Browns-Bills Preview

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• Countdown Daily Recap: Browns-Bills

SCOUTING REPORT

Browns-Bills: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Browns-Bills matchup. 1. Cleveland needs to establish a ground attack: The Browns found an effective running game in Week 4 with the emergence of Jerome Harrison. He racked up over 121 yards against a good run defense in the Cincinnati Bengals; combined with Jamal Lewis, the Browns could have enough weapons on the ground to give a struggling Bills' defense problems. Buffalo is allowing over 150 yards on the ground this season.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
CLE	1-9	115	263	0-4	1-5	0-4	1-5
BUF	3-7	155	228	1-3	2-4	1-2	1-6
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Cleveland Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Quinn 56.7 812 5 5 Anders... 42.9 681 2 9

Buffalo Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Edward... 60.2 1170 6 7 Fitzpa... 51.9 659 3 6

Cleveland Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Lewis 132 460 3.5 0 Harris... 69 254 3.7 0

Buffalo Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jackso... 129 528 4.1 0 Lynch 87 272 3.1 1

Cleveland Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Massaq... 25 473 18.9 1 Furrey 22 161 7.3 0

Buffalo Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Owens 35 563 16.1 2 Evans 28 396 14.1 5

Full Player Stats: Cleveland | Buffalo

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	CLE	237.0
	BUF	276.0
Yards Passing	CLE	135.4
	BUF	173.5
Yards Rushing	CLE	101.4
	BUF	102.2
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	CLE	402.0
	BUF	366.7
Pass Yds Allowed	CLE	247.1
	BUF	200.8
Rush Yds Allowed	CLE	154.9
	BUF	165.9

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Cleveland leads 3-1
Nov 17, 2008	CLE 29, BUF 27
Dec 16, 2007	CLE 8, @BUF 0
Dec 12, 2004	CLE 7, BUF 37

There are plenty of controversial, prima donna wide receivers in the NFL. The Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills clearly have different tolerance levels for such players.

After trading Braylon Edwards despite their problems offensively, the Browns look to end a 10-game losing streak Sunday against a struggling Bills team that is still waiting for a breakout performance from Terrell Owens.

Cleveland (0-4) traded Edwards to the New York Jets on Wednesday for wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik and two undisclosed draft choices. Edwards' off-field problems were apparently too much for coach Eric Mangini, who also dealt talented-but-enigmatic tight end Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay in February for draft picks.

"This is a business and the business is winning," Browns Pro Bowl offensive tackle Joe Thomas said. "And the man in charge is going to decide if you're helping us win. If you're not, you're going to be gone."

Edwards had 10 receptions for 139 yards and was held without a catch for the first time in his career in Cleveland's 23-20 overtime loss to Cincinnati last Sunday.

A Pro Bowler in 2007, Edwards allegedly punched promoter Edward Givens, a friend of NBA star LeBron James, following an argument in downtown Cleveland on Monday. The NFL is investigating whether Edwards violated the league's conduct policy.

Edwards has a long history of troublesome incidents.

He was partying with suspended Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth in Miami the night Stallworth drove drunk and killed a pedestrian in March. Edwards was not with Stallworth at the time.

Even with Edwards, Cleveland averaged 8.0 points during its 10-game losing streak.

Buffalo (1-3) has scored a total of 17 points in its last two games despite taking a chance on the outspoken Owens this past offseason, signing the well-traveled star to a one-year contract two days after he was cut by Dallas in March.

Owens, who was expected to spark a methodical passing attack, has been held to eight catches for 158 yards and one touchdown. The headline-grabbing receiver has been well-behaved for the most part, but Buffalo is in desperate need of more big plays.

Quarterback Trent Edwards is having trouble going deep, even though he has Owens and big-play threat Lee Evans at his disposal. Twenty of Edwards' 117 attempts have traveled 16 yards or beyond.

Edwards has regressed since helping the Bills win five of their first six games last season. In his last 12 games, he's averaging 190.0 yards with Buffalo losing nine of those contests.

He threw three interceptions, one of which was returned for a TD, in a 38-10 loss to Miami last Sunday.

Owens, who has been critical of quarterbacks and others in the past, has resisted placing blame on Edwards or the offense.

"We just have to get back to the drawing board and keep working," he said.

