After an off season that was filled with everything except X's and O's, finally the 2023 NFL Regular Season is upon us.
Something big is stirring in the kitchen: The BAKER BOWL!!
The Browns open against their former QB Baker Mayfield in what promises to be an emotional battle. Football is an emotional game, however this game is going to come down to old fashioned execution.
Many pundits see the Browns as a Super Bowl ready team because of the team's depth of talent at many spots. And we all know that the Browns leadership see themselves as smarter than the rest of the NFL. But are they really smarter? The Browns have a few significant holes and Carolina will expose those holes.
Hole #1: The Browns Defense is vulnerable between the tackles. Watch film on the Browns, our defensive tackles are consistently driven off the line of scrimmage. The Browns strategy is obvious, defy the NFL to run up the gut. Why? Because it's a passing league. The Browns will not invest in interior defensive line talent because they do not care if opponents run successfully up the gut, nor do they believe most opponents will. Smart? Maybe, but I think Carolina is smart enough to exploit those holes.
Hole #2: Wide Receiver. The Cleveland Browns have one proven NFL receiver. Look for Carolina to take Amari Cooper away
Hole #3: QB. I like Jacoby Brissett. He's one of the best backup QBs in the NFL, he will give the Browns a fighting chance every week but Jacoby Brissett is no Baker Mayfield. Baker can accurately rifle a football 30 to 40 yards downfield. Defenses have to respect Baker's ability to thread a needle and CREATE big plays. It's the reason why a pathetic 1-31 team was transformed into a 500+ team. With Brissett, the Browns are back to a wise game manager who will take what the defense gives and cannot create big plays. He will find holes but to get big plays Brissett exploits mistakes. Don't count on Carolina handing too many big plays to Brissett on Sunday
Hole #4: Coaching. The Browns believe that they can scheme the perfect play on every down. It's the reason Kevin Stefanski disliked Baker Mayfield and kept him "on a leash". Baker liked to go for the big play and Baker understood that he could open up defenses by forcing them to respect his ability to thread the needle 30 yards downfield. Kevin Stefanski loves journeymen QBs who shut up and do as told. Will time prove him right? Will he forge a relationship with DeShaun Watson? Who knows.
Stefanski will love Jacoby Brissett because he faithfully follows orders. Not sure how many games he will win though. Maybe half of them, maybe less. But against Carolina look for the Browns to get hammered. Brissett will have trouble finding open receivers anywhere on the field and Carolina will move the ball against the Browns by exploiting the middle of the field and creating a few big plays.
The Brown BLog Predicts
Browns 16
Panthers 31
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