The 2020 Cleveland Browns’ season schedule has been launched and with the release comes the most wonderful time of the season. Endless, and at times, dramatic, predictions. The following is a game-by-game prediction for all 16 games.
2020 Cleveland Browns Season
Week 1, at Baltimore Ravens
The Browns look to make a statement against the Baltimore Ravens with an opportunity to unseat reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. Baltimore’s offense proves too much for the young Browns. Jackson takes advantage of Cleveland’s weak linebacking corps. and rips them all game. Baker Mayfield throws a fourth-quarter pick and the shadows of 2019 lurk in this blowout.
Baltimore 34, Cleveland: 17
Week 2, vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals head into Cleveland on Thursday night and we witness a classic. Cincinnati is stronger than advertised and they take the lead heading into the fourth. The Browns turn to their running game, taking advantage of the defense. With 1:50 left, the offense stalls but they kick a go-ahead field goal. Cincinnati drives downfield but they miss a last-second game-winning attempt.
Cleveland 24, Cincinnati: 22
Week 3, vs. Washington Redskins
The Browns take an early 21-10 lead into halftime and increase it to 28-10 by the beginning of the fourth. However, as is classic Browns, the defense sputters with six minutes left. A three-and-out forces a punt and the Washington Redskins score on a three-play drive. With four minutes left, Washington kicks deep, and the Browns again falter. However, on Washington’s ensuing drive, Cleveland wins its second straight on a game-winning interception.
Cleveland 28, Washington: 25
Week 4, at Dallas Cowboys
The Browns head south to try and unseat the Dallas Cowboys. But it’s a disaster from the start and Dallas takes a 21-3 lead into the half. After extending their lead 28-6, Dallas goes into prevent mode for the remainder of the game. The Browns score two touchdowns in garbage time in between a Dallas field goal.
Dallas 31, Cleveland: 20
Week 5, vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts come to town and it’s a defensive stalemate early in the game but the Colts hold a 14-6 edge going into the half. The Browns score in the second but miss the two-point conversion, making the score 14-12. Indy scores again but Mayfield and the Browns’ offense strikes back, with the score 21-19 heading into the fourth. After a defensive struggle throughout the quarter, the Browns pull it out on the final drive.
Cleveland 26, Indianapolis, 21
Week 6: at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Browns look to end their near-two-decade losing streak at Heinz Field but with Ben Roethlisberger back, it’s the same old same old. The Pittsburgh Steelers take a 30-7 lead into the fourth quarter and ride it out, winning easily.
Pittsburgh 30, Cleveland: 14
Week 7: at Cincinnati Bengals
The Browns head into Cincinnati for another duel with Joe Burrow. Like in Week 2, it’s a close matchup and the Browns are down by three late. However, just as in Week 2, they put together a final drive and ride it into the end zone with a 40-yard Nick Chubb touchdown run with a minute to go.
Cleveland 27, Cincinnati: 23
Week 8: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders come to town and points are scored in this one. The Browns fumble a 24-20 lead with just over two minutes left. But a kick return into Raiders’ territory helps and Mayfield caps off a late touchdown drive with a pass that only Odell Beckham can catch.
Cleveland 31, Las Vegas: 27
Week 10: vs. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans come are in and DeShaun Watson plays lights out, gashing Cleveland’s secondary, and Houston takes it 41-10, leaving Browns fans wondering what will it take for their team to hang with the league’s best.
Houston 41, Cleveland: 10
Week 11: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Browns host the Philadelphia Eagles and fall behind 28 to three in the first half. But they claw back and tie it at 31 late in the fourth and they go to overtime. On the ensuing overtime possession, the driving Browns fall on a pick-six from Mayfield.
Philadelphia 37, Cleveland: 31
Week 12: at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Browns travel to play the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars and find themselves down 10-6 at the half. They score in the third but Gardner Minshew and the Jags answer. The Browns respond with a field goal midway through the fourth and a Leonard Fournette fumble grants the Browns a late drive. Mayfield leads the offense into the end zone.
Cleveland 23, Jacksonville: 17
Week 13: at Tennessee Titans
The ghosts of a 43-13 beatdown in 2019 still linger with Cleveland and they’re still who the Tennessee Titans “thought they were.” After trailing 38-7 over the first three quarters, Cleveland scores two touchdowns in garbage time.
Tennessee 38, Cleveland: 21
Week 14: vs. Baltimore Ravens
In a game that’ll be remembered for years in NFL lore, Cleveland and Baltimore are deadlocked at 21 at halftime. Baltimore comes out firing and takes a 31-21 lead into the fourth. The game would’ve been over had it not been for miscommunication between Jackson and J.K. Dobbins on an option, leading to a defensive touchdown. Cleveland ties it at 31 with seven to go before Baltimore responds. Cleveland answers and it’s tied at 38 and headed into overtime. After a defensive struggle, Cleveland wins it on a 53-yard field goal in the swirling late-autumn winds off Lake Erie.
Cleveland 41, Baltimore: 38
Week 15: at New York Giants
Cleveland has either been blown out or has won close contests throughout much of the season. But they take a 30-9 lead over a New York Giants team looking forward to April. The defense relaxes and allows New York to increase the respectability of the score.
Cleveland 30, New York: 16
Week 16: at New York Jets
Cleveland returns to the Meadowlands for a second straight week and Sam Darnold vs. Mayfield Act III is underway. After the teams enter halftime with a 14-14 tie, the New York Jets score a fast one on Cleveland in a one-play drive. The stagnant Browns’ offense erupts in the fourth, and a late interception from Grant Delpit sets up a potential game-winning field goal. However, Chubb has other ideas and scores on a 42-yard run.
Cleveland 28, New York: 21
Week 17: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The 9-6 Browns host the 9-6 Steelers. In what sparks memories from years’ past, the intensity of this game supersedes the intensity from the 2019 contests. Pittsburgh takes a 17-3 lead into the fourth, but Myles Garrett forces a fumble on a strip-sack and Cleveland scores.
After a Pittsburgh three and out, Mayfield checks down to Kareem Hunt, who takes it to the five. On the next play, Chubb scores and Cleveland ties it. Pittsburgh drives downfield but Ben forces it into coverage and Denzel Ward picks it off at the Cleveland 35. Cleveland gets inside field goal range and notch the new seventh seed in the playoffs.
Cleveland 20, Pittsburgh: 17
Prediction: 10-6, Second in the AFC North
