Browns CB Denzel Ward accuses Ravens’ Stanley of dirty hit.

The Cleveland Browns defense is as good as any defense in the NFL, giving the unit and its leaders a variety of ways to target.

The most reckless manifestation of this phenomenon comes in the form of cheap shots.
Star cornerback Denzel Ward claimed he was scapegoated during the Browns’ win over the rival Baltimore Ravens last weekend. Ward spoke to reporters on Thursday, Nov.
16 and criticized Ronnie Stanley for the foul that sent him off the field.

“It felt a little cheap,” Ward told reporters, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
“He caught me. I think it was an unnecessary goal and it could have been a penalty in the game.
But I mean, this is football.
An event is taking place.
You see, everything is fine. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

Just because the officials decided not to throw the flag doesn’t mean Stanley won’t. The NFL can still fine offensive linemen for their actions.
If the league does so, an announcement regarding the financial penalties will come on Saturday.
The Browns are slated to start tight end and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson against the Steelers.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will miss the rest of the 2023 season with a shoulder injury.

Fortunately for the Browns, Ward has been a full participant in practice the past two days, so he’s eager to play Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The same cannot be said for quarterback Deshaun Watson, who will miss the rest of the year with shoulder surgery.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start in place of Watson. Cleveland is giving the rookie a second chance after a disastrous performance in Week 4 against Baltimore, where he allowed just 121 yards and three touchdowns.

Thompson-Robinson spoke to reporters Thursday and explained why the second game will be different.
“Now I know what to expect.
Like most people, I’ve been to NFL games before, so this isn’t my first time attending a game.
So I don’t go out in the snow anymore,” Thompson-Robinson said.
“It happens day and night.
My progress, my growth, how I’ve been doing in the weeks leading up to this point.
There’s just the opportunity to learn from that first experience.”

General manager Andrew Berry has publicly announced the team’s intention to add a quarterback soon, and the Browns have held workouts for former Ravens quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco.
The Browns are expected to enter the playoffs favored over the Steelers.

Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski.

Despite Watson’s injury and the loss of Nick Chubb to the Pro-Bowl early in the season, the organization made its way to the playoffs.
According to Draft Kings Sportsbook, the Browns are 1.5-point favorites to beat the Steelers on Sunday in Cleveland.

The ESPN Football Power Index (FPI) projects the Browns to win 10.3 games this season (10 or 11, with 10 being more likely). Cleveland has a 73.1 percent chance of making the postseason against Pittsburgh this weekend.

That calculus will depend on wins and losses, and Thompson-Robinson’s performance will likely dictate how the rest of the Browns’ season plays out.
Max Dible covers the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns and Golden State Warriors for Heavy.com.
He covered local and national news as a reporter for West Hawaii Today and served as news director for BigIslandNow.com and Pacific Media Group’s Big Island family of radio stations before joining Heavy.
Learn more about Max Dibble