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Cleveland Browns vs. Washington Redskins: Prediction, preview, pick to win

By The Sports Xchange
Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Cleveland Browns (0-3) at Washington Redskins (1-2)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FedEx Field, Landover, Md. TV: CBS, Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots, Stacy Dales.

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SERIES HISTORY: 46th meeting between two original NFL franchises. Cleveland leads the series, 33-11-1. The Redskins have won three of the last four games, including a 38-21 victory on Dec. 16, 2012 -- notable for being quarterback Kirk Cousins' first career start.

GAMEDATE: 9/29/16

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Browns unleashed Terrelle Pryor on the Dolphins last week as a surprise part-time quarterback. Pryor threw five passes, completing three, and ran four times while also catching eight passes. Quarterback Cody Kessler was off the field for those plays. The Redskins will be expecting Pryor at quarterback, so Kessler might be in the huddle and line up as a receiver in some formations to keep Washington guessing.

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The Redskins still need to need to be better in the red zone. It's not reasonable to expect kicker Dustin Hopkins to remain perfect and bail them out. Kirk Cousins has thrown two interceptions in the end zone through three games.

Washington also must be better against the run. It will be a challenge to stop Browns running back Isaiah Crowell, who is averaging 6.1 yards per carry on 45 attempts.

The Redskins have been putting together long drives through three games. Moving the ball hasn't been an issue at all. Cousins has been diligent at evenly distributing the ball to tight end Jordan Reed and wide receivers Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson and Jamison Crowder. Expect them to severely test a Cleveland secondary that could be without star corner Joe Haden.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Redskins WR DeSean Jackson, who has five receptions over 25 yards already this season, vs. Browns CB Joe Haden, who missed last week's game vs. Miami with a groin injury. Haden is a lockdown corner with the physicality to give Jackson problems - especially given he has ankle and knee problems of his own.

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--Browns QB/WR Terrelle Pryor, who was dynamic at two positions against Miami, vs. Redskins CB Josh Norman, off to a good start in his first year with Washington after signing a $75 million deal in April. Pryor completed 3 of 5 passes for at quarterback and he caught eight passes for 144 yards. Pryor is first player in NFL history with 140-plus receiving yards, 20-plus rushing yards and 30-plus passing yards in a game. Norman is still looking for his first interception with Washington, but has a forced fumble.

INJURY REPORT: BROWNS -- Out: WR Corey Coleman (hand), TE Seth DeValve (knee), C Cameron Erving (chest, lung), QB Josh McCown (left shoulder), DE Carl Nassib (hand), LB Nate Orchard (ankle). Doubtful: CB Tramon Williams (shoulder). Questionable: S Ibraheim Campbell (hamstring), CB Joe Haden (groin). REDSKINS -- Out: CB Bashaud Breeland (ankle), WR Josh Doctson (Achilles), G Shawn Lauvao (ankle), CB Dashaun Phillips (hamstring). Questionable: LB Trent Murphy (elbow, shoulder), DE Kendall Reyes (groin)

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Browns kicker Cody Parkey. He was signed one day before the Browns played the Dolphins because kicker Patrick Murray was injured in practice. Parkey, a Pro Bowl kicker for the Eagles in 2014 but out of football last year, never practiced until the day of the game with the Dolphins and it showed. He made two field goals but missed three, including a 46-yard attempt that went wide left on the final play of regulation with the score 24-24. Nevertheless, coach Hue Jackson is sticking with Parkey, but this could be his last chance. If Parkey, 24, struggles again the Browns will likely be shopping for a new kicker.

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FAST FACTS: Browns rookie QB Cody Kessler made first career start last week, passed for 244 yards. RB Isaiah Crowell is tied for 2nd in NFL with 274 rush yards. Had career-long 85-yard TD run in Week 2, has 5 rush TDs in past 7 games. ... Redskins RB Matt Jones aims for third game in rown row with 60-plus yards rushing.

PREDICTION: The Browns can't lose every game, can they? They were a makeable field goal away from victory last week. The Redskins are probably favored in most places, but are hardly a dominant team. Hard to say what will happen when two frustrated franchises meet.

OUR PICK: Browns, 28-17.

--Frank Cooney

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