The Falcons surround quarterback Matt Ryan with fine receivers and running backs and a solid line. Also, the challenge for the Browns DBs; Phil Dawson, Peyton Hillis and more.
Quarterback Matt Ryan directs a productive Falcons offense.Cleveland, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns are 1-3, despite having led in the fourth quarter of all four games.
For the Browns to be ahead during the fourth quarter of Sunday's home game against the Atlanta Falcons, the Cleveland defense must prevent a dynamic offense from controlling the game.
Atlanta features playmakers such as quarterback Matt Ryan, wide receiver Roddy White, tight end Tony Gonzalez and running backs Michael Turner and Jason Snelling. All playing behind a strong offensive line.
Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository analyzes the Falcons. He writes, referring to first-year Browns linebacker and former New Orleans Saint Scott Fujita:
Fujita was sold on Matt Ryan when the latter was a rookie No. 1 overall draft pick in 2008. After Ryan beat Fujita’s Saints, 34-20, Fujita recalls thinking, “It’s too early to compare him to Peyton Manning, but there are a lot of similarities.” Ryan hasn’t hit it as big as that endorsement would indicate. His passer rating was 87.7 as a rookie, fell to 80.9 in 2009 and is 86.5 through four 2010 games. The man keeps the chains moving, though. The Falcons rank sixth in the league with 378.3 yards a game.
Browns watch
Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Mary Kay Cabot's story on linebacker Matt Roth, accompanied by Tony Grossi's four things to watch for in the Browns-Falcons game; Grossi's NFL Insider; Cabot's story on Falcons receiver Roddy White; her story on Browns placekicker Phil Dawson approaching Lou Groza's team field goal record; Bill Livingston's column on the Browns facing top quarterbacks.
Stop Roddy
The Browns secondary has been erratic at best this season, unable to contain standout wide receivers. Don Delco of the Orange and Brown Report on cleveland.com writes about the next challenge for the Browns DB's: the Falcons' Roddy White:
Roddy White is the Falcons No. 1 wide receiver. The Browns have had issues covering those wide receivers in their last two games … if you haven’t heard.
In the last two weeks, Baltimore’s Anquan Boldin and Cincinnati’s Terrell Owens combined for 18 catches for 364 yards and four touchdowns. It doesn’t get easier this week. White is sixth in the NFL with 362 yards receiving.
“(White) does a nice job at the line of scrimmage of getting the defensive back to move, which creates some opportunities on deep balls like fades,” Mangini said. “There have been some balls, that really were going to be contested balls down the field, that he goes up and gets.”
On the run
The bruising running of Peyton Hillis has been an early-season highlight for the Browns. Hillis' play, in fact, is earning national attention.
Adam Schefter of ESPN.com details 10 storylines around the NFL, including:
When Peyton Hillis played at Arkansas, he shared the backfield with more heralded running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. But this season, Hillis has been every bit their equal and then some. Hillis has become the first Cleveland Browns running back since Greg Pruitt in 1975 to score a rushing touchdown in four straight games. One NFL executive said that Hillis is running like a 2010 version of former Buccaneers standout fullback Mike Alstott. Those who have played against him have been even more generous in their praise. Before Hillis played the Ravens, Baltimore's defenders said they had never heard of him. But after the game, Ravens defenders told each other that they will be voting for Hillis for this season's Pro Bowl.
Draw plays
Stories on Browns placekicker Phil Dawson by Jeff Schudel for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal, and by Nate Ulrich for the Akron Beacon Journal.
A mention of Peyton Hillis in John P. Lopez's Inside the NFL for Sports Illustrated's SI.com.
The Falcons, like the Browns, have played some tense games, by Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal.
Browns notes, including the defensive backs' challenge in trying to stop Falcons receiver Roddy White, by Matt Florjancic for the Orange and Brown Report on Scout.com.
The Weekend mailbag, included in James Walker's AFC North Blog for ESPN.com, includes readers' questions and comments about the Browns.
Some keys to the Browns-Falcons game, by D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
A story on Browns receiver Mohamed Massaquoi - who played at the University of Georgia - by Pierce W. Huff of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.