Bills coach Dick Jauron, meanwhile, has had no problem taking fault for his team's issues. He called the loss to the Dolphins "embarrassing," with the offense managing 206 yards and converting 1 of 11 third-down chances.

"I point the finger at myself first," said Jauron, who had three straight 7-9 seasons before being retained for another year by owner Ralph Wilson.

Mangini may soon be facing some heat as well if his moves don't pan out. Though Edwards and Winslow were distractions at times, they were the Browns' top two threats on offense.

Rookie Mohamed Massaquoi will likely take Edwards' spot in the starting lineup, and Stuckey will compete for playing time as a slot receiver. Stuckey had 11 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown in a starting role for the Jets.

For now, Browns receivers will have Derek Anderson throwing to them. Mangini benched Brady Quinn in favor of Anderson last Sunday.

Anderson completed 26 of 48 passes for 269 yards with one TD while also running for a score. He gave the Browns a boost after they scored a total of nine points in their previous two contests.

With Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis still nursing a hamstring injury, Jerome Harrison will likely make his third straight start. He had a career-high 121 yards versus the Bengals.

Harrison, a fifth-round pick in 2006, scored his only career rushing touchdown from 72 yards against Buffalo last season, and Phil Dawson connected on a career-long 56-yard field goal with 1:39 remaining to give the Browns a 29-27 victory Nov. 17.

Trent Edwards threw three interceptions in that game.

Dawson, who has missed the last two games is listed as doubtful with a calf injury, and Cleveland may also be without LB D'Qwell Jackson (hamstring), who led the league with 188 tackles last season.

Billy Cundiff would handle kicking duties again and rookie David Veikune would most likely start in place of Jackson.

Bills sign Simmons to help injury-ridden line

The Buffalo Bills began reinforcing their injury-depleted offensive line by signing veteran guard Kendall Simmons.

Pasquarelli: Holmgren makes sense for Browns

Former NFL coach Mike Holmgren would be a good fit for the Browns' general manager job, Len Pasquarelli writes.

2009 NFL Power Rankings: Week 12

Week 12 of the latest ESPN.com NFL Power Rankings reveals a matchup of the Nos. 1 and 4 teams.

Rookie Watch: Week 11

Scouts Inc. ranks the top 10 rookies after Week 11 of the 2009 NFL season.

Browns Insider: Mangini sees errors, but also progress, as Quinn, Anderson learn new offense

Browns coach Eric Mangini explained Tuesday why the quarterbacks have looked a little ragged this week and last week during voluntary practices.

Witnesses for the defense: Ex-Jets spreading the word to help Browns learn Mangini's ways

The Browns haven't made a tackle yet this year, of course -- or missed one -- but certain characteristics of their defense are emerging in their off-season workouts.

Dumb move by Mangenius

By essentially forcing the rookies to take a 10-hour bus trip to work a camp at his old high school in Connecticut this weekend, head coach Eric Mangini only succeeded in adding to the Browns' reputation as an NFL laughingstock.

How to Lose Friends and Irritate People, Eric Mangini Edition

It's not going to matter if Eric Mangini goes 11-5 with the Browns and Rex Ryan goes 5-11 with the Jets, but .. In a comparison of the two in the off-season, Ryan seems to be winning, 62-0. Most of it is Mangini's own doing.

Mangini Not Making Friends In Cleveland

Eric Mangini irked Browns rookies by "asking" that they help out at a football camp in Hartford, Conn.

Kim brings new tips to Bills' defenders

The Buffalo Bills have a martial arts expert working with their players this week.

Bills' Maybin offers path to success

Buffalo Bills rookie defensive end Aaron Maybin asked a question of about 180 high school football players getting ready to practice at the team's fieldhouse Tuesday evening.

BILLS: Road back for Bowen nearly complete

The road has always been long for Alvin Bowen. Originally, Bowen's football odyssey took him from New Jersey to a Kansas junior college, then later to Iowa State - a long way from a New York City suburb.

BILLS: Corner not afraid of competition

Good thing Reggie Corner isn't afraid to come back clawing and scratching after getting picked on.

To Help at Receiver, Buffalo Adds Fire to Ice

Count Lee Evans as a fan of Terrell Owens . With teams preparing for the coming season, keep up with all the off-season news on the Times's pro football blog.