CLEVELAND — Must-win situation?
Following a two-game losing streak out west, the Browns (7-5) return home to Cleveland Sunday for an important matchup against the AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4).
Below is everything you need to know ahead of Sunday's game:
Game info, how to watch on TV, betting line:
- Date: Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023
- Kickoff time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium
- TV channel: CBS
- Radio: ESPN 850, 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX, Cleveland Browns Radio Network
- Betting line: Browns -1.5
- Over-under point total: 35
Preview:
After back-to-back 17-point losses to the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams, the Browns enter Week 14 in need of some positive momentum. However, all anyone's been able to talk about is the quarterback situation for both teams.
Kevin Stafanski declined to publicly name a starter this week, but the smart money seems to be on veteran Joe Flacco, who threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns last Sunday in LA. Flacco was officially starting in place of the injured Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who appears to be at least active this Sunday after Cleveland waived P.J. Walker (who went 1-1 as a starter) on Saturday.
Meanwhile, ESPN's Adam Schefter and multiple others are reporting Jacksonville will go with Trevor Lawrence even after the star QB suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Jags' loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on "Monday Night Football." Lawrence will be evaluated before kickoff, and should he not be able to go, backup C.J. Beathard would get the nod.
Elsewhere on the injury report for the Browns, right tackle Dawand Jones has been ruled out with a knee injury. Wide receiver Amari Cooper and cornerback Denzel Ward both returned to practice this week, but Ward was eventually ruled inactive. Ward has already missed the last two games with a shoulder issue, and without the Pro Bowler, Cleveland's normally elite defense has allowed an average of 32.5 points per game.
Jacksonville, the defending AFC South champions, are dealing with their own laundry list of injuries even outside of Lawrence. Receiver Christian Kirk has been placed on IR with a groin ailment, and left tackle Walker Little has also been ruled out with a bad hamstring.
Formerly rivals in the old AFC Central Division, this marks the 19th all-time meeting between the Browns and Jags, with Jacksonville holding a 12-6 advantage but Cleveland winning the most recent matchup back in 2020. This could also be a potential postseason preview, as if the playoffs started today, the fourth-seeded Jaguars would host the fifth-seeded Browns in the wild-card round.