Browns WR Jarvis Landry says remark that 'we're gonna win' vs. Patriots was not a guarantee
The 7-0 New England Patriots have Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and a top-ranked scoring defense on pace to shatter several all-time records.
But one Cleveland Browns player expressed confidence about Sunday's matchup with the Patriots, though he stopped short of guaranteeing a win.
Asked how the team would perform after the bye week, receiver Jarvis Landry said Thursday in a news conference that the Browns would turn things around after a disappointing start to the season.
“Well, we’re going to win,” Landry said. “We’re going to win. I think it’s just that simple. We’re getting guys back healthy again, and we’re going to win.”
Landry later clarified his comments, according to Cleveland.com, and said that he meant “we’re going (there) to win.”
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Later in the press conference, Landry was asked whether it was tougher to win on the road, specifically at Gillette Stadium, where the Patriots have not lost since 2017.
“That’s the same thing,” Landry said. “The mission don’t change. The mission don’t change. It’s the same thing. We going to win the game.”
This is the second week in a row, when a player or coach has created a stir with claims that some read as a declaration of certainty. Last week, Eagles coach Doug Pederson was criticized for saying: “we’re going to win that football game” ahead of the team’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
Pederson also later walked his comments back, saying he wasn’t directly guaranteeing a victory but rather expressing confidence. The Eagles lost to the Cowboys 37-10.
Landry and the Browns are 2-4 this season and have fallen well below expectations after they added a number of pieces this offseason, including receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
“As long as we continue to protect the ball, don’t hurt ourselves, we have a good chance of winning,” Landry said.
Landry has 25 catches this season for 439 yards, but hasn’t scored a touchdown.
“They’re a great football team,” Landry said of New England. “They’ve been a great football team for as long as I can remember. They don’t really make mistakes. You can credit their fans or whatever, but teams go on the road and win in other people’s place a lot of times. But that just seems to be one of those places where people don’t go in and be very successful.”
Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes.