FREE
Stephen Nover NFL Sunday Free Play
(NFL) Browns (CLE) vs. Commanders (WAS),
Point Spread: 3.00 | -110.00 Browns (CLE) (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 3.00 | -110.00 Browns (CLE) (Away)
Result: Loss
I am anything but a Deshaun Watson apologist. Watson is one of my most disliked sports figures. But reports of him being so bad that he should be benched are grossly exaggerated.
Watson has been getting better each week and doing it without multiple offensive line starters and underrated tight end David Njoku. The result is he's been sacked 19 times, most in the NFL. But that should change here. There's a good chance Njoku plays for the first time since opening week and both starting offensive tackles, Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin, return, too. Both are above average. Wills only has played 2 1/2 quarters, while Conklin would be making his season debut.
Jayden Daniels has been the talk of the NFL through September. Daniels has completed an insane 82.1 percent of his passes and leads all QB's with four rushing TD's. The result is the Commanders being favored by the most points in their last 11 games.
Washington is a surprising 3-1, leading the NFC East Division. The Browns are a disappointing 1-3. They could have been at least 2-2 if one incompetent official didn't wipe out a fourth-quarter, 82-yard touchdown pass from Watson to a wide open Amari Cooper on a phantom holding call in last week's game against the Raiders. Watson was 24-of-32 passing against the Raiders despite having little time in the pocket.
I see this spot as a clear sell high on the Commanders, buy low on the Browns.
Washington is fat and happy returning home after consecutive road upset victories against the Cardinals and Bengals two Monday nights ago. The Browns are in desperation mode by comparison.
But can Cleveland produce enough points? I'm confident they can with a return to health of key offensive line starters and facing a Washington defense that is one of the worst in the league especially on pass defense. The Commanders rank in the bottom-eight in scoring defense and total defense. They have yet to come up with a defensive takeaway. Part of Washington's defensive struggles are having small safeties and slow linebackers.
Daniels struggled until garbage time when he faced the Buccaneers opening week. During his last three games, Daniels has faced the Giants, Bengals and Cardinals - all mediocre-to-weak defenses. The Browns will be the most talented defense he's seen since entering the NFL with the best pass rusher, Myles Garrett. Cleveland's Jim Schwartz is one of the better defensive coordinators. He should have a solid defensive game plan to slow down Daniels, perhaps having speedy, versatile linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah shadow Daniels.
(Editor's note: Stephen Nover went 5-1 on his NFL plays last week, looking to beat the NFL for the 27th time in 32 years. Stephen has five Sunday NFL plays in addition to this free selection.)
Watson has been getting better each week and doing it without multiple offensive line starters and underrated tight end David Njoku. The result is he's been sacked 19 times, most in the NFL. But that should change here. There's a good chance Njoku plays for the first time since opening week and both starting offensive tackles, Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin, return, too. Both are above average. Wills only has played 2 1/2 quarters, while Conklin would be making his season debut.
Jayden Daniels has been the talk of the NFL through September. Daniels has completed an insane 82.1 percent of his passes and leads all QB's with four rushing TD's. The result is the Commanders being favored by the most points in their last 11 games.
Washington is a surprising 3-1, leading the NFC East Division. The Browns are a disappointing 1-3. They could have been at least 2-2 if one incompetent official didn't wipe out a fourth-quarter, 82-yard touchdown pass from Watson to a wide open Amari Cooper on a phantom holding call in last week's game against the Raiders. Watson was 24-of-32 passing against the Raiders despite having little time in the pocket.
I see this spot as a clear sell high on the Commanders, buy low on the Browns.
Washington is fat and happy returning home after consecutive road upset victories against the Cardinals and Bengals two Monday nights ago. The Browns are in desperation mode by comparison.
But can Cleveland produce enough points? I'm confident they can with a return to health of key offensive line starters and facing a Washington defense that is one of the worst in the league especially on pass defense. The Commanders rank in the bottom-eight in scoring defense and total defense. They have yet to come up with a defensive takeaway. Part of Washington's defensive struggles are having small safeties and slow linebackers.
Daniels struggled until garbage time when he faced the Buccaneers opening week. During his last three games, Daniels has faced the Giants, Bengals and Cardinals - all mediocre-to-weak defenses. The Browns will be the most talented defense he's seen since entering the NFL with the best pass rusher, Myles Garrett. Cleveland's Jim Schwartz is one of the better defensive coordinators. He should have a solid defensive game plan to slow down Daniels, perhaps having speedy, versatile linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah shadow Daniels.
(Editor's note: Stephen Nover went 5-1 on his NFL plays last week, looking to beat the NFL for the 27th time in 32 years. Stephen has five Sunday NFL plays in addition to this free selection.)
