butler and coach Tom Thibodeau -- incredibly antsy. The comeback was eventually halted. Butler played a big role in that, scoring 33 points and hitting a dagger over Love. 

Still, that second half is pretty close to how they need to play if they are going to show they are still a worthy foe even without LeBron James.

"I'm proud of the guys for continuing to keep fighting," Lue said.

That sentiment was shared by the players.

"We have to learn how to play defense for 48 minutes, not just three quarters or 20 minutes," Osman said. "We will. We're a young team and we have a lot of good players who work hard. We just have to learn, which we will. We just have to keep playing hard."

In the loss, the Cavs accomplished plenty. It was a game filled with more lessons. The only thing absent: a victory. Until further notice, that's still most important.

Doug Lesmerises has his key for the Buckeyes vs. the Boilermakers. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State left tackle Thayer Munford is probable for Saturday night against Purdue, and right tackle Isaiah Prince is looking to bounce back from a rough second-half stretch keyed by a missed block that threw him off his game.

The Buckeyes are facing a Purdue defense ranked 92nd in yards allowed and 44th in points allowed. The Boilermakers have some pass rush, their 17 sacks tied for 36th in the country. 

But this isn't a Purdue defense prepared to stop the sixth-highest scoring offense in the nation, with the Buckeyes averaging 46.3 points per game.

All Dwayne Haskins needs is a little time. Because Ohio State will need to score, with Purdue featuring an offense that should hang some points on the board as well.

That's why keeping pressure off of Haskins is even more important. The Buckeyes can't let a bad sack or a turnover under pressure waste a drive.

Check out the video above for more on the key to the game. And subscribe to our Ohio State football YouTube channel.

* Outrageous Prediction

* Game Pick

The Cleveland Browns didn't know they'd draft Nick Chubb when they signed Carlos Hyde. So that's why the deal had to be made.

CLEVELAND -- There is more to the Browns trading Carlos Hyde to Jacksonville on Friday than creating time for rookie Nick Chubb.

It's true the front office wants to see more of Chubb, the Georgia running back who was picked in the second round.

In fact, the Browns used the 2018 second-round selection obtained in the Brock Osweiler deal with Houston to grab the 5-foot-11, 230-pound Chubb.

But the John Dorsey front office also signed Duke Johnson to a 3-year, $15.6 million contract extension. That included $7.7 million in guaranteed money.

The Johnson contract put him among the 10 highest paid running backs in the NFL.

After six games, the front office saw Chubb and Johnson being left out of the main game plans.

Johnson had 19 carries. Chubb had 16.

This made no sense, and it had to change.

Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley tends to concentrate on one running back. That back was Hyde, the former Ohio State star.

The Browns want Johnson to be a more integral part of the offense. He is considered an elite pass catcher out of the backfield. He had 74 receptions in 2017. But Johnson caught only 14 passes in the first six games. He carried the ball 19 times for a 5.8-yard average.

It's obvious the 25-year-old Johnson still can be effective, he just needs more chances to touch the ball. And the Browns didn't pay him so well to be an afterthought in the offense.

The combination of Hyde and Chubb led to Hyde being traded Friday to Jackonsville for a fifth-rounder  in 2019.

Carlos Hyde's career with the Cleveland Browns lasted six games. Joshua Gunter / cleveland.com 

PILING UP BACKS

It was Dorsey's decision to sign Hyde to a 3-year, $15 million deal with $5 million guaranteed. That's according to overthecap.com.

Hyde had been a solid back with San Francisco, and Dorsey wanted to add experience to the roster. He also made the Hyde deal before the draft. In other words, Chubb wasn't on the roster yet.

Hyde ran very hard, breaking tackles. He had 114 of the team's 178 rushing attempts. But Hyde averaged only 3.4 yards per carry.

If the Browns didn't have Chubb, a Johnson/Hyde combination could work.

But Chubb has something Hyde lacks -- breakaway speed. Hyde's longest run was 22 yards this season.

ESPN ranked 47 running backs who have at least 30 carries this season. Hyde ranked No. 42 at 3.4 yards per attempt.

That's why his market value wasn't high.

Teams want their runners to average at least 4.0 yards per carry.

Chubb has only had 16 carries, but he has runs of 63, 41, 19 and 17 yards. He is one of those backs who seems faster in game action compared to when running the 40-yard dash. Dorsey also wanted depth at running back. They do get hurt.

That's why Jacksonville dealt for Hyde. Star running back Leonard Fournette is out indefinitely with a hamstring injury.

