Brown BLog Predicts

A Must Win Game!

October 25, 2020:   Browns at Bengals    

 

Every game, every week in the NFL is a difficult game.   Some more difficult than others.

Last week's destruction by the Steelers should be taken in it's proper perspective.   A stable team, deep in talent, playing at home.   Woody Hayes used to say a good old fashioned ass kicking can be good for the soul.  It humbles us and reminds us that nothing comes easy.

This week however against Cincy is a must win game.  This is another bit of hyperbole that I normally reject however this week is truly an important game for the morale of a team that is emotionally on the brink of believing in themselves.

A win vs the Bengals builds confidence necessary to make a playoff drive.

A loss vs the Bengals translates to further pressure on Baker Mayfield and non stop speculation about his future.

No win in the NFL is easy, especially on the road, but I am counting on Kevin Stefanski to put together a game plan that pulls this one off.   Even with the injuries, the Browns are deeper and more talented than the Bengals and should be able to eek this out.

The Brown BLog Predicts

Browns     31

Bengals    30

The Brown BLog are 2-3 this season prognosticating Browns games

Brown BLog Predicts

Sunday October 18 - Browns Steelers

Ribfest 2020 - Baker's ribs might be the story to this rivalry game!

 

Baker Mayfield has unquestioned grit and toughness.  It has made him who he is.   

As fans we tend to assume that once a game begins, pain killers and adrenaline help a player perform at peak level, but even a minor rib cage injury can be tough to play with.   I worry Sunday that Baker is going to be severely limited, especially after taking a few hits.

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The bottom line this week is that even with Baker healthy, I am convinced that the Steelers win at home on Sunday.  They are just far deeper than our Browns.

The formula for the Browns to win Sunday is to win the turnover battle AND outscore Pittsburgh.  With Baker healthy, I could be convinced of a small chance of a Cleveland win but with Baker nursing what is clearly a tough injury, I feel certain the Steelers take this one Sunday.   

No doubt, Baker will start and play but would not be surprised at some point if Keenum has to come into the game.    Regardless of who is pulling the trigger at QB, the Browns will run a lot and go to their Tight Ends more than they have at any point this season.   With Baker limited, there will be times when the team cannot move the ball and that will be the difference.   Big Ben remains one of the best and he has tons of weapons to exploit a battered Browns defense.   

This game will look a lot more like week 1 vs Baltimore - not close..

Brown BLog Predicts

Steelers   35

Brown     17

The Brown BLog are 1-3 this year predicting Browns games. 

Brown BLog Predicts

Browns vs Colts Oct 11 

TRUST?!?

Die hard Browns fans need more than 3 wins in 4 games to truly believe this Browns team might be diffferent however we have enough wins this season to prove that Kevin Stefanski is an NFL quality Head Coach and this Browns offense is very talented.

The match up vs the Colts on Sunday should be a good one.  The Colts have a defense that is amongst the best in the NFL and should give the Browns vaunted offensive line the best challenge of the season thus far.  The loss of Nick Chubb should not be dismissed nearly as quickly as many Browns followers are doing.   Chubb breaks tackles and runs harder than any back in the NFL.   Hunt is a fantastic back too but now the burden is completely on his shoulders.   The Colts are not going to give up 300 yards to the Browns on the ground, nor 200.   Far more likely that the Browns have to fight for every yard.

Watching Colts game highlights from their previous 4 games, I was impressed too by their pass coverage.  They are fast and cover well.  It is going to be a battle, my first prediction is there is no way that our Browns reach 30 points this week.

The Colts on offense depend on Phillip Rivers, who when I watch film reminds me of Eddie Harris, the sore armed pitcher in Major League.   

Stats seem to back that up:

- Rivers gets rid of the ball in 2.5 seconds or less 61% of the time this season and his passer rating is 106 when he does vs 82 when he holds the ball longer.  Baker on the other hand likes to hold the ball and look downfield, passing within 2.5 seconds only 49% of the time.   

I see Rivers trying to chew clock with lots and lots of underneath passes but I am going to trust that Joe Woods is ready for that and that Baker avoids turning the ball over.

Brown BLog Predicts

Browns 24   Colts 16

The Brown BLog are 0-3 this season as we adapt to this new reality of a Browns team that actually wins games.

Brown BLog Predicts

Browns vs Cowboys Sunday October 4

Week 4:  A TURNING POINT? 

Prognosticating Browns games used to be so easy.

Predicting the Browns to lose nearly every week was a guarantee of a winning record.

This season has been different.  I am 0-2 this season (I missed game 1, I would have certainly nailed that one).

Kevin Stefanski is a new kind of Browns coach.  He is prepared, he adjusts the teams tendencies week by week, he calls a good offensive game and does not ask his players to do too much.  In other words, Kevin Stefanski is....  an NFL quality head coach.  Hard to believe we have one in Cleveland is it not?

The Cowboys match up is a tough call.   It will certainly mark a turning point in this season should the Browns defeat the mighty Cowboys and this Dallas team is ripe to be upset as they battle injuries and turmoil

Key factors

- The Cowboys offensive line is severely banged up

- The Cowboys defense has not played well

- Jerry Jones called out Dak on an interview earlier this week, racheting up pressure on his QB.

There are people like ole Jerry who might disagree but I count Dak Prescott as one of the best QBs in the NFL.   Watch him, he consistently stays calm in the pocket, makes his reads and delivers accurate balls all over the field of play.   

Bottom line here is I can see this game going either way but I am going to stick with habit here and predict that Dak will be the difference

BL Predicts
Cowboys 27
Browns 24