Browns have something special for Bears: Cribbs, Rogers
The 3-3 Bears spent a good portion of the previous six days convincing themselves that the Browns are better than their 1-6 record.
Sunday, starting at noon, they'll find out if they bought it.
The numbers don't do much to make a case for the Browns as a team that, "on any given Sunday," can spring a surprise on a better team, such as the 13-point-favorite Bears.
Defensively, Cleveland is dead-last 32nd in total yards allowed, 31st in rushing yards and average gain per rush allowed, and in interception percentage, and 27th in points allowed.
Offensively, they're even worse by the numbers: 32nd in average gain per pass play and third-down efficiency, 31st in total yards and passing yards, and 30th in scoring and interceptions allowed. Quarterback Derek Anderson is 35th in the league with a 40.6 passer rating, the lowest of all players with enough attempts to qualify.
But the Browns are excellent on special teams, and they do have at least one other big factor in their favor, with the emphasis on big. Immense nose tackle Shaun Rogers anchors the middle of their 3-4 defense. He has 28 tackles, more than any two Bears interior linemen combined.
Not only does Rogers present a human road block to the inside run game, he's a terror on special teams, where he has 15 blocked kicks in his nine-year career (13 field goals and 2 extra points). Although he's 6-foot-4, Rogers' recipe for swatting kicks doesn't include a great vertical jump.
"He's not a leaper," Bears special teams coach Dave Toub said. "He knocks you back. They list him at 350 pounds, but I think he's probably closer to 400. He's so strong, and he as a great get-off inside, and he's tall enough and has long arms.
"He's got a good knack for it. He's going to get two yards penetration and get his hands up at the perfect time, and we have to deal with him."
At least the Bears don't have to feed him. Against the Bengals four weeks ago, Rogers blocked a field goal and an extra point. Back in 2004, in the first game of the Lovie Smith regime, Rogers was with the Lions, and he blocked Paul Edinger's 27-yard FG attempt, which was returned 92 yards by Bracy Walker for a Lions touchdown in their 20-16 victory at Soldier Field.
The Bears know the best way to neutralize Rogers on special teams, but knowing what to do and actually doing it aren't the same.
"You have to stay low," Toub said. "We've watched a lot of tape on him. We have a history with him when he was at Detroit. We know what to expect. If you get down there (into FG range) early, and he's fresh, he can bring it. He brings it hard, and we're going to try to do our best against him."
The Browns have an even more dangerous special-teams player in return specialist Joshua Cribbs, who is in just his fifth season but already stands 18th on the NFL's all-time list for return yards with 7,214. Devin Hester has 3,732 in one less year.
Cribbs leads the NFL with a 16.4-yard punt-return average and is fourth in the league with a 28.9-yard kickoff-return average, just behind Johnny Knox's 29.0-yard average. Cribbs leads the NFL in total return yardage by 202 yards over the San Diego Chargers' Darren Sproles.
"He's great because he's got great vision and he's very strong," Toub said. "He's very impressive. Every time we watch him, it's scary."
Cribbs has 8 career return touchdowns (2 punts, 6 kickoffs), and in addition to being in the wide receiver rotation he is the quarterback in the Browns' version of the Wildcat.
"I love the Wildcat (and) any opportunity for me to get the ball directly in my hands," Cribbs said. "I'm amazed at the things I do, the things I am capable of. (It's like) 'Wow, how did I do that?' or, 'Wow, how did I get out of that?'
"I am starting to realize that they are really showing initiative and taking effort in getting me the ball. That means a lot to the team to get me the football."
On 13 carries this season, Cribbs has picked up 102 yards for a 7.8-yard average, but despite his elusiveness has just 38 yards on 10 receptions.