MAKING ROOM

After six games, it's obvious the front office wants to see more of the young players.

Because Chubb has exceeded expectations, his time is now. And because Johnson has been under-utilized, room must be made for both backs.

It's why the Browns are reluctant to give up a lot of assets such as a high draft pick for a receiver. They prefer to look at Jarvis Landry and their younger players.

The Browns have been quietly adding draft picks in trades.

They added a third-rounder from New England (for Danny Shelton).

They added a fifth-rounder from New England (for Josh Gordon) and a fifth-rounder from Jacksonville (for Hyde).

They added a seventh-rounder from Jacksonville (for Cody Kessler).

So the trade adds to their draft capital. But it also forces the coaches to use their two best backs as Dorsey continues to reshape the Browns.

The Oakland Raiders are hoping some team will make a desperation deal for Amari Cooper. The Browns have talked about Cooper, but they won't give up a first-round pick.

ABOUT A TRADE

Checking with people in the NFL, the Browns have indeed talked to Oakland about wide receiver Amari Cooper.

The Raiders wanted the Browns' first-round pick in any trade.

That's a non-starter for the John Dorsey front office.

Here's the situation:

1. Cooper has some appeal. He is only 24 years old. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2015 and 2016. But in 2017, he had an ankle injury and caught 48 passes...seven for TDs.

2. He's had a strange 2018. He caught eight passes against the Browns, and only 14 total passes for the rest of the season.

3. He suffered a concussion in his last game. The Raiders are off this week, so his status is unclear right now.

4. Cooper's contract counts $7.2 million on the cap in 2018. There is a team option for $14 million in 2019.

5. Next season, Jarvis Landry will count $14.5 million on the Browns salary cap. So if they trade for Cooper, they'll have about $28 million tied up two receivers. They have money, but don't want to chew up lots of cap room for a player who has been inconsistent and had some injuries in the last 1-1/2 seasons. Things can always change, but I don't see the Browns giving up a first-rounder for Cooper.

6. But the big holdup would be the price -- the first-round pick plus something else. The front office doesn't want to make a panic move. That's something to remember as you hear all the rumors. The Browns only have their own first round pick in 2019, no others.

7. Once in a while, you hear the old "Dez Bryant to the Browns" rumors coming back. I was told it's not going to happen. The Browns aren't the only team to decide Bryant is not worth bringing in once the season opened. Clearly, Bryant and his people have rubbed several NFL teams the wrong way. It's why he still is a free agent.

8. The Browns want to see improvement and growth with their receivers. Rashard Higgins was maturing into a reliable target for Baker Mayfield. Higgins has good hands, runs his routes well and has chemistry with the rookie quarterback. But he'll miss his second game with a knee injury. It's not supposed to be a long-term problem.

9. Rookie Damion Ratley had played only one snap on offense in 2018 before last week's 38-14 loss to the Chargers. The rookie dropped a pass early in the game. Then he caught six of the next seven balls tossed in his direction. He finished with six catches for 82 yards, including a terrific leaping grab near the goal line.

10. The Browns are interested in winning some games and altering the gloom and doom of a 4-44 record from 2016-18. But they know they must continue to build through the draft. Mayfield is a rookie quarterback. There will be ups and downs, as I wrote Friday. It's a shock for most rookie quarterbacks coming from college teams that rarely lose (Mayfield was 34-6 at Oklahoma) to struggling NFL teams.

11. For now, the Browns want to develop rookies Antonio Callaway and Ratley. They expect to have Higgins back soon. They signed Brashad Perriman, who had been cut by Baltimore. He was the No. 26 pick in the 2015 draft.

12. Perriman is on a minimum contract. He is fast and athletic. In 2017, he had a dreadful season with 10 catches and four drops. He's 6-foot-2 and ran a blazing 4.24 seconds in the 40-yard dash while at Central Florida. He could be a deep threat.  He had a good workout with the Browns and caught 11 passes in the preseason with Baltimore. They'll give him a shot to revive what was supposed to be a promising career.

13. The Browns have to find a way to get the ball to Landry. The receiver knows how to make plays. It's how he caught exactly 400 balls over the last four years. He's drawing a lot of attention from opposing defenses, but that also was true in previous seasons when he played in Miami.

14. Landry has 31 catches this season for 392 yards. In the last three games, it's 11 receptions. Mayfield is a smart quarterback and a pretty accurate passer. It seems the coaching staff should be able to fix this.

15. The good part of the 2-3-1 record is the Browns already having two victories puts them in a position where they don't have to make desperate deal.

