A quick look at the Cleveland Browns

But things have not gone according to their master plan.

The Falcons (4-4) will put their three-game winning streak on the line when they face the flailing Browns (2-6-1) at 1 p.m. Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium.

"What I do know from the little bit of studying that I've done is the talent," Falcons coach Dan Quinn said on Monday. "Their ability defensively to create takeaways. If I'm not mistaken, I believe they're the league leader in forcing turnovers."

Over the offseason, the Browns were making all the right moves.

But things have not gone according the plan of new general manager John Dorsey, the former Green Bay executive who learn under Pro Football Hall of Famer Ron Wolf. Dorsey also built most of the current Kansas Chiefs’ roster.

The young and talented team played teams close early in the season, but couldn’t figure out how to win games. They had the Saints, Steelers and Ravens on the ropes, but couldn’t knock them out.

The Browns ended up tying the Steelers and losing to the Saints and Ravens on field goals. The loss to the Ravens may have taken the wind out of their sails as the Browns have dropped four straight since that defeat.

Baker Mayfield, the quarterback of the future, who was supposed to learn behind Taylor, was thrown into the lineup and is just not ready to carry a NFL team.

With things going sideways, head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley were both fired and Gregg Williams, he of BountyGate fame, was named the interim.

Now, the Browns are just treading water, waiting for the next head coach and new direction.

The Browns played their first game under Williams on Sunday. Williams was the team’s defensive coordinator before the firings.

Williams, who was suspended in 2012 for his admitted role in the Saints’ bounty hunting – cash for injuries – program, has resurrected his career. But keeping the Browns together for their remaining seven games will be difficult.

“The only way that I know that is to treat every day like it is the most important day and do not deface or denounce or under-utilize each and every day,” Williams said to the Cleveland media on Monday. “There is somebody wanting to sit in your seat as a player and as a coach in this league.”

Williams plans to keep it simple for the Browns.

“Do not make the game too complicated,” Williams said. “Do the fundamental things. Have to tackle. Have to catch it. Have to run it. Have to block it. Have to do those things, even to the point where you do not put as much emphasis on the opponent as is on you and on what you and we have to do.”

The Browns have a lot of young and talented players in addition to Mayfield, cornerback Denzel Ward and Chubb.

“Getting back to the basics on a few things, especially with a young team,” Williams said. “Getting back to the basics and do not forget how important that is with guys that need as much time on task at this fast level of football with not a lot of experience.”

This will be the 15th meeting between the Browns and Falcons. The Browns lead the series 11-3 and have won three of the last four meetings.

Chubb has taken over at running back for the Browns after they traded Carlos Hyde, who was another free agent signee, to Jacksonville.

“Man, is Nick (Chubb) a guy we know well and saw his toughness right there front and center (while at Georgia),” Quinn said. “He's getting a lot more playing time now over the last few weeks.”

The Browns have 13 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries for 23 turnovers. They have a plus-11 takeaway margin, which is first in the league.

“That part jumped off the tape to me,” Quinn said of the Browns’ ability to create turnovers. “Then the speed and talent that they have outside at receiver, at running back, then on the defensive side at a number of spots, specifically the secondary and their pass-rusher.”

The Falcons defense has held New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley to 43 yards rushing and Washington’s Adrian Peterson to 17 yards running in their past two outings.

Chubb will be another challenge.

But the Falcons are pleased with the play of rookie linebacker Foye Oluokun, who led the team in tackles with six against Washington.

“He's always had the ability,” Quinn said. “You've heard me (talk about) how excited I have been about him, and then he had the ankle sprain, and we held him a little bit. But over the last few weeks he's earned more playing time.”

Oluokun, a sixth-round pick in the 2018 draft from Yale, has moved ahead of Duke Riley, a third-round pick in the 2017 draft.

“As a linebacker, he plays really square behind the line of scrimmage, and that helps in your tackling,” Quinn said. “He's got good anticipation. He's a good communicator on the field. ... I would just say it's his versatility and tackling that's allowed him to get more playing time.”

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