CLEVELAND, Ohio — Quarterback Case Keenum will get the start Thursday night for the Cleveland Browns as they host the Denver Broncos. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. Eastern.
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The Broncos will try to snap a three-game losing streak with their most recent loss coming at the hands of the Raiders, 34-24. The Browns were blown out at home by the undefeated Cardinals, 37-14.
Who: Denver Broncos (3-3) at Cleveland Browns (3-3).
When: Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021.
Time: 8:20 p.m. Eastern.
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland (67,895).
TV: FOX/NFL Network.
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Latest line: Browns -1.5.
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews and Kristina Pink.
Read some of what Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com wrote about Keenum stepping in for the injured Baker Mayfield.
Case Keenum spoke like a nine-year veteran with 62 starts under his belt who’s waited an eternity for a chance like this: replacing an injured Baker Mayfield against his former Broncos teammates on the nationally-televised Thursday Night Football.
“I feel very ready,’’ Keenum, who hasn’t started a game in almost two years, said on a Zoom conference Wednesday. “I’ve been ready. You can say, ‘You don’t have to get ready if you stay ready’ and I’ve been ready since I got here. So I’m excited. I’m ready.’’
Not only is he ready, he’s got this in ways that few can comprehend. A veteran of five NFL teams, Keenum has the Kevin Stefanski offense etched in his brain from their magical lone year together in Minnesota in 2017.
With Stefanski as position coach, Keenum replaced an injured Sam Bradford and led the Vikings to an 11-3 record and the NFC North crown. His offensive coordinator was former Browns coach and current Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, so the storylines keep coming.
What’s more, he orchestrated the ‘Minneapolis Miracle’ in the playoff, tossing a 27-yard sideline route to Stephon Diggs, who made a guy miss and turned it into a 61-yard TD on the final play to catapult the Vikings into the NFC Championship Game, where they lost to the Eagles.
Moments like those come along once in a career, and forge bonds that last forever.
“Obviously very familiar with Kevin from our time going all the way back to Minnesota,’’ Keenum said. “Just over the last year and a half, two years really that we’ve gotten to work and really put in this Cleveland Browns offense, and even more specifically what it is in 2021. We’re right in the middle of it, I’ve been right in the middle of it the whole way getting reps. Millions of reps, honestly, in my mind. If I’m not getting them on the field, I’m getting them in my mind.’’
Side by side with Mayfield since he signed a three-year free agent contract before last season, Keenum has lived every live rep like it was his own. Every moment in every game, he’s imagined doing it himself, just like he did in his 62 career starts (27-35 record).
“I’ve gotten a lot of reps and even on a short week like this, I’ve done it a lot,’’ he said. “So I’m excited with the guys out there, I know we’re uncertain on a lot of the guys, who’s going to be out there. But I’m built for this. This is what I’ve done my whole career, not knowing if I’m going to start up until gametime to not knowing who’s out there with me to introducing myself to players while I’m calling a play type stuff.”
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