16. Remember how Hue Jackson pushed the front office to trade for AJ McCarron. Thank goodness that mid-season trade with Cincinnati of second- and third-round draft picks fell through. McCarron is now a backup in Oakland after losing the starting quarterback job in Buffalo during training camp.

17. Keeping with the theme of wanting to stay with younger players, the Browns traded Carlos Hyde to Jacksonville for a fifth-rounder. That opens the running back spot for rookie Nick Chubb.

17. The trading deadline is Oct. 30 at 4 p.m. I expect the Browns to try hard to do something. While eyes are on big name receivers, perhaps the Browns have an eye on someone else. As one executive told me, Oakland's price for Cooper is "ridiculous," but a lot can change by Oct. 30.

Josh Gordon last catch with the Browns was a touchdown against Pittsburgh on opening day. John Kuntz / cleveland.com 

ABOUT JOSH GORDON

Maybe things will continue to go well for Josh Gordon in New England. He would be one of several troubled players who landed in the Kingdom of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady who found at least some temporary success.

Gordon has nine catches in three games, averaging 13.8 yards per reception. His one TD grab was No. 500 for the career of Brady.

Gordon is in a good spot in terms of knowing he's not the best player on the team. He's not even the best pass catcher. Tight end Rob Gronkowski and slot receiver Julian Edelman are superb. The Patriots have six different players who have caught at least 11 passes.

Gordon is one of many weapons available to Brady.

One problem with the Browns was Gordon knowing he was the most talented receiver on the roster. He sensed the team desperately needed him, and that gave him a feeling of power to do things his way. Gordon seemed to be doing things to force the Browns to get rid of him.

I doubt things would have changed if he had remained here. He would have continued to skip practices, etc.

Gordon is in a great spot with the Patriots, where he will have to do things the right way or he will be gone. That should keep his attention.

Yes, the Browns still need to find more ways to get the ball to Duke Johnson. John Kuntz / cleveland.com 

ABOUT THE BROWNS

1. In the off-season, the Browns made TJ Carrie their main target among defensive backs in free agency. His contract was $31 million for four years -- with $10 million guaranteed. That was more than the contracts given free agent defensive backs Terrance Mitchell and EJ Gaines. Yet those players (and rookie Denzel Ward), started in front of Carrie.

2. Carrie started all 16 games for Oakland last season. He has not played especially well for the Browns. That's why he lost playing time to Mitchell and Gaines. Both are hurt. Now Carrie can establish himself as the other corner. According to Profootballfocus, receivers covered by Carrie have caught 21-of-28 passes for a 96.3 QB rating.

3. According to PFF: Gaines (9-of-18, 52.3 QB rating), Ward (23-of-45, 63.6 QB rating), Mitchell (17-of-29, 71.0 QB Rating) and Brian Boddy-Calhoun (9-of-11, 118.1 QB rating). The average QB rating this season is 93.3. So only Carrie and Calhoun were below average in terms of defending the pass.

4. It appears JC Tretter (ankle sprain) will play in Tampa Bay. But his backup was Austin Corbett, the rookie picked at the top of the second round. The front office was criticized for not picking a player that high unless he immediately starts. I do think there is some validity to that statement. But the front office wanted a young offensive lineman to develop. They like Corbett, both as a guard and center.

5. Desmond Harrison has stepped in and started at left tackle. He is an undrafted free agent from West Georgia. If Harrison had failed, Joel Bitonio would have moved from guard to left tackle -- and Corbett would probably be starting at guard. The Browns believe with Harrison and Corbett, they have two extremely promising offensive linemen.

6. I have been very hard on the special teams, but they were the best part of the Browns in their 38-14 loss to the Chargers. Jabrill Peppers averaged 12.8 yards per punt return, and he had long run of 33 yards. Greg Joseph made two more field goals. He is 8-of-9 on field goals, 3-of-4 on extra points. Punter Britton Colquitt has been the consistent special teams player. He put 5-of-6 punts inside the 20-yard line.

7. The downside on special teams began with Denzel Rice lining up in an illegal formation on the opening kickoff. Not sure I've seen that penalty on the first play of the game before. They also gave up a 32-yard punt return. Peppers fumbled a punt but recovered it. So it wasn't close to perfect, but there really was progress.

8. It's mind-numbing to keep writing Duke Johnson should get the ball more, especially in the passing game. But Duke Johnson SHOULD be targeted with more passes. He caught 4-of-5 balls last week, averaging 18.3 yards per reception.With the trade of Carlos Hyde to Jacksonville, that also set up Johnson to carry the ball more.

The Monsters won their second straight game and Matiss Kivlenieks was perfect in net in his first appearance of the season.

BINGHAMTON, New York - Three goals within two minutes late in the second period gave the Cleveland Monsters a 4-0 victory over the Binghamton Devils on Saturday night in an AHL North Division game at Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena.

Goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks, making his first appearance of the season, stopped 31 shots in the shutout.

The victory improved Cleveland to 5-2-0-0, in a first-place tie with Rochester in the AHL North Division. The third-place Devils fell to 3-4-0-0.

• Game summary
• AHL standings

Gabriel Carlsson followed with his first goal of the season at 17:09, with assists by Kevin Stenlund and Alex Broadhurst. Left wing Paul Bittner opened the lead to 3-0 at 18:36, Vitaly Abramov and Dalpe assisting.

Center Nathan Gerbe hit an empty net with 49 seconds left in the game, Bittner credited with an assist.

Cory Schneider took the loss in net, stopping 28 shots. Both teams were 0-for-4 on power plays.

Next up, the Monsters play the Wolves in Chicago at noon Wednesday.

The No. 2 team in the nation was taken apart in a 49-20 loss in West Lafayette, a place where the Buckeyes always have problems.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The greatest frights play on our greatest fears.

Ross-Ade Stadium has been home to previous Ohio State miseries, the Buckeyes losing four times in their last seven trips here. No visiting stadium has been as dangerous for the Buckeyes.

So what fears did the No. 2 team in the country carry with them into Saturday night?

* The Purdue speedster Rondale Moore, the 5-9 freshman and Big Ten's second-leading receiver who is a dash of instant offense every time the ball hits his hands.

* The red-zone problems that kept the Buckeyes out of the end zone in three trips inside the 20 against Minnesota the week before.

* The Boilermaker voodoo that meant the Buckeyes were 3-4 in West Lafayette when they were no worse than 5-2 in their last seven trips to any other Big Ten school.

All were realized. Moore gained 194 yards and scored twice on 14 catches and carries. The Buckeyes scored just six points on four red-zone trips. And Ross-Ade was as bone-chilling as ever.

The undefeated Buckeyes were more than spooked. They were spanked.

On a night when everything malfunctioned for Ohio State, Purdue sent the Buckeyes crawling back to Columbus under the weight of a humbling 49-20 loss, Michigan now in the lead in the Big Ten East and everything the Buckeyes had done wrong and gotten away with through seven games coming back to bite them in game eight.

Beyond the familiar red-zone failures and defensive questions, Ohio State compounded the mistakes with a rash of penalties that threw a one-dimensional offense off-kilter. Eight first-half penalties included three false starts and two holds on the offensive line and tight ends.

When the Buckeyes (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) get that way, quarterback Dwayne Haskins must be perfect. The third-leading passer in college football was short of that. Haskins and his problem-solving right arm ran up against too many problems.

The result was a loss to the Boilermakers, who are now 4-3, on a four-game winning streak, tied for first in the Big Ten West and 5-3 against the Buckeyes the last eight times they dared to venture into this slice of Northwest Indiana nightmare.

There is always what happened and then what it means, and one loss like this doesn't end Ohio State's playoff hopes.

Only three undefeated teams remain - No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 Clemson and No. 4 Notre Dame. A one-loss team is making the College Football Playoff -- probably two or three of them are.

If Ohio State wins out against Nebraska, Michigan State, Maryland and a newly chest-thumping Michigan team that vanquished the Spartans on Saturday, then it will reach the Big Ten Championship.

There, any team could be waiting. Purdue, Wisconsin, Iowa and Northwestern all have a single Big Ten loss. If the Buckeyes beat that team, a 12-1 Big Ten champ shouldn't be left out of the playoff, even one with a single devastating loss.

But given what happened -- is this team capable of winning five straight games to do that?

At Penn State the offense struggled all night and found a way in the fourth quarter. Saturday, there was no answer, just the same familiar faults.

The entire game was unbalanced, the teams combining for 848 yards passing and just 237 yards rushing. For Purdue, with the DNA of former coach Joe Tiller's Basketball on Grass still part of their makeup, second-year head coach and offensive game planner Jeff Brohm was happy to chuck it all over the yard.

For Ohio State, Urban Meyer's discomfort with an offense that goes against so much of his principles has only heightened. Haskins isn't a running threat as a quarterback, and never will be or should be. The Buckeyes were right to lean into his passing skills.

But in the meantime, Ohio State has completely lost its way as a rushing offense. There was a time when it seemed like Haskins and the receivers could compensate. By Saturday, that time was over.

