Browns vs. Broncos: Week 12 Need to Know

The Browns head to Denver for a meeting with the Broncos, who have been a thorn in Cleveland’s side far too long. Here is everything you need to know about the game.

The Cleveland Browns playoff train makes a stop this Sunday in Colorado for a game against the Denver Broncos.

A week after picking up his first NFL win, quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson will get the start again for the Browns. It will be the first road start for DTR in the NFL and comes against a Denver defense that has forced 10 turnovers in the past three games.

If Thompson-Robinson and the offense can avoid turning the ball over, there should be opportunities to get the offense on track as Denver’s defense is allowing a league-high 71.2 percent completion percentage, has given up the fourth most receiving touchdowns, and has the No. 31 ranked pass defense, according to clevelandbrowns.com.

Even if the Browns struggle on offense, their defense is playing so well that 14 points may be enough to pull out the victory.

The Browns have won three in a row, the last two on field goals at the end, while the Broncos have won four games in a row, three of them by two points or less, so this could be another nail-biter for Browns fans.

Let’s get ready for Sunday’s game with everything you need to know as the Browns take on the Broncos.

Game Info

Records: Cleveland is 7-3. Denver is 5-5.

Kickoff: 4:05 p.m.

Stadium: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colo.

TV: FOX

Announcers: Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez, Laura Okmin (sideline reporter)

Radio: ESPN 850, 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX, 89.1 FM La Mega (Spanish)

Announcers: Jim Donovan, Nathan Zegura, Jerod Cherry (sideline reporter)

First meeting: The Browns won the first meeting, 27-13, on December 20, 1970.

Last meeting: The Browns won the most-recent meeting, 17-14, in Week 7 of the 2021 season.

All-time series: The Broncos lead the all-time series, including playoffs, 24-7. Cleveland has only won in Denver twice since 1972.

Weather: 38 degrees and sunny, with a one percent chance of precipitation. Winds from the northeast at 6 mph. (weather.com)

Uniform: The Browns are going white jersey and white pants this week.

Injury report: Browns – Out: Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (concussion) and cornerback Denzel Ward (shoulder). Questionable: Safety Juan Thornhill (calf), linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring) and linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk (knee). Broncos – Questionable: Running back Dwayne Washington (illness) and safety P.J. Locke (ankle).

The line: Browns +1.5 (DraftKings)

Some Notes to Remember

• The Browns come into the game with a defense that is No. 1 in total defense and pass defense, and is sacking opposing quarterbacks on 12.5 percent of pass attempts. Meanwhile, Denver quarterback Russell Wilson has been sacked 32 times, the fourth-most in the league heading into this weekend’s games.
• Denver wide receiver Courtland Sutton has caught a touchdown pass in five consecutive games, the longest streak by a Broncos player since 2014, according to ESPN.

• Cleveland’s defense has forced opposing offenses to go three-and-out on 52.7 percent of their drive, tops in the league. They are also a league-best in holding opposing offenses to no gain or minus yards on 43.4 percent of their snaps, according to The Athletic.
• If the game is close in the fourth quarter and the Broncos have the ball, keep an eye on running back Samaje Perine, who had 40 yards on four receptions on Denver’s game-winning drive last week against the Minnesota Vikings and three receptions for 35 yards on the final two drives in Denver’s win against the Buffalo Bills the week before, according to The Athletic.
• This week’s game poster – giddy up!:

• Denver quarterback Russell Wilson is completing 69 percent of his passes and his touchdown-to-interception ratio of 4.8 is tops in the league. However he is averaging a career-low 6.8 yards per pass attempt, and long drives against Cleveland’s defense have been hard to come by this season.

In Case You Missed It

Scouting Denver’s big turnaround in our Q&A with Mile High Report

2023 Browns season: NFL point differential tells the story of a good, not great, team

Browns vs Broncos: 3 key offensive players that could make things difficult for Cleveland

What Duron Harmon brings to the Browns roster

Browns new QB Joe Flacco: ‘I can still play’

NFL Picks Week 12, and media picks for Browns vs. Broncos

Browns Week 12 rooting guide: Best results for playoff seeding

Browns schedule: Next 4 weeks alternates between playoff contenders and bad teams

A Final Quote

Head coach Kevin Stefanski on the importance of limiting turnovers (quote via a team-provided transcript):

“With the turnover margin, I mean, you talk about it every week. It’s not unique to this game or any game. What is unique? Them having 13 takeaways in the last five games. That’s outstanding by them. And it’s in a variety of ways. It’s interceptions, it’s fumbles, it’s sack fumbles, it’s first play of the Buffalo game, ripping the ball out of the running back’s hands. So they’ve done a great job with getting that ball for our offense. It becomes technique. You have to be great in your technique. Whether you’re the quarterback in the pocket, whether you’re a receiver, a tight end, a running back, touching it. And then defensively, any opportunity you can get with the ball in the air or via a fumble, you have to go get it. Special teams as well, because this team has done a great job of getting the football.”

What are you looking for from the Browns in Sunday’s game against the Broncos?