Sunday, December 20, 2020, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, 8:20 p.m. ET
Browns at Giants Betting Preview: Browns (-5/-112), Giants (+5/-109)
Cleveland Browns
Baker Mayfield has the Browns (9-4) in contention for their first playoff berth since the 2002 season, even though the team dropped a 47-42 decision to Baltimore on Monday. Mayfield has totaled nine touchdowns (eight passing, one rushing) over his last three games and recorded season-high totals in passing yards in each of his last two.
The Browns’ bread and butter is their two-headed rushing attack of Nick Chubb (team-leading 881 yards) and Kareem Hunt (772 yards), who are the key components to the NFL’s third-ranked rushing attack (156.2 yards per game). The duo combined for 213 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns versus the Ravens.
Jarvis Landry, who leads the team in catches (60) and receiving yards (728), has collected 22 receptions for 257 yards and two touchdowns over his last three games. Rashard Higgins has the most touchdown receptions among the team’s wideouts with four, including one in each of the past two contests.
New York Giants
The Giants (5-8) enter Sunday’s clash with a question under center, as Daniel Jones is nursing both a hamstring injury and sprained ankle. Should the second-year quarterback be unable to play against Cleveland, veteran Colt McCoy will get the nod against the team that selected him in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Evan Engram has proven to be a capable outlet for whomever is under center for the Giants. Engram has a team-leading 50 receptions to serve as one of three NFC tight ends to reach that plateau this season.
New York will look to pick up the pieces after seeing its four-game winning streak come to a halt with a 26-7 setback to Arizona. Locating some semblance of offense would be of great help, considering the Giants have mustered just 43 points over their last three games and were limited to a Dion Lewis 1-yard touchdown against the Cardinals.
Browns at Giants Betting Pick for Week 15
The NFL opted to flex these two teams into the primetime slot, although that likely will only mean a bigger audience to see either Jones or McCoy sent unceremoniously to their backs on Sunday. New York quarterbacks have been sacked an NFL third-worst 41 times this season — including eight by the Cardinals last week — heading into a date with Myles Garrett (10.5 sacks) and former Giant Olivier Vernon (7.0 sacks).
Cleveland’s defense likely will get back on track after being shredded by Baltimore.
Browns at Giants Betting Pick:
Browns 31, Giants 16
Browns at Giants Best Bet for Week 15
Like him or not (and there’s plenty to support both arguments), Mayfield appears to have grown comfortable in Kevin Stefanski’s offense. A potent ground game will open doors for a passing attack that should be able to move the ball against a Giants’ team that is not ready for primetime.
Browns at Giants Best Bet: OVER 44 total points (-114)
