Here at the Last Word on Pro Sports we are analyzing every game for all 32 teams with the most difficult (1-8) covering one article and the easiest (9-16) in a second article. This article features the easiest games for the Cleveland Browns in 2020.
Cleveland Browns Easiest Games in 2020
9. Week 5: vs Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts may have struggled in 2019. But now the aging yet still-effective Philip Rivers comes to town. The Browns figure to boast a better offense in 2020 with a healthy Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, and recent additions in Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant. This pass-catching unit along with one of the best running back tandems in football will allow them to take advantage of a mediocre Colts defense.
10. Week 8: vs Las Vegas Raiders
The Browns face the Las Vegas Raiders at home in what can be a quarterback duel. Derek Carr had a renaissance season in 2019. Josh Jacobs is one of the best if not the best up and coming running backs in football. Add Henry Ruggs, Darren Waller, and Hunter Renfrow to the mix, and it gives the Raiders a strong offense. However, the Browns pass rush will spell trouble for Carr, which gives them an advantage in this one. Baker Mayfield and the Browns healthy receiving and tight end unit fare up well against a Raiders defense who ranked 25th in passing yards allowed in 2019. If everyone is on the same page, the Browns can throw all over the Raiders.
11. Week 15: at New York Giants
The New York Giants have a young quarterback in Daniel Jones and a fierce pass rush if Myles Garrett cleans up his act on the field and Olivier Vernon stays healthy. This may not stack up well for Jones and Company. Even if there is talent on the Giants offense, especially at running back with Saquon Barkley. The Browns run defense was weak in 2019, but they signed a run-stuffer in Andrew Billings and drafted another in Jordan Elliott. It gives them an opportunity to limit Barkley early and get to Jones on the pass rush. Both the run defense and pass rush can key on the Giants hottest starters and flip the game in their favor.
12. Week 16: at New York Jets
The Browns return to the Meadowlands in Week 16 to face the New York Jets. Sam Darnold is zero for one against Baker Mayfield and the Browns have beaten the Jets two seasons running. There are rumblings in New York regarding safety Jamal Adams’ future with the team. This will affect their entire defense if the star safety sits or gets traded. The Jets also boast a pair of aging backs in Frank Gore and Le’Veon Bell, both of whom averaged under four yards a carry in 2019. The Browns made improvements to their run defense to limit big gains on the ground and with Garrett, the pass rush is as dangerous as ever.
13. Week 7: at Cincinnati Bengals
The Browns get their second crack at Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals and their first crack at him on the road here. Given that Burrow will deal with the Browns pass rush a second time may leave him pulling off his best impression of a pair of former number one overall picks in Tim Couch and David Carr. When the Browns rush Burrow, who took a few seasons to figure out the college game let alone what awaits him in the NFL, it will be a repeat of Week 2. The Bengals aren’t there yet as a team and they face perhaps the best and most intimidating pass rusher in football.
14. Week 12: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Pundits state the Jacksonville Jaguars are the worst team in football. And while they have talent, they’re putting together a bold move handing the reins to sixth-round pick, Gardner Minshew. Minshew formed an excellent one-two punch with receiver D.J. Chark in 2019 but he also faces a dangerous pass rush with Garrett and Vernon leading the way. The Jaguars also ranked 24th in total defense in 2019. After 12 weeks, the Cleveland Browns offense should click in all phases and they will overpower the weak Jacksonville defense.
15. Week 2: vs Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow has a lot on his shoulders already and he compares so much to past Bengals quarterbacks who failed to deliver. David Klingler and Akili Smith are just two names that pop into mind. Now he is asked to face the likes of Garrett and the rest of the Browns stingy pass rush in his second career game. Welcome to the NFL, Joe. If there is one positive from Burrow, it’s that the Browns historically like to struggle in manageable games like this.
16. Week 3: Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are in year one of the Ron Rivera era and while Rivera was lauded in Carolina, he was mediocre, never once scoring back-to-back winning seasons. Now, he has a fringe quarterback in Dwayne Haskins at quarterback with a favorite in Kyle Allen sitting behind him. If Haskins struggles in this game or the previous games, look for a quarterback controversy that will spell the end of the Redskins season before it begins. And this will play right into the Browns hands in a Week 3 tilt at home.
Remember to check out the Cleveland Browns most difficult games for 2020.
