Category: Projections

Watch: Breaking down Baker Mayfield, OBJ and the Browns injuries with Sports 4 CLE

Browns Wire’s Jeff Risdon joined Sports 4 CLE to break down a variety of topics

Browns Wire’s Jeff Risdon joined the crew at Sports 4 CLE on Friday to break down a host of Cleveland Browns topics in a lively exchange with host Dave Bacon.

A busy week of Browns controversies, injuries and recovery from Week 5’s defenseless loss to the Chargers made for many things to talk about. Among the topics of the day:

  • The perceived problems between Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr.
  • How the Browns can involve Beckham more into the game plan
  • Nick Chubb’s injury and how it impacts Sunday’s matchup
  • Myles Garrett and his plan for stopping Cardinals QB Kyler Murray
  • Kevin Stefanski’s message getting through to his Browns
  • Will the Browns win?

Browns Vs. Texans: What if the Browns win? Lose?

By 4 something this afternoon, what if the Browns are 1 – 1? What if they are 0 – 2? Game prediction included as well:

The Cleveland Browns season didn’t start the way they had hoped. While the team was competitive against the very good Kansas City Chiefs, ultimately the final score was not in their favor. In the longest season in NFL history, one game may not have a big impact on the final results.

For the Browns, 16 – 1 is still a possibility.

Unlikely, but a possibility.

The team quickly moved on to Week 2 against the Houston Texans. While Browns Vs. Texans is not expected to be a close game, based on the spread which is something new for recent Browns games, no game in the NFL is certain.

Taking a second to look ahead to late Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, what would it look like if the Browns beat the Texans? What if the team loses to Houston, a team that had a highly problematic offseason?

The short answers are easy: Win? Good. Lose? Very bad. Let’s break it down some more.

With Jedrick Wills questionable, is playing him worth the risk?

With elite pass rushers coming in Week 3, 4 and 5, the Browns may want to play it safe today with Wills:

The Cleveland Browns are 0 – 1 facing off with the 1 – 0 Houston Texans. Offseason expectations quickly fade in the NFL with “easy” wins no longer being such during the first quarter of the season.

Saying as much, the Browns loss to the Kansas City Chiefs was more impressive than the Texans win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Opponents often change the trajectory of single games but, over the long haul of the season, help properly place teams in the NFL pecking order.

The Browns are talented enough to keep up with anyone in the AFC while the Texans are a mix-up of useful veterans but lack enough high-end talent to be a real threat in the AFC.

That doesn’t mean that today’s game is a gimme for Cleveland despite being huge favorites in their home opener. Instead, the Browns must play a solid game and minimize mistakes in order to even both teams’ records.

As discussed, Jedrick Wills questionable status along with Chris Hubbard being out creates the matchup that could decide the game. If Wills is unable to go, Alex Van Pelt noted that James Hudson III was being prepared for the role but we’ve heard that Blake Hance could actually start.

While Cleveland can ill afford to go 0 – 2, risking Wills’ health for the rest of the season could be even more catastrophic. With Khalil Mack coming into town in Week 3 and Danielle Hunter and Joey Bosa following him, the Browns will need Wills as close to full health as possible.

While the Texans have veteran Whitney Mercilus to cause havoc against the Browns offense, he falls short of the three edge rushers coming in over the next few weeks.

If Wills really is questionable to play, the safe and best play would be to hold him out in Week 2 and hope to have him ready for the next few weeks. Will Cleveland risk it to avoid going 0 – 2 or continue to have the long season in mind?

Browns Vs. Texans: One matchup that could decide the game

One matchup could decide Browns Vs Texans in Week 2:

When the Cleveland Browns face off against the Houston Texans in Week 2 of the 2021 NFL season, there is a chance for both teams to go against offseason expectations. The Texans were expected to be a disastrous failure while the Browns were expected to compete for the top spot in the AFC.

Both teams could still meet their offseason expectations but Week 2 could do a lot to set up the future. If Houston wins and Cleveland loses, those expectations will have to be reevaluated.

In order for the Browns to not let that happen, they must be able to protect quarterback Baker Mayfield and get the running game going. In their Week 1 victory, the Texans hit Trevor Lawrence four times, sacking him once. They also kept Jacksonville from getting their running game going, only allowing 76 yards on the ground.

As with most games, that shines the spotlight directly on the line of scrimmage. For the Browns, four-fifths of their offensive line is good to great. Normally, all five are noted as such but with Jedrick Wills questionable and his backup, Chris Hubbard, out, Cleveland has an area of concern against Houston.

For the Texans, Whitney Mercilus is the big name. He had the team’s only sack last week along with a tackle for loss. For his career, Mercilus has 113 quarterback hits, 69 tackles for loss and 55 sacks. His ability to impact the game from the edge has been consistent.

If Wills is significantly limited or the Browns have to start their third-string left tackle, James Hudson III is the expectation, Houston may be able to disrupt the home team’s game plan rushing and passing.

