CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's my story and I'm sticking to it: The Cleveland Browns will win a game this year.

But it won't be this week.

Not in Detroit. Not against the Lions. Not when Matthew Stafford is the opposing quarterback.

The Browns rank No. 1 against the run, according to Football Outsiders. Other analytics sites also rank the Browns high vs the run.

This is the best run defense the Browns have had since they returned in 1999. That does count for something.

But the NFL is a passing league, and Football Outsiders has them No. 28 vs. the pass.

Stafford has thrown 14 TD passes vs. four interceptions. He's completing 62 percent of his throws.

"Pinpoint accuracy," said Browns coach Hue Jackson. "He's tough, does a good job improvising."

The Lions are 4-4 after their 30-17 Monday night victory over Green Bay. I watched most of that game.

Some thoughts:

1. Stafford threw a pair of TD passes to Marvin Jones. One was a great throw into the corner of the end zone where only Jones could catch it. When Jones extended his arms and brought the ball in, I thought, "No one on the Browns can make a catch like that."

2. The Lions also have Golden Tate, who is terrific running the ball after the catch. I thought, "The Browns have no receiver like that who uses his legs so well to gain extra yards once he has the ball."

3. Tate and Jones have combined for 83 catches, 1,077 yards and seven TDs.

4. All the Browns receivers combined have only two TD catches. That's right ... TWO! It's Kenny Britt and Corey Coleman who have reached the end zone.

5. There have been eight different receivers catches passes for the Browns for a grand total of 71 receptions.

6. Detroit's top two receivers obliterate all the Browns receivers combined.

Stafford has a lot to do with it. He is not an elite quarterback, but he's right below that level. He also has excellent receivers.

Meanwhile, Profootballfocus gives high grades to Browns defensive backs Jason McCoutry and Briean Boddy-Calhoun.

Yet, the Browns have been miserable against the pass.

31st in opposing quarterback ratings.

25th in touchdown passes allowed.

23rd in sacking the quarterback.

Perhaps the pass defense will improve with a healthy Myles Garrett pressuring the quarterback. He has four sacks in three games.

As for the Browns offense, it doesn't seem to matter who they play -- they can't score.

Only once (a 31-28 loss to Indianapolis) have the Browns scored more than 18 points in a game. The offense has only 13 touchdowns in eight games.

Not much hope here.

PREDICTION: Lions 24, Browns 13.



