Category: Bold Predictions

3 bold predictions as Browns head to Houston for Wild Card matchup vs. Texans

Can the Browns get it done on the road vs. the Texans?

The Cleveland Browns, led by quarterback Joe Flacco and defensive end Myles Garrett, are back in the NFL Playoffs in one of the wildest seasons this fanbase has ever seen as they get set for a rematch against the Houston Texans. This team has so much fight in them and truly embodies the next-man-up

mantra and the “Go 1-0 each week” that Kevin Stefanski has been preaching. Now they head to Houston, who won the AFC South in a thriller last weekend. The Texans will have rookie CJ Stroud back who did not play against the Browns a couple of weeks ago due to injury.

Cleveland will have wide receiver Amari Cooper back after missing the final two regular season games with an injury after setting a Browns single-game receiving yardage record with 265 yards against these Texans. The Browns are the more talented team but it’s the postseason and you have got to play your best game if you want to advance, here are my bold predictions for Saturday.

3 bold predictions as Browns look to punch their playoff ticket vs. Jets

Can the Browns, led by Amari Cooper and Joe Flacco, stay hot and punch their playoff ticket against the Jets?

Thursday Night Football comes to Cleveland this week as the Browns matchup with the New York Jets looking to clinch a playoff berth. On paper, the Browns should be able to win easily as quarterback Joe Flacco and wide receiver Amari Cooper look to continue their connection, but they can’t just expect to show up and win.

The Jets play hard and still have a solid defense. Last week, the offense was even able to put up a decent amount of points.

The pass rush for the Browns should be able to make it a long day for Jets quarterback Trevor Siemian behind an offensive line that has struggled. This week would be a great chance to figure out the run game against a Jets defense that often gets worn down in the second half because of the offensive struggles.

Kevin Stefanski’s team has refused to give up and truly embodies the “go 1-0 this week” mentality they keep preaching. In the end, I believe the Browns will finalize their playoff birth with a win over the Jets.

3 bold predictions as Browns hit the road for showdown with Texans

Cleveland is looking to hit double digit wins in Houston

The Cleveland Browns, led by quarterback Joe Flacco and Defensive Player of the Year candidate Myles Garrett, have a chance to get their tenth win of the year and hit double-digit wins for the second time in four years under Kevin Stefanski. It would be the 36th win under Stefanski for reference the Browns won 37 games total from 2011-2019 before hiring Stefanski. They will head to Houston to take on the Texans who may be without both of their talented first-round rookies.

Jim Schwartz’s defense has struggled on the road recently and after two back-to-back great games at home, they have to show up on Sunday. If C.J. Stroud can’t go it will be old friend Case Keenum who found a way to do just enough for the Texans to win last week.

Beating the Texans would give Cleveland more room in the Wild Card as it will help them in the tiebreaker areas moving forward. The Browns will be almost guaranteed a spot if they get this win on Sunday, they can even punch their ticket in time for Christmas.

3 bold predictions as Browns face the banged up Jaguars at home

Can the Browns continue to defend their home field?

The Browns return to Cleveland trying to shake off a two-game losing streak on the road where the defense did not look good. This week they face a Jacksonville Jaguars team that is banged up and might be without their starting quarterback and is down to their third-string left tackle.

The Browns control their destiny in the playoff race, especially after the Steelers’ loss on Thursday. This game has massive playoff implications and every game the rest of the way is a must-win. Cleveland is likely to get back some key contributors and if Denzel Ward returns to play they have no excuses not to get it done.

Kevin Stefanski declined to name a starting quarterback this week but with Joe Flacco playing well in his debut and taking all the first-team reps it seems like the veteran will get the nod. Here are my bold predictions of the week as Cleveland looks for win number eight.

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3 bold predictions as Browns look to bounce back vs. Rams

The Browns will look to right the ship on the road vs Rams

Another week for the Cleveland Browns and another starting quarterback as they turn to former Baltimore Ravens and Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. It’s still weird to say that after all the years of seeing Flacco twice a year as an opponent to have him starting in Cleveland is just different as he gets set to take on the Los Angeles Rams.

Cleveland has been a different team on the road this year than at home and they could desperately use a win to gain some confidence down the stretch as they look to make the playoffs. It will be interesting to see how Kevin Stefanski adjusts his offense to a different quarterback but we will likely see an offense similar to when Baker Mayfield and Jacoby Brissett were starting.

There is a path for the Browns to win on Sunday and as it has all year it will start with their defense. Myles Garrett will play through his injury and with Matthew Stafford under center, they will need to pressure him early and often to get the win.

