The Cleveland Browns are entering yet another win-now season. Their roster is among the most talented in the league, and they’ve spent more in cash than any other team this season. But how will they actually fare?
As previously mentioned, the NFL schedule overlords did the Browns almost no favors when designing their 2024 slate of games. Things get a lot harder during the back eight. That starts with three out of four on the road coming off Week 10’s bye.
Cleveland Browns Record Prediction: Part 2 of 2
Browns 3rd-Quarter Record Prediction: 2-2
Typing here in September, the easiest game on paper is Week 11 at the New Orleans Saints. The Saints have been a middling team since the retirement of Drew Brees and the subsequent departure of former head coach Sean Payton. New Orleans is always a tough place to play, but the Browns match up well with the black and gold.
Speaking of Sean Payton, the Browns face him two weeks later at his new gig in the Mile High City (we’ll get back to Week 12 in a moment). Things didn’t go so well for the Browns when last they visited the Denver Broncos. Watson had already landed on injured reserve, and backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson didn’t make it through that one either. But with a rookie quarterback under center, if the Browns can make it to Denver relatively healthy, they should do well against the Broncos. But history has not been kind to Cleveland, who is 7-25 against Denver all time.
Double Dose of a Browns Big-Time Rival
The Broncos game is sandwiched between a pair of trysts with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The first one comes on Thursday night in Cleveland, the second two and a half weeks later in Pittsburgh. The Steelers look to be a bit lost right now. They’ve ditched their franchise quarterback in waiting and have opted for the two-headed monster of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The former hasn’t done well away from Pete Carroll and the latter hasn’t looked comfortable since he left Ohio State.
Yet, it would be foolish of Cleveland (or its fans) to overlook the Steel City. The defense comes to play every time, regardless of talent, and emotions always run hot. Even if the Browns are hiring on all cylinders come the holiday season, Cleveland would consider themselves happy with a season split.
Cleveland’s record after 13 games: 8-5
Browns 4th-Quarter Record Prediction: 2-2
… and then Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs come to town. In December. When Mahomes owns a 22-6 record throughout his career. Luckily for Cleveland, this takes place at home, but that doesn’t seem to matter to Mahomes. If Cleveland could eke out a win, that would say a lot about their Super Bowl chances. But that doesn’t seem likely.
Cleveland plays its final home game of the season two weeks later against the Miami Dolphins. Miami is notoriously weak in colder climate games and has faded towards the end of the season under its current regime. If the Browns are serious about a Super Bowl run, this is one they need to win.
Browns Road Rivals to Close Season
The Dolphins game comes between visits to the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. Neither are ideal places for the Browns to visit in December and January. Combined with the Steelers game on December 8, that means the Browns are visiting all of their rivals in a five-week span. Even for a team hoping to improve on their 2023 road record, this is really not ideal. Consider that the two home games that break up these trips are with two of the NFL’s best teams, and things get even worse.
Last season, the Browns had a relatively light December slate against a relatively weak AFC South. That allowed quarterback Joe Flacco to come off the couch to lead Cleveland in a December to remember. But for the Browns to make a similar run into the playoffs this year, they’ll need all their pieces to come together.
Cleveland’s record after 13 games: 10-7
A 2-2 record in Cleveland’s final four games would be solid even for a true Super Bowl contender. However, a 10-7 record certainly won’t win the highly competitive AFC North, and may not be good enough for the playoffs at all. For the team to truly be a Super Bowl contender, they’re going to have to step up and beat the odds somewhere.
We’ll see if Watson and the Browns can.
Main Photo: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
