3 Browns Players Who Need to Step Up for a Cleveland Playoff Push

Odell Beckham Jr. has not looked like a No. 1 wide receiver in his first three games back from his torn ACL. 

The Cleveland Browns wide receiver had four receptions for 47 yards in Weeks 4 and 5 combined. Those totals came after he put up 77 yards on five receptions in his season debut in Week 3.

As the NFL season goes on, the Browns need more out of Beckham, especially in big games, to contend with the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North. 

At the moment, Cleveland is one game back of the Ravens in the division, and it is one of four non-division leaders in the conference with a 3-2 record. 

Cleveland's two losses have come against two of the strongest teams in the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers. 

Starting with Sunday's clash against the Arizona Cardinals, the Browns have a chance to prove they can beat the best teams in the league. 

For that to happen, Beckham and a few others need to make more big plays. 

It is natural to point fingers at Beckham for his lack of receiving yards in the last two weeks. 

The totals are more frustrating when you look at how the 47-42 Week 5 loss to the Chargers played out. Beckham only had three targets, but with more productions, the Browns could have left Sofi Stadium with a 4-1 record. 

Beckham deserves some criticism for his performances, particularly while Jarvis Landry is out injured. However, he may need a few weeks to get his legs back to game speed after suffering a torn ACL in the first half of the 2020 season.

The wideout may have the benefit of the doubt through three games, but he needs to do more in Week 6 against Arizona. 

Cleveland managed to get past the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4 without Beckham playing a major role. That win was earned by its defense that held the NFC North side to seven points. 

Sunday's matchup carries significance for where the Browns stand in the NFL hierarchy, but it also serves as the start of a three-game home stand.

If the Browns offense fires on all cylinders versus Arizona, Denver and Pittsburgh, they could create separation between themselves and some of the wild-card contenders in the AFC. 

The upcoming stretch is also important to build more offensive chemistry ahead of the most important three-week run of the season in Weeks 12-14, where they face the Ravens twice with a bye week sandwiched in between. 

The Chargers exploited their opportunities with wide receivers going one-on-one with Ronnie Harrison.

The Cleveland safety allowed two touchdown catches on the three targets sent in his direction in the Week 5 defeat. 

Harrison has been directly targeted on eight occasions by opposing quarterbacks this season. He has allowed five completions, three of which have been touchdowns. 

Additionally, Harrison has conceded 69 yards after the catch on the five completions he's allowed. Three of those receptions were in Week 2 against the Houston Texans. The other two were scoring plays versus the Chargers. 

Harrison may not be targeted at a high rate throughout the season, but he needs to clean up his coverage skills when he is thrown at. 

Arizona may look to exploit that weakness in Week 6 since Kyler Murray has an abundance of targets to work with in the passing game. 

The Cardinals could try to match up James Conner or Chase Edmonds against Harrison, or force him into one-on-one coverage against one of their many talented wide receivers.

As long as Harrison works on his coverage skills, he should be fine as the season goes on, but Sunday's concessions brought up a concern that can't linger. 

The Browns need support around Myles Garrett to threaten opposing quarterbacks every week.

Garrett leads the team with seven sacks. The star pass-rusher earned 4.5 sacks in the Week 3 win over the Chicago Bears. He has at least a half-sack in four of five games. 

Takkarist McKinley has provided some decent support for Garrett in the last few weeks. He had 1.5 sacks in Weeks 3 and 4. He had a quarterback hit and a single tackle in Week 5. 

McKinley will be one of the pass-rushers the Browns turn to for more production when opponents double Garrett. 

If any of Cleveland's upcoming foes attempt to take away Garrett with double teams, McKinley needs to make an impact in the pass rush to divert some of the attention away from his squad's top defensive player. 

McKinley had 13 sacks in his first two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, so he is capable of generating pressure on his own. 

McKinley may have trouble with that in Week 6 against Murray's elusiveness in the pocket, but he has two prime opportunities against Denver and Pittsburgh in Weeks 7 and 8. 

Statistics obtained from Pro Football Reference.