The lack of a run game, with tailbacks J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber a shadow of themselves compared to last season, was on display for the entire nation Saturday night. They gained 69 yards on 20 carries.

Ohio State can't run.

The red zone problems are entirely wrapped up in that issue. But the offensive line didn't get a push anywhere on the field. During the week, offensive line coach Greg Studrawa expressed frustration at this offensive style, which uses run-pass options that leave the linemen uncertain whether they are pass blocking or run blocking during a play. The result is a line that can't dominate a defensive line.

It's like they've forgotten how to do it.

This Ohio State season, with Haskins at the helm, was a grand experiment. It has worked in so many games and on so many throws. Haskins entered the night leading the country with 28 touchdown passes.

Saturday, he threw two, both in the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach.

Yes, the OSU defense suffered breakdowns and allowed long drives, including a 98-yard, 15-play march for the game's first score. But giving up 14 points to Purdue in the first half shouldn't ruin you.

Scoring only 20 all game will.

Haskins finished the night 48-of-72 for 468 yards. But he was late on two 6-yard throws to the end zone, to Terry McLaurin in the second quarter and Ben Victor in the third. Both third-down throws were there and both were delivered a half-second after they should have been, Purdue defensive backs recovering to get back in the play. Both still could have been caught. Neither were.

Throw in a deep ball overthrow to McLaurin in the first half that the wind took, and a third-down miss to Austin Mack, and 24 incompletions add up, even in the face of 48 completions, as Haskins threw more passes in a game than any Ohio State quarterback in history.

That's a stat that must make Meyer's skin crawl. The Buckeyes can throw. But they can't only throw.

The run game, the red zone offense, the offensive play calling, the lack of an intimidating pass rush without Nick Bosa, and the undisciplined play of the offensive line and linebackers did in the Buckeyes.

Haskins wasn't perfect, so he couldn't save the Buckeyes.

But even if he had been, it wouldn't have mattered.

Once again in West Lafayette, all Ohio State's fears came true.

The Buckeyes failed on their first four attempts to score TDs in the red zone on Saturday. Conversely, the Boilermakers scored TDs on all three trips inside the 20.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ross-Ade Stadium has been a house of horrors for Ohio State in recent years. The Buckeyes have lost games at Purdue in 2000, 2004, 2009 and 2011. 

Saturday night, Ohio State's past at Purdue combined with current, pressing issues, resulting in a 49-20 blowout loss to the Boilermakers.

Throughout the season, the Buckeyes have had problems with penalties, running the football and converting in the red zone. All three happened again on Saturday night. But unlike previous games in which they did not cost the Buckeyes, they all played their part in Ohio State's first loss of the season.

The Buckeyes failed on their first four attempts to score TDs in the red zone on Saturday. Conversely, the Boilermakers scored TDs on all three trips inside the 20. 

Blake Haubeil was 2-for-3 on field goal attempts inside the red zone, and Ohio State was stopped on a 4th-and-goal at the 2 in the third quarter when Dwayne Haskins could not connect with K.J. Hill.

Ohio State also failed to cash in with touchdowns in red zone opportunities against Minnesota on Oct. 13, going 0-for-3 on such possessions.

Penalties were another problem. Ohio State committed 10 for 86 yards, including a Davon Hamilton roughing the punter flag in the third quarter that led to a Purdue touchdown. Dre'Mont Jones was called for roughing the passer in the fourth quarter on a 3rd-and-long.

The Jones penalty extended a Purdue drive that ended in a 42-yard touchdown run from D.J. Knox in the fourth quarter. Knox added a 40-yard TD run later in the fourth quarter, and finished with 128 yards and three TDs.

Ohio State's running game struggled once again, gaining just 76 yards on 25 carries. Mike Weber had 45 yards on nine carries.

Those problems demanded that Ohio State throw the ball far more often than it ran. Ohio State threw 73 times.

Haskins set an OSU record for completions in a game with 49. But after coming into the game with 28 passing touchdowns, he did not throw one until the fourth quarter when he connected with Johnnie Dixon for a 32-yard score. Haskins finished with an Ohio State record 470 yards, two TDs and an interception, which Purdue's Markus Bailey took 41 yards for a touchdown for the final points of the game.

Purdue quarterback David Blough threw three touchdown passes including a 13-yard toss to Isaac Zico, which he caught with one hand against Kendall Sheffield. The score gave the Boilermakers a 7-0 lead in the first quarter and capped off a 99-yard drive.