3 bold predictions as Browns face Broncos on the road

Can the offense get on track in Denver?

Cleveland hits the road bringing a three-game win streak into Denver looking to improve to 8-3 with a win over the Broncos. The Browns will be without one of their best defenders with Denzel Ward being ruled out, but they could get safety Juan Thornhill back, which would be crucial after Rodney McLeod was placed on season-ending IR.

The Denver defense has been really opportunistic, forcing a total of 12 turnovers in their last three games helping them get to 5-5 on the season. They have, however, been awful stopping the run this year and if the Browns can establish the run early, it could go a long way in making Dorian Thompson-Robinson comfortable.

Jim Schwartz and his defense know that they have to continue to be great as the team figures out the passing attack. So far, they have been the best in the NFL and when they need to step up and make a play they seem to always get it done.

Here are this week’s bold predictions as Cleveland tries to nab win number eight overall.

3 bold predictions as Browns look for their 7th win vs. Steelers

Can the Browns rally around new starting quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson?

It has been a roller coaster of a week for the Cleveland Browns after getting a massive victory over the rival Baltimore Ravens on the road. The team looked like the definition of a Super Bowl contender as Deshaun Watson finally started to look like the guy they traded for.

Now a few days later, Watson is out for the remainder of the season and Cleveland will go back to rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson. DTR has said this week that he feels a lot more comfortable knowing he is the starter and has played in an NFL game before. It will be a challenge against the Steelers’ defense but if the run game can continue to be productive, that’ll help the rookie a lot.

The Browns defense has said already they know they need to be great with Watson out to help the offense get things done. The Steelers’ offense hasn’t been very good and if the Browns pressure Kenny Pickett, it could be a long day for Pittsburgh’s offense.

3 bold predictions as Browns look for revenge vs. Ravens in Week 10

Thing got ugly for Cleveland the first time they faced the Ravens, but they’re looking for revenge on the road this Sunday.

Things didn’t go great for Cleveland when Baltimore came to town in early October as they started Dorian Thompson-Robinson and lost 28-3. It was the first bad game the Browns defense had, and you could see Baltimore just wearing them out in the second half.

Now, fast forward to the second matchup and Baltimore looks like the best team in the NFL and the Browns seem to be finding themselves offensively. It is clear that the Ravens had a clear plan on how to attack the Browns’ run defense and they gashed them up and down the field. Jim Schwartz and his assistants have to find solutions and there’s no doubt players will want to redeem themselves after that nasty taste left in their mouths.

Deshaun Watson and the passing offense will need to take another step forward and show more improvement to win in Baltimore. Here are this week’s bold predictions as Cleveland is on the road in search of win number six.

3 Bold Browns predictions as Deshaun Watson returns vs. Cardinals

Can the offense finally put it all together for a dominant win?

The Browns are back in Cleveland after spending two weeks on the road as they welcome the Arizona Cardinals to town. Cleveland will have starting quarterback Deshaun Watson back on the field, of course, the question is if he is healthy or will it be a repeat of Indianapolis. The team has said all the right things this week about his return but what happens on the field Sunday is ultimately all that matters.

The Cardinals could be starting a rookie in Clayton Tune at quarterback and it could be a game where the Browns’ pass rush dominates. Coming off a week where they only had one sack the team must be chomping at the bit to set the tone early and often against Arizona.

This is a game where Cleveland is more talented on paper but as you know you can’t just expect to show up and win in the NFL. Here are my bold predictions for the week as the Browns look for their fifth win of the year.

3 Bold predictions as the Browns look for three-in-a-row vs. Seahawks

Will the Browns be able to extend the winning streak to 3 games?

The Cleveland Browns got another thrilling victory over the Indianapolis Colts last week when Kareem Hunt punched it in from the one-yard line for a 39-38 win. That win had much to do with a superhuman effort from defensive end Myles Garrett that got him tabbed as the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Now the team heads out west into one of the toughest places to play to face the Seahawks in Seattle.

The team will again turn to backup P.J. Walker as Deshaun Watson continues to recover from his shoulder injury. Walker hasn’t been great but the offensive line and running game have gradually gotten better if he can limit turnovers they may be able to tread water in Seattle.

No matter what the team will need a strong showing from the defense if they want to extend the winning streak to three games. Myles Garrett had a phenomenal game last week if the defense can replicate what they did against the 49ers a couple of weeks ago they could find some success and extend the streak.

Here are this week’s bold predictions as the Browns look to conquer the 12th man in Seattle.