What to expect as NFL trade deadline approaches, plus why World Series rainout helps Phillies

Happy Tuesday, and happy November, everyone! Hope you got all the Halloween candy your heart desires.

Let’s get right to it.

Good morning to everyone but especially to…

THE CLEVELAND BROWNS

Halloween was all treats for Browns fans. Cleveland put on by far its best performance of the year in a 32-13 shellacking of the Bengals.

• Jacoby Brissett was outstanding, throwing for 278 yards — his most since 2019 — and accounting for two touchdowns (one pass, one rush). He had plenty of fun with the Cincinnati defense late in the game.
• Nick Chubb ran for 101 yards and two scores. Chubb is up to 10 rushing touchdowns through eight games, the first Browns player to do that since Jim Brown in 1959.
• Amari Cooper had five receptions for 131 yards and a score.
• This was Cleveland’s largest home win over Cincinnati since 1994. The Browns have now won eight of nine over the Bengals.

Meanwhile, this was a nightmare that couldn’t end soon enough for the Bengals, which is now a trend for Joe Burrow when it comes to facing Cleveland:

It doesn’t help that the Bengals were without Ja’Marr Chase and then lost top cornerback Chidobe Awuzie to a knee injury during the game. Aside from the mounting injury issues, Burrow took five-plus sacks for a league high-tying third time this year, and 13 of his throws were at or behind the line of scrimmage, third-most of his career. The running game continued to disappoint, and the secondary lost one of its best players and struggled in general.

At 4-4, Cincinnati needs to figure things out quickly.

Honorable mentions

And not such a good morning for…

BRYAN HARSIN AND THE AUBURN TIGERS

What’s long been expected finally became official Monday: Auburn fired football head coach Bryan Harsin less than two years after hiring him. Harsin finishes his time at Auburn 9-12, including 3-5 this year. The firing comes as Auburn nears a deal with Mississippi State‘s Josh Cohen to become the Tigers’ new athletic director.

• Harsin barely even made it to a second season on The Plains. Early in the offseason, school power brokers attempted to oust Harsin, citing frustrations with the on-field results, roster, coaching staff and recruiting. They hoped to fire Harsin for cause, which would have gotten the school out of paying his…