Whitney Mercilus versus whoever starts at left tackle could be the matchup that decides the Browns vs. Texans in Week 2.

Browns David Njoku setting himself up for extension in Cleveland?

Could the fifth-year tight end finally have a break-out season and get an extension during it?

The Cleveland Browns have quite a few contract decisions that need to be made over the next two seasons. The biggest is with quarterback Baker Mayfield with cornerback Denzel Ward, seemingly, the second most important.

Both of those players have contracts through the 2022 season while a few others are set to be free agents at the end of the 2021 season. Running back Nick Chubb was a part of that group before the team extended him during training camp.

Offensive lineman Wyatt Teller has often been discussed among Mayfield, Ward and Chubb as players needing extension while safety Ronnie Harrison is set to be a free agent at the end of the season.

David Njoku has rarely been discussed but could be setting himself up for an extension in Cleveland. Some were surprised when the Browns picked up Njoku’s fifth-year option on his rookie deal in 2020.

The University of Miami tight end had his best season in the NFL in 2018 with 56 receptions for 639 yards and 4 touchdowns. Since then, Njoku had only 24 catches and less than 300 yards in 2019 and 2020 combined.

Was Week 1 of the 2021 season a breakout game for the, still, young pass catcher? On five targets, Baker Mayfield connected with him three times for 76 yards including two vital first downs. Njoku played an important role as a big receiver with impressive physical traits that allow him to go up and get the ball.

While Austin Hooper is under contract through 2023 and Harrison Bryant showed flashes of talent in 2020, Njoku presents as the team’s most dynamic tight end. He has worked tirelessly on his hands and blocking skills, greatly improving in both areas.

With his recent switch back to his previous agent, it is possible that the team and player could come to a deal during the season. If he has a few more games like Week 1, Cleveland may be forced into signing him to a decent-sized deal. The Browns could have a salary cap space crunch coming soon but letting a talented tight end walk might be foolish.

Browns Vs. Chiefs: DT Malik McDowell a player to watch

With under an hour until game time, a quick report that the former second-round pick, who has never played in a regular-season game, has the Browns excited:

As the Cleveland Browns get ready to tee it up versus the Kansas City Chiefs, the inactive list is sure to draw a lot of attention. Odell Beckham Jr. and Grant Delpit are two presumed Browns starters who won’t play in Week 1 while Tyrann Mathieu and Frank Clark won’t play for the Chiefs.

With players like Donovan Peoples-Jones, Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins, Cleveland hopes that they can make up for the loss of Beckham. With Delpit’s injury last year, the team traded for Ronnie Harrison Jr. in 2020 and signed John Johnson III in the 2021 offseason.

One addition that could play a big role when the game kicks off in under an hour is defensive tackle Malik McDowell. McDowell was a second-round pick of Seattle Seahawks but never played for the team. Today’s game would be the former Michigan State star’s first professional game.

According to Yahoo’s Charles Robinson, McDowell is a player that the Browns organization are excited to see on the field:

 

With the Chiefs not much of a running team, McDowell could make an impact pushing the pocket from the inside. That kind of pressure could make life easier on Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney and Takk McKinley on the outside.

In what may be the longest gap between when a player was drafted (2017) and when he makes his NFL debut, McDowell could be a big story Monday morning.

5 reasons the Browns will beat the Chiefs in Week 1

The Browns can win in Week 1 versus the Chiefs. Here are five reasons they will win:

The Cleveland Browns face-off with the Kansas City Chiefs on the road in Week 1 of the NFL season. In what is expected to be the best game of the day, Cleveland is a 5.5 point underdog to the reigning AFC champions.

Following an exciting game in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs in 2020, both teams have made adjustments to their rosters to try to win a Super Bowl in 2021. The Browns added a ton of new defenders while maintaining continuity on offense while the Chiefs revamped their entire offensive line in one offseason following a brutal loss in the Super Bowl.

While Cleveland is the underdog in Week 1, many believe they will be fighting with Kansas City, along with the Buffalo Bills, for the AFC title this season. While Week 1 isn’t a must-win, especially in a 17 game regular season, it still could play a big role in tiebreakers at the end of the season and a win would set the teams off on the right foot.

Here are five reasons the Browns will beat the Chiefs in Week 1:

Browns vs. Chiefs: Key matchup to watch in Week 1

With Week 1 kicking off, the key matchup for Browns vs. Chiefs is really a 1 on 5 matchup:

With the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs meeting up in Week 1, there is no lack of great talent on the field. The Chiefs are two-time defending AFC champions with a Super Bowl victory two years ago while the Browns are a team that many note as “the most talented on paper in the NFL.”

The skill position players, more and more popular due to fantasy football, are some of the top names in the league. Patrick Mahomes is, arguably, the best quarterback in all of football with a lot of football ahead of him. Tyreek Hill is one of the most dynamic weapons in the game while Travis Kelce is in the conversation as the best tight end in the league.

