CHRISTMAS DAY FOOTBALL: CLEVELAND BROWNS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS

BY ADAM GREENE

In the preseason, this looked like a potential Super Bowl preview. Now, it looks like a game to fall asleep on the couch while ham drunk and putting off cleaning up a wrapping paper mess. The Cleveland Browns bring their slight playoff hopes to Lambeau Field on Christmas Day to take on the already playoff bound Green Bay Packers, who are attempting to shore up home field advantage in the NFC.

Cleveland missed out on its chance to take over the NFC North Monday night, but still has an outside shot of making their way into the tournament. The Packers are in cruise control at this point, aiming at a first round bye and looking at the Browns, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions the rest of the way. I’m thinking Jordan Love might see some playing time in that final game.

This will just be the 21^st all time meeting between the two franchises, in spite of the Browns being members of the old NFL once the AAFL croaked in 1950. The Packers lead the series 13-7 and won their last match up 27-21 in overtime on Dec. 10, 2017. It was the third loss to Green Bay in a row for Cleveland. Brett Hundley got the start for the Pack, finishing 35 of 46 for 265 yards and three touchdowns. Devante Adams caught 10 passes for 84 yards and two scores. Deshone Kizer got the call for the Browns, throwing for 214 yards, three TDs and two interceptions. Isaiah Crowell rushed 19 times for 121 yards.

CLEVELAND BROWNS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (-7.5, O/U: 44)

Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisc.

Broadcast: FOX/NFL Network

Kickoff: Dec. 25, 4:30 p.m.

CLEVELAND BROWNS (7-7)

Thanks in large part to losing both their Nos. 1 and 2 QBs to Covid for the week, the Browns fell 16-14 to the Las Vegas Raiders Monday night, in a game that was already postponed from Saturday. Nick Mullens put in a respectable day’s work, throwing for 147 yards and a touchdown and Nick Chubb rushed 23 times for 91 yards and a score. Cleveland’s defense sacked Derek Carr twice, picked him off once and held the Raiders to just 98 yards total on the ground.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-3)

Green Bay faced its final real test of the season (and, yes, I’m counting this game), knocking off the Baltimore Ravens 31-30 Sunday. Aaron Rodgers, bad toe and all (but don’t ask him about it. He might show it to you), threw for 268 yards and three touchdowns with no picks. Aaron Jones rushed 13 times for 58 yards and Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught five passes for 98 yards and a TD. The Packers defense sacked Tyler Huntley once and got the stop on a two-point conversion to preserve the win in the game’s final minute.

THE PICK

Baker Mayfield and Kevin Stefanski are both on track to return, but I don’t think it’ll make a difference in this game. Whatever Cleveland hoped to accomplish in 2021, it ends on Christmas. Green Bay is playing too good (as they usually do in December) and won’t lose this one at home. Packers 31, Browns 23

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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