With forecasts of 12 degrees and a minus-10 wind chill, Saturday's game would be close to the coldest ever for a Browns home game. (WKYC.com)
Possible coldest Browns game in history awaits Deshaun Watson next
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Four downs on Browns (6-8) v. New Orleans Saints (5-9)
First down: Welcome to Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrownstown.
The coldest game in Browns history was the AFC wild card game against the Oakland Raiders on Jan. 4, 1981. Records and reports of the exact temperature and wind chill vary. The ones on record with ProFootballReference.com list the temperature at 2 degrees and winds at 21 mph for a wind chill of minus-20. I covered that game from outside the press box. After the first quarter, the Browns PR department opened their heart and delivered hot chocolates to me and the other loser assigned to the so-called auxiliary box. Before I could swallow the first sip, it froze on my mustache. That’s how cold it was. The forecast on weather.com for Saturday’s 1 p.m. kickoff is 12 degrees, 30 mph winds and a wind chill of minus-10. So that statistically would rank as the second-coldest Browns game in Cleveland – unless projected wind gusts of 60 mph push the wind chill lower. In any case, it will be brutal. Severe conditions require severe measures. Will this be the first game since 1950 the Browns do not attempt a pass? Would they eschew the PAT – should they score a touchdown – for a 2-point conversion? Would they even ask Cade York to attempt a field goal? You would hope so, because three points could be all it takes to win. With that in mind, look for the coin toss winner to take the ball. The Saints arrived in Cleveland a day earlier than normal to beat a travel advisory and to get acclimated to what awaits them. They ain’t seen nothing like it. The coldest game in Saints history was recorded in Philadelphia in 1993. It was a balmy 24 degrees.
Second down: Careful what you ask for.
Deshaun Watson has said that weather wasn’t a consideration in choosing his destination when the Houston Texans auctioned him off for trade in March. Cleveland was the first team eliminated from his Final Four – presumably because of foul weather and geography – but Watson changed his tune when the Browns re-upped their contract offer to five years fully guaranteed for $230 million. Ever since, Watson has embraced everything about the Browns, including the cold weather that characterizes the last quarter of their season. Watson passed his first test in cold weather last week when he played error-free in 23 wind chill in a 13-3 win over the Baltimore Ravens. A guaranteed minus wind chill on Saturday may rarely be topped in his Browns career. It’s good that he is being exposed to severe weather in this disappointing first season with the Browns. It won’t be as much of a culture shock for him with the playoffs on the line in subsequent years. Ultimately, for the Browns to get to the Super Bowl with Watson at quarterback they will have to play in Buffalo or Kansas City or New England or Pittsburgh or Cincinnati in mid- to late-January. Or maybe they might host an AFC Championship Game on a “weather” day like Saturday.
Third down: Where’s No. 7?
Taysom Hill is listed only at tight end on the Saints’ depth chart, but he can line up there, in the backfield, at wideout, in the slot or, most dangerously, at quarterback. The extreme weather conditions elevate Hill to most important player on offense. Created as a utility offensive playmaker by former coach Sean Payton, Hill (6-2 and 221 pounds) is the Saints’ second-leading rusher (449 yards, 6.6 average) and has scored five touchdowns rushing and two receiving, and has thrown for two more on 11 of 17 passing for 216 yards. “He is a weapon in his versatility,” said coach Kevin Stefanski. “He does everything well. He is a very, very physical runner. Doesn’t run like a quarterback, per se. He runs like a fullback. Can throw the ball. Can throw the ball to all areas of the field. Three are no limitations to what he can do in that regard. It presents a huge challenge. Not to mention, you defend him as a quarterback, and he can just line up and block. They do a nice job. I think they utilize him in a very, very smart way. It is a credit to them. They are using a really versatile football player.” Hill’s versatility will be even more valuable on a day the Saints will be without top two wideouts Chris Olave and Jarvis Landry.
Fourth down: Auld lang syne.
This being the last home game of the Browns season, several players may be making their last appearance in FirstEnergy Stadium for the Browns. Right tackle Jack Conklin agreed to a new four-year contract with the Browns on Friday, so that removed him from the free agent-to-be list. There remains a long list of Browns whose contracts run out after this year, which makes Saturday’s game possibly their last home game with the Browns. Those players include defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, running back Kareem Hunt, cornerback Greedy Williams, quarterback Jacoby Brissett, linebacker Anthony Walker, offensive lineman Chris Hubbard, running back D’Ernest Johnson, safety Ronnie Harrison, linebacker Deion Jones, and linebacker Sione Takitaki (injured).
The pick: Browns 11, Saints 6.
My record: 6-8.
