The quick-take reactions to the schedule release and seemingly requisite game-by-game predictions from NFL reporters and analysts are often very good looks into the national perception of a team. Judging by the game picks involving the Cleveland Browns from the ESPN writers for every team, the Browns still have a way to go to earn some respect.
ESPN’s own Cleveland reporter, Jake Trotter, predicted a 9-7 finish for Kevin Stefanski’s first Browns team. That’s a fair prediction coming out of the schedule release (I projected a 10-6 finish).
But a deeper look at what the other ESPN beat writers projected for their respective teams in going through each game paints a less rosy outlook for Cleveland. Here’s how the ESPN NFL Nation reporters projected each Browns game to wind up for their squad:
Week 1 – Ravens: win
Week 2 – Bengals: loss
Week 3 – Redskins: loss
Week 4 – Cowboys: win
Week 5 – Colts: win
Week 6 – Steelers: win
Week 7 – Bengals: win
Week 8 – Raiders: win
Week 9 – Bye
Week 10 – Texans: win
Week 11 – Eagles: loss
Week 12 – Jaguars: win
Week 13 – Titans: win
Week 14 – Ravens: win
Week 15 – Giants: loss
Week 16 – Jets: win
Week 17 – Steelers: loss
That’s a 5-11 record as predicted by the folks who cover the other teams. Most analysts will feel better about their own team than others, to be fair. And the lack of respect for the Browns for their recent poor results is to be expected.