Blough's favorite target by far on the night was talented freshman receiver Rondale Moore. He had 12 receptions for 170 yards and a two TDs, including a 43-yard play in the fourth quarter when he broke tackles from Pete Werner and Isaiah Pryor. 

Purdue ended the first half when Blough found Moore with 27 seconds left in the half on a 9-yard pass to push the lead out to 14-3. The play was set up when Purdue executed a fake field goal and holder Joe Schopper ran for a first down.

The Boilermakers improved to 4-3 after an 0-3 start, which included a 20-19 home loss to Eastern Michigan in Week 2. 

More Big Ten road woes

Ohio State has now lost a road game to an unranked Big Ten team three years in a row. The Buckeyes lost at Penn State, 24-21, in 2016. Last season, Iowa sunk the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff hopes in a 55-24 blowout loss in Iowa City.

What's next?

Ohio State (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) is on its bye week and will return to action on Nov. 3 at home against Nebraska. Kickoff time has yet to be determined.

Doug Lesmerises offers some suggestions from Purdue after the Buckeyes lost to the Boilermakers 49-20. Watch video

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Can Ohio State make the necessary changes to figure themselves out before a stretch run that begins with Nebraska after the Buckeyes are off next week?

I checked in from the turf at Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday night with an attempt at an answer after the Buckeyes were dismantled by the Purdue Boilermakers in a 49-20 loss.

Ohio State dropped to 7-1 and 4-1 in the Big Ten, now behind first-place Michigan in the East.

Purdue moved to 4-3 and 3-1 in the conference, now one of four teams in the West with one loss.

Check out what I had to say about the Buckeyes and then vote on whether you think they can fix things. And stayed tuned for more coverage from cleveland.com.

Check here for the live leaderboard for the Andalucia Valderrama Masters 2018 on Sunday, Oct. 21, in Spain.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Defending champion Sergio Garcia (10-under) led by four shots through two rounds of the European Tour's Andalucia Valderrama Masters 2018 this week in Spain.

• VALDERRAMA MASTERS LEADERBOARD

EUROPEAN TOUR
ANDALUCIA VALDERRAMA MASTERS
Site: Sotogrande, Spain.
Course: Real Club Valderrama. Yardage: 6,991. Par: 71.
Purse: 2 million euros. Winner's share: 333,333 euros.
Television: Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to noon (Golf Channel).
Defending champion: Sergio Garcia.
Race to Dubai leader: Francesco Molinari.
Last week: Eddie Pepperell won the British Masters.
Notes: Garcia defends his title in his first appearance since going 3-1-0 in the Ryder Cup for Europe. He is the only player from the top 50 in the world ranking. ... The tournament is hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation. ... Jose Maria Olazabal is making his first start on the European Tour since the French Open. Olazabal has not made a cut since 2015. He is skipping the first Charles Schwab Cup playoff event on the PGA Tour Champions. ... Valderrama hosted the 1997 Ryder Cup, two World Golf Championships and the Volvo Masters when it ended the European Tour season. ... Eddie Pepperell became the fifth player with multiple victories this year on the European Tour. ... Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn is playing for the second straight week.
Next week: WGC-HSBC Champions.
Online: www.europeantour.com

(Fact box from Associated Press.)

Watch the Buckeyes coach after a 49-20 loss in Ross-Ade Stadium. Watch video

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Urban Meyer said he was very surprised at Ohio State's 49-20 loss at Purdue on Saturday after he said what was a good week of practice.

But he wasn't surprised by what caused the loss.

"The glaring shortcomings we had were exposed," Meyer said in a crowded visiting media room after No. 2 team in the country suffered its first defeat. "Number one off the top of my head was the red-zone offense."

The Buckeyes didn't score a single touchdown in their three trips inside the 20-yard line. But there were general issues with the run game, and continuing problems on defense as well.

The punting was pretty good.

To check out everything Meyer said after the loss, watch the video at the top of this post.

The Browns and Buccaneers play on Sunday afternoon in Tampa.

TAMPA, Florida -- The Browns travel to Tampa on Sunday to face the Buccaneers. Both teams seek to get back to .500 with a win. The Browns are 2-3-1, while the Bucs are 2-3. Here's how to watch, listen and stream it online.

Time: 1 p.m. EST

Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa.

TV: FOX, WJW Ch. 8 Cleveland

* Play-by-play: Sam Rosen; Analyst: Ronde Barber.; Sideline: Shane Bacon.

Radio: 92.3 The Fan (WKRK), ESPN 850 WKNR and WNCX (98.5).

