Browns vs. Vikings: Week 5 Need to Know

The Cleveland Browns will welcome the Minnesota Vikings as the “home team” in Sunday’s game in London.

This will be the second time the Browns have played a regular-season international game, with the last one coming in 2017 against the Vikings.

Rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel will be the center of attention as he gets his first NFL start after four weeks of Joe Flacco struggling to get the offense going.

On the other side, the Vikings are playing their second consecutive international game after losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week in Dublin, Ireland.

It is the Browns vs. the Vikings from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and here is everything to know about the game.

Game Info

Records: Cleveland is 1-3. Minnesota is 2-2

Kickoff: 9:30 a.m.

Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

TV: WEWS (local), NFL Network (National)

Announcers: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma, and Megan Olivi (sideline reporter)

Radio: 850 ESPN Cleveland, 92.3 The Fan WKRK, 98.5 WNCX, 1300 AM La Mega (Español)

Announcers: Andrew Siciliano, Nathan Zegura, and Jerod Cherry (sidelines)

Last meeting: The Browns won the last meeting, 14-7, in Week 4 of the 2021 season.

First meeting: The Vikings won the first meeting, 27-17, on October 31, 1965.

All-time series: The Vikings lead the all-time series, 12-5. The Browns have won two of the last three meetings.

Weather: 59 degrees and cloudy, with no chance of rain. Winds from the WNW at 15 mph. (weather.com)

Uniform: The Browns will delight the international audience in their brown jersey and white pants combo.

Injury report: Browns – Out: Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (knee). Questionable: Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (elbow) and cornerback Greg Newsome II (hamstring). Vikings – Out: Guard Donovan Jackson (wrist), center Ryan Kelly (concussion), center Michael Jurgens (hamstring), quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle), offensive tackle Brian O’Neill (knee), and defensive end Andrew Van Ginkel (neck). Questionable: Defensive end Tyler Batty (knee), fullback C.J. Ham (knee), and tight end Ben Yurosek (knee).

The line: Browns +3.5, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

News and Notes

• Dillon Gabriel is the first rookie quarterback to start a game for the Browns since Dorian Thompson-Robinson in 2023.
• Gabriel is also the first quarterback to make his first start in an international game.
• In two games as Minnesota’s starting quarterback, Carson Wentz has been sacked nine times and thrown two interceptions.
• Injuries may force the Vikings to start their No. 3 center, No. 3 left guard, and No. 2 right tackle.
• Cleveland’s defense is No. 1 in the NFL in both pass-rush win rate (56 percent) and run-stop win rate (37.7 percent), according to ESPN.
• Myles Garrett’s 92.1 overall PFF grade is fourth-best among qualifiers, and his 93.0 PFF pass-rushing grade is second-best. Minnesota offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw has allowed just four pressures and no sacks on 79 pass-blocking snaps in his past two games, according to PFF, posting a 66.2 PFF pass-blocking grade.
• Cleveland is averaging just 14 points per game.
• The Browns have not scored more than 17 points in a game since Week 13 of last season, a streak of nine consecutive games. That is tied for the longest streak in franchise history.
• Cleveland has not allowed a 300-yard passer in 32 consecutive games, the longest current streak in the league.
• Cleveland’s defense has not allowed a team to gain more than 300 net yards in a game this season.
• Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson is tops in the NFL with 11 receptions for 195 yards on intermediate targets this season. The Browns have faced only 18 intermediate throws so far — third-fewest in the league — but are allowing a 72.0% completion rate and a 146.3 passer rating, both bottom-two marks league-wide, according to Pro Football Focus.

In Case You Missed It

• Browns, Vikings injuries: 2 concerns for CLE, MIN rules out 6 including 4 on OL
• Browns drop issue could increase with Dillon Gabriel in Week 5
• Browns vs. Vikings Week 5 predictions: Who has the edge, the veteran or rookie QB?
• 6 takeaways from Cleveland’s coordinators about the Vikings
• Browns, Vikings: 3 from Minnesota that will impact Week 5’s outcome the most
• Browns starting rookie QB Dillon Gabriel felt inevitable; his opportunity in front of him
• Kevin Stefanski weighs in on Flacco benching decision, Gabriel’s shot to start
• Browns rookies receiving national attention
• Browns: Thumbs up/thumbs down after 4 games
• Browns could be good, the fixes are not that difficult but hard to come by
• The Browns find potential stability at OT with Cam Robinson acquisition

A Final Quote

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel on his first NFL start:

“I think I smile because it’s like a moment you prep for, and you are extremely excited for, but also have to realize that it’s extreme focus, and that’s what I’ve continued to harp on. But, you wait for the perfect time, you’re going to wait a whole lifetime. So, for me, I’m just – I’ve always been ready for every moment.”

What are you looking for from the Browns in Sunday’s game against the Vikings?