Cleveland offense vs. New Orleans defense

	BROWNS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	27
	Pass	30
	Tot. Yds.	31
	Scoring	31
	Int's allowed	6
	Sacks allowed	26
	SAINTS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	20
	vs. Pass	10
	Total yds. allowed	13
	No. of INTs	7
	No. of Sacks	23
	Turnover differential	-8

The Browns made a concerted effort to improve the team on the offensive side of the ball with the acquisition of RB Karim Abdul-Jabbar from the Dolphins right before the trading deadline. Abdul-Jabbar is a guy who is effective near the goal line and will give the Browns a more effective runner on first and second down. The Cleveland offensive line will be hard-pressed to deal with a New Orleans' athletic front-seven, but after some success opening holes against the Rams and the addition of Jabbar, there is hope. The Browns desperately need to upgrade the running attack, which ranks second to last in the NFL, and which allows opposing defenses to overplay the pass against Cleveland rookie QB, Tim Couch.

Since Week 3, Browns coach Chris Palmer has been forced to simplify his offense in response to the defensive looks opponents have been throwing at his team. This week, expect more of the same from the Browns, as the Saints will roll coverage towards WR Kevin Johnson's side, leaving Couch with the underneath routes and a healthy dose of TE Irv Smith. Smith should add a wrinkle to the Brown's offense after missing the last three weeks with a knee injury, and Couch has been unable to find his rhythm with back-up TEs Mark Campbell or Randy Palmer.

The New Orleans defense had its worst game of the year last weekend against the Giants. Several costly breakdowns allowed a normally anemic New York offense to look like a well-oiled machine. What the 31-3 final score didn't show is that New Orleans was effective against the run, as the Saints stacked up the Giant running game -- limiting New York to only 2.9 yards per carry. If the Saints are again solid against the run, it will allow the team's secondary greater flexibility defending the pass. With Cleveland WR Kevin Johnson as the Brown's only deep threat, expect SS Sammy Knight to help LDC Ashley Ambrose on Johnson's deeper routes. This will expose RDC Fred Weary in single coverage against veteran WR Leslie Shepherd, but Weary should be able to handle this assignment.

Linebacker is a concern going into this game for the Saints as missed tackles and blown assignments plagued the Saints last weekend. A hard runner like the Browns' Abdul-Jabbar will test the Saints' defensive fundamentals. ROLB Mark Fields needs to step up the level of his play and keep his head in the game for four quarters. The Saints front four has proven they can rush the passer, sacking Giants' QB Kent Graham three times in the first series of last weekend's game, but needs to play at a higher level throughout the course of a game, as the team's defense recorded only one more sack the rest of the day.

If TE Cam Cleeland returns on Sunday it will be a big boost for the New Orleans offense. Cleeland adds a vertical passing threat that is capable of stretching opposing offenses and opening up the underneath routes for possession receivers like Andre Hastings. Another deep threat that would bolster an anemic Saints attack is WR Keith Poole, who is inconsistent but can get behind defenses. Poole is listed as probable for this Sunday's game, and will most likely play.

The Browns defensive line play was sad last Sunday, as they failed to wrap up Rams RB Marshall Faulk before he got into the secondary. RDE Derrick Alexander will have a tough time generating a pass rush this Sunday, as he will line up across from Saints LOT Willie Roaf, a perennial Pro-Bowler. Alexander will have a difficult time with Roaf, whose long arms and superior strength will force Alexander to take the long road to the QB.

With the Saints superiority on the offensive line, the Browns will need to have a big game from their linebackers, 2/3 of whom (ROLB Jamir Miller and LOLB Rahim Abdullah) are listed as questionable for Sunday's game. Both will need to be full strength if they are going to shed blockers and make plays against the New Orleans ground game, and Abdullah will need his speed if he is going to run with Saints' TE Cleeland. As poorly as New Orleans has been throwing the football, expect the Browns defense to put eight men in the box and dare the Saints to throw the football.