Browns quarterback Josh McCown has heard the “Johnny Manziel” chants from his home fans all year. After McCown threw for a franchise regular-season record 457 yards in a 33-30 road victory over Baltimore, those calls for Cleveland’s backup quarterback should be a lot quieter.
McCown is a consummate pro, a 13-year veteran who knows better to worry about outside noise. Plus, he’s more worried about figuring about a way, any way to get after the Broncos’ defense this Sunday.
“They are as good as we’ve seen on tape this year, probably as good as I’ve seen in recent years,” McCown said. “It’s one of those weeks where you get the scouting report and you’re trying to find the best place to attack, or the weakest link or whatever and there is just not one.”
McCown is a believer that hard work and preparation can overcome talent. But the Broncos have more than talent, they have a defensive coordinator in Wade Phillips who will present a quarterback with a number of blitzes and disguises.
McCown has seen nearly every possible defensive coverage. He’s been a quarterback on nine NFL teams, but there are things the Broncos do that surprise him.
“If they lined up and rushed four, they could get home a lot of times because they’re that good. Then, you add in the pressures and what they can do, and you certainly have your hands full,” McCown said. “Obviously that adds some intensity, some focus to those film studies to make sure we’re all over it.”
The Broncos have been doing a little film study of their own on the Browns. Teams typically try to shy away from throwing the ball a lot when they play Denver to avoid their vicious pass rush and play-making secondary.
The Browns, however, are one of the more pass-heavy offenses in the NFL, especially with the deep ball. A welcome challenge for Denver if McCown and the Browns try to test them down the field.
Broncos safety T.J. Ward, who will be returning to Cleveland to play the team that drafted him already is looking forward to Sunday.
“It’s going to be a good day for us,” Ward said. “We’re always expecting a test every week. We’ve just got to pass it.
“Somebody is going to make a play, though. I can guarantee that,” Ward said.
That might qualify as a bulletin-board material for the Browns if the Broncos hadn’t done it in every game this season.
McCown has taken care of the ball for the most part this season. He’s thrown only one interception while throwing for 1,208 yards and six touchdowns through four games.
“They have done a great job of getting it out and whether it’s stripping, whether it’s intercepting. There’s a reason why they’re the number one defense in the league,” McCown said.
Cameron Wolfe: 303-954-1891, cwolfe@denverpost.com or @CameronWolfe