* Play-by-play: Jim Donovan; Analyst: Doug Dieken; Sideline: Dustin Fox.

Spanish Radio: La Mega 87.7 FM

* Play-by-play: Rafael "Rafa" Hernandez-Brito; Analyst: Octavio Sequera

Streaming: fuboTV (free trial)

FuboTV is a paid affiliate of Advance Local Media LLC. Advance Local Media LLC may receive compensation if you access the FuboTV service through the link above.

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The Browns did more than play poorly in last week's 38-14 loss to the L.A. Chargers. They had some major breakdowns in the area of coaching.

TAMPA -- Scribbles in my Browns notebook as they prepare to face the Tampa Bay Bucs:

1. This is the first time I'm writing about how Hue Jackson and his coaching staff are facing a huge test of rallying their players after what was a generally dismal effort. That happened in last week's 38-14 loss to the L.A. Chargers at FirstEnergy Stadium.

2. By the fourth quarter, it seemed as if several players just wanted the game over. It wasn't an "I don't care" attitude. But it was body language that seemed to scream, "We have no chance, nothing is going to work today."

3. That's part of what makes today's game in Tampa so interesting. The Bucs have lost three in row. They are a high-scoring team with a deplorable defense, giving up an NFL-high 35 points a game. The Browns seemed ill-prepared on both sides of the ball last week.

4. The Bucs do one thing well on defense -- defend the run. They are allowing only 3.8 yards per carry, No. 5 in the NFL. By comparison, the Browns are 28th and 4.7 yards allowed on the ground.

5. Four days before the Browns traded starting running back Carlos Hyde to Jacksonville for a fifth-round pick, Jackson said: "We are a team that has learned to run the ball. We've run the ball decently. We are one of the better running teams in the football today and we have played some decent defenses."

6. So why trade Hyde? As I wrote, John Dorsey wants rookie Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson to carry the ball more often. When the front office evaluated their running backs after six games, they rated Chubb and Johnson ahead of Hyde.

7. Hyde did a good job scoring TD near the goal line. In 114 carries, he didn't lose a fumble. I thought he stayed away from disastrous negative plays. But overall, Hyde was only averaging 3.4 yards per carry. That ranked No. 43 out of 47 running backs, according to ESPN. That stat is why the trade market wasn't very lucrative for Hyde. Most teams want their running back to average at least 4.0 yards per carry.

8. Former Browns CEO Joe Banner tweeted: "The Browns made a good deal to create a path for a better player to play more, save cap dollars and add a draft pick. Some criticize. Sometimes, there is no winning with people."

9. Most Browns fans know Banner has been critical of the Browns since being fired at the 2013 season. But when he sees something he likes, he says so. I think his points are valid, which is why I wrote a column in favor of the deal.

10. But now Todd Haley's offense faces a good running defense with Chubb and Johnson featured. And Haley's offense has scored only six points in the first quarter this season. There was a field goal against New Orleans in Game 2, a field goal in Oakland in Game 4. No TDs. That's embarrassing.

11. Haley said there have been "a lot of discussions amongst coaches, myself and the quarterbacks about how to best get started in a better fashion." He mentioned how they have opened games with a no-huddle offense. He said they "opened running the football." He admitted he's "pointing the thumb at myself of figuring out a way to execute early."

12. Let's see what Haley does. Not only in the first quarter, but with Baker Mayfield. The rookie quarterback is coming off his worst game: 22-of-46 passing, one TD, two interceptions and was sacked five times. The Bucs are vulnerable to the pass. To win this game, the Browns are going to have to throw the ball effectively.

13. It seems Haley has been uncertain all season of what will work with this offense. Perhaps the change from veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor to Mayfield in the middle of Game 3 is part of it. But Taylor was having a miserable season. Mayfield is more talented. He played well in a 21-17 victory over the Jets and the 45-42 loss in Oakland. But in the last two games, the Browns have scored only two touchdowns.

14. On defense, Gregg Williams saw his unit collapse against the Chargers. It was more than being sliced up by veteran quarterback Philip Rivers. The Browns gave up 246 yards rushing and acted as if they'd never seen a sweep before.

15. A testy Williams didn't want to discuss lack of effort by veteran linebacker Jamie Collins or anyone else on defense. At Friday's press conference he said, "It's not just Jamie, it's everybody." When asked again, Williams added: "I do not talk about those things, so you are wasting your time asking me that question. It's over with. I'm not talking about it."

16. Fine. Let's see how his guys play against a Tampa Bay team averaging 28 points, No. 8 in the NFL. They are without starting middle linebacker Joe Schobert (hamstring). Key defensive backs Terrance Mitchell and E.J. Gaines are injured. In the words of Williams, Tampa quarterback Jameis Winston "is a big guy in the pocket who won't go down easily. We have our work cut out for us getting him to the ground."

17.  Tampa Bay has tremendous receivers in Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson. Williams raves about Tampa tight end O.J. Howard. The Bucs have the No. 1 passing attack in the NFL.

18. Rookie Genard Avery is starting at linebacker for the Browns. He is a potent pass rusher, and that could help. But pressure will be on defensive backs Denzel Ward, TJ Carrie and Briean Boddy-Calhoun. Only Ward has shown consistency.

19. A week after not much of anything went right (other than special teams were finally pretty good), the Browns are on the road in Tampa needing to find some of their old confidence. Some of that falls to the coaching staff.

20. PREDICTION: Browns 27, Bucs 24. This falls more under the category of wishful thinking. All the injuries to the Browns' defense make this a very challenging game. But I don't want to see the team spiral in the wrong direction, and this is a winnable game.

After two straight games on the road to start the 2018-19 season, the Cavaliers will return to Cleveland for the home opener against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After two straight games on the road to start the 2018-19 season, the Cavaliers will return to Cleveland for the home opener against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night. 

When: 6 p.m. 

Where: Quicken Loans Arena

TV: FoxSports Ohio 

Radio: WTAM 1100 AM; WMMS 100.7 FM, La Mega 87.7 FM.

Online: FoxSports Go apps

Last meeting: The Cavs won 123-107 on Feb. 9, 2018, as former Hawk Kyle Korver scored a game-high 30 points. 

Cavs minute: The Cavs have won three straight games over Atlanta, tallying at least 120 points and 30 assists in each outing. Over that stretch, Cleveland has averaged 122.3 points. Dating back to May 20, 2015, the Cavs have won 15 of the last 19 games against Atlanta. ... The Cavs are 9-4 in their last 13 home openers, winning each of the last three. ... The Cavs have never opened the home slate against Atlanta. ... For the first time since 2009-10, Cleveland is off to a 0-2 start and it is trying to avoid the first 0-3 start since 2004-05. ... In two games this season, the Cavs are averaging 113.5 points, which ranks 13th in the NBA. The Cavs are allowing 123.5 points, which is sixth-worst in the NBA. ... Kevin Love recorded his first double-double of the season on Friday, scoring a team-high 25 points to go with 19 rebounds. ... Love is one block away from 300 in his career. ... In that same game against Minnesota, Cedi Osman tallied career-highs in points (22) and assists (8). 

Hawks minute: The Hawks are one of four Eastern Conference teams, including Cleveland, to open the season with back-to-back losses. Both defeats have been by double digits and the Hawks have trailed by at least 20 points in each. ... Through two games, Taurean Prince is the Hawks' leading scorer, averaging 24.5 points. ... Fifth-overall pick Trae Young is second on the team in scoring, averaging 17.0 points. He leads the team in assists with 7.0 per game. ... Cleveland native Omari Spellman, another first-round pick, missed Friday's loss against Memphis because of a sprained ankle. He is considered day-to-day. 

Probable starters 

Cavs

F Cedi Osman

F Kevin Love

C Tristan Thompson

G Rodney Hood

G George Hill

Hawks

F Taurean Prince

F Kent Bazemore

C Alex Len

G Vince Carter

G Trae Young

See Cavs stats

See Hawks stats

Cleveland Browns look to bottle up Tampa Bay's pass offense with second best pass defense in NFL

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns (2-3-1) are in Tampa today to play the Buccaneers (2-3). After getting fans' hopes up by playing five fairly close games to start the season, the Browns regressed last week against the Los Angeles Chargers, 38-14. The loss to the Chargers reminded fans of all the things that went wrong the last two seasons.

So this week fans are interested to see if Cleveland can get back on track. If statistics mean anything, the air should be filled with footballs because Tampa's passing offense is one of the best and its passing defense is one of the worst while the Browns are kind of the opposite.

Browns' defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will have his hands full trying to contain quarterback Jameis Winston and talented receivers Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, O.J. Howard and Chris Godwin. It certainly doesn't help that the Browns will be without cornerback E.J. Gaines.

At the same time, Browns' QB Baker Mayfield should be able to find some completions against one the worst-rated pass defenses in the NFL.

Crowquill, by Plain Dealer artist Ted Crow, appears three times a week in The Plain Dealer and on cleveland.com.