Every week during the regular season, the opposing head coach and sometimes a player speak to the Detroit media via conference call. This week it was Browns head coach Hue Jackson and safety Jabrill Peppers on the conference calls. I also perused clevelandbrowns.com to see what else Cleveland players were saying this week.
So, what did they have to say about Sunday's matchup?
1. The Browns have faced a couple pretty skilled passing attacks this season – Steelers and Texans (with Deshaun Watson) – but Jackson said Sunday's matchup against Detroit could be their toughest test yet from an "experience and skill level" combination.
2. Peppers said the difficult part of playing against Matthew Stafford is that Stafford can make all the throws to every part of the field, which forces a safety like him to play very disciplined.
3. Jackson was the offensive coordinator for Cincinnati when Marvin Jones Jr. was a Bengal before signing with Detroit in free agency before the 2016 season. Jackson had nothing but good things to say about his former receiver, and isn't surprised in the least bit that Jones is having a good year. He said the sky is the limit for Jones' potential, and they have their hands full with him on Sunday.
4. Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer said the bye week was good for him to do some self-scouting and find ways to be better. He said the big emphasis moving forward has been on not turning the ball over. He has three touchdowns and 11 interceptions on the year.
5. Jackson admitted that he could have a trick or two up his sleeve for Detroit's defense coming off his bye week. He knows they have to score more points if they're going to record their first win of the season, and said there could be some changes to the offense coming off the bye.
6. The Browns will be paying a little extra attention Sunday to Golden Tate and Marvin Jones Jr., according to Peppers. Tate and Jones became the first Lions duo since Calvin Johnson and Lance Moore in 2015 to have 100 yards receiving in the same game.
7. The Browns will get No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett back on the field Sunday. Garrett obviously brings a lot to the defense from a pass-rushing perspective. He has four sacks in the three games he's played this year. Jackson called Garrett his best player.
8. Kizer said the thing that stands out about Detroit's defense to him on tape is their secondary and how aggressive it plays. He also said Cleveland's offense is using this game as a measuring stick for their run game. Detroit comes in ranked sixth against the run (89.9 yards per game).
View photos of the starters for the Cleveland Browns.