| Browns CB Joe Haden will have a tough assignment Sunday vs. Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe. (US Presswire) |
It's rare for a team to have two lights-out skill position players and one of the worst offenses in the NFL.
Welcome to the world of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Running back Jamaal Charles is as explosive as any in the league. And wide receiver Dwayne Bowe is on pace for another 1,000-yard season despite an unstable and unproductive quarterback situation.
The Chiefs rank 31st in the league in points per game (15.7). They have struggled to get into the end zone with their passing game. Bowe has three touchdown receptions, but no teammate has more than one. He could struggle Sunday against the Browns lock-down cornerback Joe Haden, who Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer avoided from the first tick of the clock to the last on Sunday.
"I wouldn't say his strength is speed," said Haden of the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Bowe. "But you definitely want to stay tight with him because he's able to jump up high and get the ball. I'm not as worried about him as a deep threat, but you have to worry about him getting good body position on you."
Bowe might not be a deep threat, but Charles is -- from the backfield.
"He can score from wherever they hand [the ball] to him," coach Pat Shurmur said. "That's very dangerous. You don't get that from a lot of running backs."
Browns free safety Usama Young, who returned to practice this week after missing time with a concussion, says Charles and the a Kansas City ground game that ranks fifth in the NFL must be the primary focus of the defense.
"He's one of the most explosive backs in the league," Young said. "We have to be a sure-tackling defense."
Unsung hero: One of the most pleasant surprises of the season has been veteran left guard John Greco. He assumed the starting spot when Jason Pinkston was sidelined for the season with a blood clot in his lung.
The concern was that the loss of Pinkston would halt the progress of an offensive line emerging as one of the better units in the NFL. But it hasn't missed a beat.
"That was the big thing for me coming in," he said. "I wanted to make sure there was no dropoff."
Greco will be greatly responsible for keeping Chiefs inside linebacker and 2011 all-NFL selection Derrick Johnson from significantly disrupting the offense.
"They try to keep blockers off of him," Greco said. "He's extremely athletic. You have to get to him or he can be very disruptive."
A 'Little' Gordon: Shurmur began the season experimenting at wide receiver to determine the best combinations. The experiment is over. Josh Gordon and Greg Little are clearly established as the starters with all others jockeying for playing time.
Gordon has emerged as the first major receiving threat for the Browns since Braylon Edwards in 2007. His 116-yard, one-touchdown performance in Oakland last Sunday was his best of the year. Gordon is third in the NFL with an average of 19.0 yards per catch.
Little has not been explosive, but he has become far more dependable since struggling with drops much of the year. He caught four passes for 48 yards against the Raiders and added a devastating block that sprung fellow wideout Mohamed Massaquoi for a 54-yard reception.
Quarterback Brandon Weeden has been particularly effusive in his praise for Gordon.
"The sky is the limit for that guy," he said. "The guy is talented, he's tall, he's long, he's fast, and he catches the ball well."
Bits and pieces: Shurmur said he's aware that former Browns such as coach Romeo Crennel, starting quarterback Brady Quinn and running back Peyton Hillis will be fired up to beat their old team when they arrive with the Chiefs on Sunday. "I'm sure you always want to do well against a team you used to play for," Shurmur said. "I get that. But we also have a prideful group of guys that want to win for our team and our city." ... Every Browns player practiced on Wednesday. WR/KR Josh Cribbs (shoulder/chest), DB Ray Ventrone (calf) and Young (concussion) were limited.
Stay dialed in on the Cleveland Browns on Twitter at @CBSBrowns throughout the season with on-site updates from CBSSports.com RapidReports correspondent Marty Gitlin.