Browns vs. Chiefs tale of the AFC divisional round tape

The Cleveland Browns get a shot at knocking off the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC divisional round this Sunday. Fresh off an upset win in Pittsburgh over the rival Steelers, the Browns once again face a difficult opponent with a lot of offensive firepower and some premium defensive weapons.

Those same traits also apply to the Browns themselves, which makes this a fascinating matchup in Kansas City. Here’s how the two teams stack up statistically in a number of key areas.

All stats are from Pro Football Reference and Team Rankings.

Browns passing offense vs. Chiefs passing defense

(AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

The Browns passing offense isn't prolific in terms of yards, but it's built around efficiently attacking the defense with smart decisions from Baker Mayfield and a host of receivers who all offer unique attributes. They're among the best on third downs.

Kansas City's pass defense handles the volume of throws directed their way pretty well. They're adept at making plays on the ball, ranking 5th in INTs with 16.

Browns rushing offense vs. Chiefs run defense

[Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]

The Browns rushing offense is the engine that drives the entire team. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt were the only set of teammates to finish in the top 20 in rushing, and the line features an All-Pro right tackle in Jack Conklin and Pro Bowler Joel Bitonio at left guard.

The Chiefs run defense defines mediocrity, but they do have some talent. Nose tackle Derrick Nnadi is one of the best at stymying inside runs. Their safeties tackle well in the open field, too.

Chiefs passing offense vs. Browns passing defense

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Patrick Mahomes is a leading MVP candidate and one of the most difficult weapons to stop. He has weaponry at his disposal with outstanding speed at both WR and TE, where Travis Kelce set the NFL record for receiving yards by a TE. It's the most impressive passing offense in the league.

The Browns pass defense has its work cut out, though getting top CB Denzel Ward back will certainly help. The defensive front has been good at creating takeaways.

Chiefs rushing offense vs. Browns run defense

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Kansas City's run game statistics are generally average, but they fluctuated wildly from game to game. Mahomes was the team's second-leading rusher, and in games where he didn't attack with his legs the Chiefs' run game was not impressive.

The Browns run defense had trouble handling teams with physical offensive lines, but they're one of the NFL's best at attacking runs outside the tackle box. The Chiefs rely on the latter much more than the ground-and-pound, but their read-option with Mahomes is something the Browns (like everyone else) have struggled to stop.