WHERE: Cleveland Browns Stadium.
WHEN: Today, 1 p.m.
TV: CBS, WOIO
RECORDS: Chiefs (2-10); Browns (4-8).
SERIES: Tied, 10-10-2.
BROWNS ON OFFENSE: Quarterback Brandon Weeden is coming off a team rookie record 364-yard passing performance in a win over the Raiders. Weeden is improving each week, but he still makes a couple of bad throws. For the season he's completed 57 percent of his passes for 2,820 yards, 13 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Running back Trent Richardson has 827 yards on 229 carries. His average per carry of 3.6 yards needs to improve. Weeden has found a friend in rookie receiver Josh Gordon, who had his first 100-plus yard day last week. Gordon has 34 receptions for 646 yards (19-yard average) and five touchdowns. Tight end Benjamin Watson has become another favorite target of Weeden's. He has 34 receptions. The line continues to give Weeden solid protection.
CHIEFS ON OFFENSE: It all depends on the ground game for the Chiefs, who are fifth in the NFL with an average of 146.7 rushing yards a game. Jamaal Charles is one of the top big-play backs in the league. He has 1,055 yards and three touchdowns on 222 carries. His 4.8 yards per carry is something that has to concern Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron. Former Brown Peyton Hillis has dealt with injuries throughout the season and has just 193 yards. Another former Brown, quarterback Brady Quinn, will get the start. He's coming off the best performance of his career in a win over the Panthers. Will the Browns see the Quinn of last week or the ineffective player fans saw in Cleveland for three seasons? Dwayne Bowe leads in receptions with 57 for 731 yards and three touchdowns. Look for Quinn to target tight end Tony Moeaki. The Chiefs are 31st in points scored at 15.7 per game.
BROWNS ON DEFENSE: The defense has been good against the run in recent weeks and is allowing 115.5 yards a game. Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson leads the group with 89 tackles. The pass rush has been quiet since a seven-sack game against the Cowboys. Cornerback Sheldon Brown has been criticized for being too old (33), but his interception last Sunday was the play of the game. The Browns are 4-3 in games that cornerback Joe Haden has played.
CHIEFS ON DEFENSE: The Browns will certainly test a weak run defense that's allowing 129.3 yards a game. The pass defense is much better (ninth in the league at 219.9 yards), but that could be due to the weakness in the run game. Linebacker Derrick Johnson leads in tackles with 97. Safety Eric Berry is second with 61. The defense has 21 sacks, led by outside linebacker Tamba Hali with six.
BROWNS ON SPECIAL TEAMS: Kicker Phil Dawson's streak of 29 straight field goals ended last week when a chip shot was blocked. For the season Dawson is 23-of-24 (5-of-5 from 50 or longer). Punter Reggie Hodges has a 37.8 net average. Kick returner Joshua Cribbs is averaging 28.1 yards on kick returns and 12.4 yards on punt returns.
CHIEFS ON SPECIAL TEAMS: Kicker Ryan Succop has made 25-of-28 field-goal attempts. Punter Dustin Colquitt has a net average of 40.4. Javier Arenas is averaging 9.7 yards on punt returns and 19.7 yards on kick returns.
BROWNS MUST: Get pressure on Quinn and force him into bad throws. He's usually not good under pressure. The offense has become a pass-first group. Weeden needs to loosen things up for Richardson.
CHIEFS MUST: Play better run defense and keep Richardson bottled up. If the offense can get a good game from Quinn, watch out. Charles would then become more lethal.
PREDICTION: Browns, 24-13.
