BEREA — The final eight games for the Browns get underway Sunday against a team that can be viewed in some ways like them.
The New Orleans Saints may not have come into the season with high hopes, but an impressive 2-0 start had some dreaming big. The only problem was they then lost their next seven games, falling to 2-7, which led to the firing of coach Dennis Allen.
Allen's interim replacement, special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, provided the Saints with an emotional boost last Sunday against the rival Atlanta Falcons. New Orleans, much in the same way the Browns received a lift from Jameis Winston's first start at quarterback in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens, rode that wave to a 20-17 victory over the Falcons.
Now, the Browns (2-7) hope a week off at least helps them heal enough to go into one of the NFL's loudest environments and quiet a team and fanbase energized by a huge win. Here are three questions the Browns are going to need to answer if they want to emerge from the Big Easy with a win.
How does Cleveland Browns QB Jameis Winston handle his return to New Orleans to face his former team, the Saints?
If you're looking for an individual storyline for this game, look no further than Browns quarterback Jameis Winston, who spent the last four seasons with the Saints, starting as Drew Brees backup in 2020 before two injury-plagued seasons during which he was the off-again, on-again starter before fully ceding it to Derek Carr last season.
Regardless how the time went for Winston on the field, there's no question both the player and the city embraced each other. Winston has routinely spoken glowingly about his four years in New Orleans, both in how he grew as a quarterback as well as a person.
Now, Winston goes back to New Orleans, where he's no doubt going to receive a warm welcome, at least from the fans. Certainly, there will be some emotions felt on his part as well, which is where the concern may lie the most.
Winston can already be a roller-coaster ride in normal circumstance. Add a little personal feelings in there, and who knows what one might see from him.
How does the cross-coaching staff familiarity play out for both Cleveland Browns' Kevin Stefanski, New Orleans Saints' Darren Rizzi?
There's no question these two staffs are familiar with each other. That's because there's plenty of crossover between the Browns and Saints coaching staffs, especially as it relates to Browns coach Kevin Stefanski.
Stefanski's defensive coordinator for his first three years in Cleveland, Joe Woods, is in his second season as the Saints' defensive coordinator. That defense, though, has struggled mightily, ranking 24th in scoring (24.6 points a game), 28th in total yards (385.6), 27th in rushing yards (141.0) and 29th in passing yards (244.6).
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ledger, Stefanski has all sorts of ties from his Minnesota Vikings days with New Orleans offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko and tight ends coach Clancy Barone. The Saints offense has been middling thanks to a quarterback carousel between Carr, who battled injuries, and rookie Spencer Rattler, ranking 16th in scoring (22.7), total yards (334.8) and passing (212.4), as well as 13th in rushing (122.4).
Of course, familiarity runs both ways. So all of those ties to Stefanski also aid the Saints as well, which is where the chess match may develop.
Can Cleveland Browns handle a New Orleans Saints team emotionally energized by a head-coaching change?
Sunday's game will be an opportunity for the Browns to either bring the Saints back down to reality or give their season even more life. The environment they're going to be walking into at the Caesars Superdome figures to be charged up by the fact New Orleans won a week ago in Rizzi's interim debut.
The Superdome can be one of the most intimidating places to play in the NFL when Saints fans are engaged. Stefanski knows that as well as anyone from playoff meetings there while he was with the Vikings.
Things haven't been great for much of this season for the Saints, at least between their 2-0 start and last Sunday. However, there's nothing easy about a visiting team playing in the Big Easy, so it's something the Browns are going to have to handle if they want to win.