Cleveland is far from lacking in skill players and, perhaps, are even deeper than Kansas City. Baker Mayfield leads the way at quarterback but Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are the best backfield duo going today. Odell Beckham Jr. (returning from injury), Jarvis Landry, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Rashard Higgins are a deep, talented group of receivers while Austin Hooper and David Njoku are dangerous at tight end.

The matchup to watch for isn’t any of the names listed above. Instead, as it has for the longest time, it is in the trenches that could win or lose the game for either team. While the Chiefs have the highly talented Chris Jones and Jarran Reed on their defensive line, it is their offensive line where the key matchup lies for Week 1.

Kansas City’s loss in the Super Bowl has been blamed squarely and directly on their offensive line. The Chiefs must have agreed as they are looking at an entirely different line for Week 1 this year. Some of that was due to injuries to Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. Fisher signed with Indianapolis but isn’t healthy for Week 1 while Schwartz is still recovering from injury and is a free agent.

Kansas City traded for Orlando Brown Jr., signed Joe Thuney to a big contract and drafted Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith to add four new starters to the roster. Lucas Niang is in his second season and steps in for Schwartz as the starting right tackle.

Cleveland made some additions to their defensive line but mainstay Myles Garrett remains to terrorize opponents. The Browns added Takk McKinley and Jadeveon Clowney at defensive end to help Garrett while Malik Jackson and Tommy Togiai were added inside along with getting Andrew Billings back from the COVID-19 opt-out list.

With so many new players on both sides of the ball, it is hard to point to a specific matchup especially with how Garrett is used by the Cleveland defense. The former #1 overall pick will likely lineup to go against whichever offensive lineman is best given the situation.

Given that, the key matchup to watch in Week 1 is Myles Garrett versus the Chiefs offensive line. In all cases, the edge goes to Garrett but the pressure is on the rest of the Cleveland defense to win their matchups as well.

Is Joe Woods defensive scheme ready to try to slow Chiefs offense?

Cleveland’s front office handed Joe Woods the talent, now can he scheme them well enough to slow down Kansas City?

The Cleveland Browns defense was a weak link for the team in 2020. Despite that, mostly due to a stellar offense, somewhat easy schedule and a few key defenders, the Browns were able to make the NFL playoffs.

In the postseason, Cleveland knocked off the Pittsburgh Steelers due to some errors by the Steelers offense that the Browns defense was able to take advantage of. In the following round, the Kansas City Chiefs lost star quarterback Patrick Mahomes early in the game but the Cleveland defense couldn’t do enough to stop the Chad Henne-led Chiefs offense.

This offseason, the Browns front office went about remaking the team’s defense to give defensive coordinator Joe Woods the ability to match up with offenses like the Chiefs. While the NFL has setup rules that mostly favor the offense, having a defense that is talented enough to slow down a high-powered offense is important.

Kansas City saw that in the Super Bowl last year when Tampa Bay’s defense held them in check. The Chiefs upgraded their offensive line, the primary culprit on Super Bowl Sunday, because of that loss.

Now, Woods has the talent. The team added so much talent on his side of the ball that it is often hard to remember all of the new players. They also have a few returning after missing the 2020 season. Andrew Billings, Grant Delpit and Greedy Williams didn’t play last year and could play important roles this year.

On top of those three, John Johnson III, Troy Hill, Greg Newsome II and Richard LeCounte III were added to the secondary, Anthony Walker, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Tony Fields II were added at linebacker and Jadeveon Clowney, Takk McKinley, Malik Jackson, Tommy Togiai and Malik McDowell were added on the defensive line.

That is a lot of additions along with the three returning after missing 2020.

On the other side, only three defensive linemen, three linebackers, two cornerbacks and two safeties on the current 53-man roster played for the team in 2020.

Cleveland’s front office made sure that Woods had the talent needed to try to succeed against the best offenses in the NFL. While very few defenses can ever stop a very good offense, barring the offense losing their line like the Chiefs did last year, Woods has to build schemes now to use the added talent.

Going into 2021, the success of the Browns defense falls on Woods’ schemes and play calling. Can the second-year Cleveland defensive coordinator deploy his players to the best of their ability and make Kansas City’s job just hard enough to pull off a victory? Time will tell.

Cleveland Browns 2021 schedule: Game-by-game with predictions

The Cleveland Browns schedule for the 2021 season with game-by-game predictions

All the talk, all the preparation about the 2021 NFL season is complete. It’s time to get the games on!

The Cleveland Browns have high expectations for the season, and rightfully so. Coming off a 2020 campaign where they overcame rampant injuries, COVID-19 issues, wild weather and no preseason prep for such a young team with a rookie coach, and the Browns still managed to win the franchise’s first postseason game since 1994, those expectations should be sky-high.

Here is the 17-game Browns schedule and a game-by-game prediction for each week.