BL Predicts: Week 16 - Season finale vs Ravens

Normally, we predict the Browns game the day before to have as much information as possible but this week the outcome is already clear days before game time.

Brian Hoyer's shoulder is hurt, Connor Shaw may start so QB is bound to be an issue.   The Ravens are fighting for their playoff life and the game is in Baltimore.

BL Predicts:

Ravens      27
Browns     13

The BL are 9-6 year to date predicting the outcome of Browns games.

BL Predicts: Week 15 - Browns vs. Panthers

While the BL correctly foresaw that Johnny Football would have a rough debut I have to confess I had no idea that Johnny Manziel would show himself to be so flawed.  In a debut that was utterly terrible, Manziel's single game performance was so bad that it raises doubts about his potential as an NFL quarterback.  Normally you give a player a season to evaluate him but in Manziel's case he simply looked like he doesn't belong in the NFL.  His historically embarrassing debut is something that could only happen in Cleveland.

After the game Browns legend Bernie Kosar dumped on the front office and a culture of losing.  Bernie talks to people so his viewpoint has foundation in fact.   My guess here is that Bernie went off because he knows that Mike Pettine did not want to start Manziel vs the Bengals.  If Jimmy Haslam is interfering in the football operation of the Browns, it's a really really bad sign.

Onto Carolina.  Can the Browns game plan a better scheme for Manziel?   The answer is yes, anything would be better than the egg they laid against the Bengals.    Expect Cleveland to move Manziel around a bit and look for Johnny to make better reads but don't expect the Browns to win.   Turnovers and stalled drives will still likely be the order of the day vs the Panthers, but I would expect Johnny Football to move the team at least a few times on Sunday

BL Predicts:

Carolina      30
Browns       13


The BL are 8-6 year to date predicting Browns games.

Farewell Mike Pettine ??

Jimmy Haslam fired Chud because he did not like how Chud refused to cut players who didn't measure up.  Mike Pettine has learned that lesson well, making brutal examples this year of Ben Tate, Billy Cundiff, Kiero Small and others when they failed to do as the team pleased.

After yesterday's debacle vs Cincinnati, in which heaven forbid, Marvin Lewis out coached Mike Pettine, will Pettine's head be on the block?   Haslam has fired his head coach for 2 years running and let's not forget, Pettine was Joe Banner's man.

BL Predicts: Week 14 Browns vs Bengals - The debut of Johnny Football

When predicting, the Brown Log like to stick to the facts and here are the facts this week vs the Bengals:

- The home team wins 58% of the time in the NFL, just about the only factor in the Browns favor this week.

- The Browns have been torn apart by injury, though at linebacker and free safety players have stepped up and done an admirable job.  However at center and defensive line, the Browns have been severely weakened.

- A rookie QB is starting for the Browns this week.  Even if that rookie QB is the most famous rookie QB in NFL history, he's still a rookie QB.  Rookies make rookie mistakes, even the ones who end up being great.  Odds are strong that Johnny Manziel will make a critical mistake or two on Sunday.  Manziel likely will also surprise the Bengals with a few big plays both in the air and on the ground but this is not college where a mistake or two can be overcome by a few big plays, it's mistakes that decide games in the NFL.

- Football is an emotional game and the Bengals have an emotional edge on multiple fronts.

• Earlier this year the Bengals were soundly defeated by the Browns.
• The Bengals have more at stake as they hold the division lead
• The Browns have key players like Joe Thomas who favor the veteran QB Hoyer
• Marvin Lewis may be into Manziel's head with the midget comment

- Finally, another factor in any outdoor game, especially in Ohio is the weather.  On the Thursday evening in Cincinnati that the Bungles lost to the Browns there was a 50 mile per hour wind blowing and the Bengals stupidly stuck to their game plan, throwing passes all over the field that were visibly affected by the wind while the Browns clearly adapted to the elements and were able to move the ball.   Ironically the weather in Cleveland is supposed to be decent and the Bengals are out for revenge, I think they'll have the edge Sunday vs the Browns.


BL Predicts:

Bengals      24
Browns      20

The BL are 7-6 season to date predicting Browns games.

BL Predicts: Week 13 vs Colts

Injuries can impact a team more significantly in the NFL than any other professional sport.   In 2014, the Browns have been impacted by injuries more than any team in the NFL.   A litany of critical players are gone:  Alex Mack, Jordan Cameron, Karlos Dansby, Tashaun Gibson, Phil Taylor are all pro bowl or near pro bowl quality players that have missed a major part of the season.

At the end of every season, Jimmy Haslam decides whether or not to fire his head coach.   The Brown Log hope that Haslam breaks his trend and allows Pettine to return for a second season, but one factor not in Pettine's favor that Haslam will have to consider is whether or not Pettine has caused the rash of injuries by not implementing a strong conditioning program.

I'm a fatalist this week against the Colts.   Add a QB controversy with Hoyer's play degrading since the Houston game, to the mountain of injuries we have and I see Andrew Luck and his crew handing the Browns a solid loss at home.

BL Predicts:


Colts      24
Browns  14

The BL are 6-6 season to date predicting the outcome of Browns games.