The Sports Xchange

BEREA, Ohio — Josh McCown is unquestionably still the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, but the mood is decidedly different around team headquarters than it was a week ago.

One week after setting a team record by throwing for a franchise record 457 yards in a 33-30 overtime victory over the Baltimore Ravens, McCown blamed himself for a 26-23 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos on Oct. 18.

As the Browns turned their attention to their Sunday matchup with the Rams in St. Louis, McCown was still lamenting how the Browns let a chance to beat the Broncos slip away.

McCown threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. It was especially painful because he played three straight games without throwing an interception before facing the Broncos.

“I’m working on it,” he said. “Those opportunities, you only get 16 of them. At this position, you want to feel like you go out and do everything you can to help your team win the ballgame. Even against the Mo. 1 defense (Denver’s), when you feel you haven’t executed at the level you know you can execute, it is hard to shake.

“We have 10 more games. The other part about playing this position and life in general is being able to move past mistakes and have the wherewithal and the mental toughness to do that. That’ll be our focus moving forward and we will move on.”

McCown has completed 121-of-188 passes for 1,416 yards. He has thrown eight touchdown passes and three interceptions and has a passer rating of 94.6.

More importantly than the positive numbers, his coaches and teammates are still firmly behind him. They won’t dismiss the way he brought the team back against the Chargers, only to lose on a field goal as time expired, and the way he led an overtime victory against the Ravens.

“We were one play here or there away,” wide receiver Andrew Hawkins said. “We still have all of the confidence in Josh, and I don’t think anything will change that.”

The Browns will have other challenges to deal with when they face the Rams. In particular they have to find a way to slow down rookie running back Todd Gurley.

Gurley hasn’t scored a touchdown yet for the Rams (2-3), but he has an impressive 5.7-yard average on 55 carries for 314 yards. Plus, he is well-rested since the Rams are coming off their bye.

Browns head coach Mike Pettine says his run defense is improving, but that’s debatable. The Broncos averaged only 77 yards a game on the ground the first five weeks and then ran for 152 yards against the Browns.

“We are seeing strides,” Pettine said.” It’s still the frustration of we might have 10 run plays and defend eight of them well for little or no gain, and then we get creased with one. It’s usually when multiple guys get a minus — somebody steps under themselves, somebody gets reached, a linebacker buries himself or we miss a tackle — you get multiple minuses and that is what adds up to a chunk run.”

The Browns have allowed six rushing touchdowns.

SERIES HISTORY: 20th meeting, Rams lead series, 10-9. The Browns beat the Rams only one time in their four meetings since 1999. On Oct. 28, 2007, quarterback Derek Anderson threw three touchdown passes and posted a 143.0 passer rating to lead the Browns past the Rams, 27-0, in St. Louis.

GAME PLAN: The Browns hope cornerback Joe Haden will be cleared from a concussion sustained against the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 11 and will be able to start against the Rams. He did not practice Wednesday.

Having Haden and Tramon Williams as the starting cornerbacks will force Rams quarterback Nick Foles to hesitate finding an open receiver, which will allow defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil to gamble with the pass rush and perhaps force Foles into throwing an interception. Foles has been picked five times this season.

Getting the ball for the offense on a short field will increase the Browns’ chances of getting their second rode win this season.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

–Browns punter Andy Lee vs. Rams PR Tavon Austin.

Fortunately for the Browns, they practice daily against their own speedy punt returner, Travis Benjamin. Austin is difficult to catch once he turns the corner. He has a 17.3-yard average on seven returns. Lee has a 49.4 punting average. It will be important he doesn’t outkick his coverage.

–Browns SS Donte Whitner vs. Rams TE Jared Cook.

Opposing quarterbacks have had success isolating the tight end against Whitner. Cook is second among Rams receivers with 15 receptions. He is still looking for his first touchdown. If Whiter wins this duel it means the Browns should win the third down battle.