Browns Need to Get Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb on the Field Together a Lot More

With the Cleveland Browns at 5-6 with just five games left in the regular season, any idea should be on the table. And given that they have two solid running backs in Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb, it's time for Freddie Kitchens to stack the backfield.

Playing these two at the same time gives Cleveland an advantage. They need to seize the opportunity.

Field Yates notes that when Browns' plays with Hunt and Chubb both on the field have resulted in more yards per play than any other NFL team is averaging overall.

The Browns waited out Hunt's eight-game suspension to start the season, so it's it's a three-game data set that we have to look at. However, all three were wins, and two of those came against plausible playoff contenders in the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers. It's fair to say that Hunt's play has been important, and also that these two running backs have meshed well.

Why not turn them loose?

Hunt and Chubb both demand notable defensive attention, and Hunt in particular is a receiving threat out of the backfield. A number of teams would gladly give up plenty to have a pair of runners like this.

Cleveland could technically still make the playoffs, especially when you look at their schedule. Trailing by only a game for the second AFC Wild Card spot, they play a tense toss-up game in Pittsburgh Sunday, plus one against the Ravens late next month -- but they also play the Bengals twice, and play a highly winnable game against the Cardinals.

If they Browns go all-out in the backfield, they could still end up playing in January. What have they got to lose?