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NFL Cleveland Browns

Buster Skrine Will Be X-Factor for Cleveland Browns in Week 10

By @GregSulik

buster skrine browns

Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

When the Cleveland Browns take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the Battle of Ohio on Thursday Night Football, there will be a lot discussion about the superstar matchup between Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green and Browns cornerback Joe Haden. However, the matchup on the other side of the field is just as important, and that is why cornerback Buster Skrine is the x-factor for the Browns this week.

The Bengals only rank 15th in the NFL in pass yards per game and are one of just three teams to still be in single digits in passing touchdowns. However, those numbers don’t fairly describe the threat the Bengal passing attack can pose when they’re clicking, something the team has shown flashes of at times this season. In this game, Skrine will be covering Mohamed Sanu, who is enjoying a breakout season and poses a significant problem for the Browns.

Sanu has 39 receptions for 628 yards and 4 touchdowns this season, with the latter two figures already establishing career highs for the third year wideout. There was some thought that Green’s return from injury would make Sanu an afterthought, but Sanu led the team with 8 targets in Green’s first game back, catching 4 of them for 95 yards and a touchdown. Sanu appears to have emerged as the No. 2 receiver the Bengals have been missing, and that puts a lot of pressure on Skrine to perform this week.

Skrine had some issues with another big receiver in Mike Evans last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he will need to play better against the Bengals. Sanu ranks 12th in the NFL in yards per catch at 16.1, and his big play ability has been crucial to the Bengals all season. The Browns rank 18th in the league in pass yards allowed per game, and they’ve given up at least one 30 yard reception in all but one game (when it was a 26 yarder). They’ve prevented the really big plays, only allowing one completion of 40 or more yards all year. However, that one was a 75 yard touchdown by Justin Hunter on a play in which he beat Skrine.

In order for the Browns to win, Skrine has to be able to take away Sanu as a deep threat and help contain the Bengals passing attack. This doesn’t figure to be a shootout, so one big play could really turn the tide. Even though all eyes will be on the matchup on the other side of the field, Skrine vs Sanu could be the key to the game. Skrine has to have a strong performance, or the Browns will be in big trouble.

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