USA TODAY projects the Browns to finish 9-7

USA TODAY football analyst Nate Davis projects the Browns to finish 9-7 in 2020

We’re getting ever so close to the 2020 NFL season. As we trudge through what would normally be the preseason, it’s time for the rite of passage that is season forecasting for final records.

One of the latest comes courtesy of USA TODAY and analysts Nate Davis. HIs projection forecasts the Browns to improve to 9-7 and finish third in the difficult AFC North. It’s an uptick over last season’s disappointing 6-10 effort that resulted in yet another regime change in Cleveland.

Davis sees the coaching change as a positive, even if it might be a little rocky in this odd Year 1,

Newly motivated QB Baker Mayfield seems tailor-made for rookie coach Kevin Stefanski’s system … even if they won’t have much time to get on the same page of the playbook. Still, this club’s copious talent has to eventually prevail … right?

The full season forecast for all 32 NFL teams, with the rival Ravens winning the AFC but losing to the Saints in the Super Bowl.

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