Brown BLog Predicts: Jets

The Jets led by Trevor Siemian are not going to beat a red hot Browns team looking to clinch a playoff spot 

Brown BLog Predicts

Browns 27

Jets 13

The Brown BLog are 7-8 season to date

Brown BLog Predicts: Game 14 vs Texans

In spite of turning the ball over more than their opponents the majority of their games this season, the Browns are winning.   Why?  Because their defense has been fantastic.  

A few statistics tell the tale:

- The Browns have run 1001 offensive plays this season while their opponents have run 807.    It's simple, the more plays you run the more chances you have to score.   The Browns have run 194 more offensive plays than their opponents.  A touchdown is scored 3.6% of offensive plays in the NFL so by running 194 more plays, the Browns have negated their -7 turnover ratio.

- The Browns possess the ball an average of 33:05 minutes per game while opponents average 26:54

So what's going to happen in Houston?   Hard game to predict but one thing is clear, the Browns have to continue to run more offensive plays than their opponent to continue to win.

The Texans are excellent at home and the Browns are not very good on the road.   The Texans have a +8 turnover ratio, the Browns are -7.  Both teams have serious injuries they are battling, the Texans won't have CJ Stroud, Brian Cashman and Will Anderson.  The list of injured Browns is too long to detail but lately Joe Flacco is doing a great job of making the huge loss of Deshaun Watson less painful and the Browns depth in their defensive backfield continues to pay dividends.

One injury that pretty much everyone is blind to is Myles Garrett who injured his shoulder against the Broncos so badly that he could not so much as put his shirt on without help after the game.  Since then, if you watch closely, Garrett has not been able to use his left arm the same way.

Suddenly Garrett is getting held more.   

 - Why?   Before he hurt his left shoulder Garrett was better able to utilize his left arm to fight off the holding of opposing tackles.

Garrett is not getting many tackles

   - Why?   Imagine tackling a professional football player if your left arm is at 20% of it's full function.  

Garrett is not getting sacks

  - Why?  See above

So why is Garrett even playing?   It's simple, even with Garrett playing with his left arm at 20% or less of it's full function, Garrett's speed is disruptive, it forces opponents to double team him and football is an easier game when your opponent must double team one of your defenders.   10 vs 9 is easier than 11 vs 11, get it?

I ask myself why all of the sudden are the Browns coaches talking up Garrett in press conferences every day?   I think in part it is in the hopes that opposing coaches decide to continue doubling Garrett in spite of stats and film that show Garrett is limited by injuries.

This should be a close game but look for the Texans to limit Garrett and double team him less.  Laremy Tunsil should be able to handle Garrett one on one and the Browns will probably move Garrett to the left side where he can use his right arm to fend off holds.  Garrett will draw more attention from Houston on the left side of Cleveland's D but moving Garrett will allow Tunsil to handle an easier foe on the other side.

Case Keenum will be careful and focus on short gains every play, the Texans will highlight Devin Singletary both running and catching short passes and bust a few plays which will be enough at home for them to win this one. 

The Brown BLog Predicts

Texans             17

Browns            13

The Brown BLog are 7-7 season to date

The Brown BLog Predicts: Overcoming obstacles

The Browns this season have endured injuries beyond any sense of reason.   The entire NFL in fact has been a bloodbath of serious injuries all season long, but the Browns have had more than their share, far more.

Yet the team keeps on winning.  At some point, even the most skeptical person has to step back and tip their hat to Kevin Stefanski.   His ability to keep the team on track must be acknowledged.

The Bears are playing well and Justin Fields is the style of QB who has given the Browns trouble this season.   He can run and he can throw deep. 

Furthermore, the Browns have suffered three more major injuries this week with Ogbo, Hurst and Grant Delpit being lost.   The Browns however still have enough talent and motivation to keep overcoming these immense obstacles.

Should the Browns win the Bears game it increases their already strong odds of grabbing a playoff spot.  With Joe Flacco playing well and a squad of motivated, united athletes working a solid gameplan at home, the Browns should pull this one off.

The Brown BLog Predicts

Browns             24

Bears                17

The Brown BLog are 6-7 season to date. 

Brown BLog Predicts: Injuries

This is that part of the season where if you watch closely, it is not difficult to see that most NFL players are playing banged up.  It's a brutal game and teams don't want to sit their starters if at all possible.

Injuries might be the key today vs Jacksonville.   Last week against the Rams, Myles Garrett was shut out for the first time in his career.   No sacks, no tackles, no assists, no pressures.  That after a game the previous week where Garrett could not lift his arm after the game.  Neither Garrett nor the Browns are willing to admit how serious his injury might be and they both dismissed any suggestion that his injury had anything to do with being shut out.  Teams have been double and triple teaming Garrett as long as he's been in the league but we should believe it was the LA Rams who finally shut him down.   My eyes said Garrett is playing with an injury that 99% of athletes would not play with and watching the Rams game I believe Garrett avoided opportunities to make tackles more than once.  Why?  Because he cannot use his left arm and even one hit to that arm might seriously aggravate the injury.   So the Browns are playing Garrett as a decoy in my opinion.   That proves that Garrett is tough as nails but the concern here is that his injury prevents him from being anything more than a decoy.   As a decoy Garrett can still contribute because teams double team him so the game becomes 10 Browns defenders vs 9 offensive players but if Garrett truly cannot use his left arm, and I think the film shows that he is avoiding using his left arm, Jacksonville is not stupid, they watch film and I think they will test Garrett today if only to force him to use that arm and validate if he's really hurt.  

Bottom line is that the Browns defense with Garrett at less than 50% is not a dominant defense.   I think Garrett "is" less than 50% 

On the Jacksonville side, their franchise QB Trevor Lawrence has a very bad ankle injury.  I watched that one and find it difficult to believe his ankle is sprained.   It looked like a dislocation to me.  Dislocations can happen without bones breaking or ligaments tearing, but once you dislocate any joint, the threat of it dislocating again is serious and healing can take months.  That said, dislocations often "pop back into place" and ankles can be protected by tape and braces so maybe Lawrence can play, albeit risking new dislocations but I would bet that Doug Pederson lands on resting his QB for a few weeks including today against the Browns. 

So which is worse, the Browns with Garrett playing on one arm or the Jags without Trevor Lawrence?

I am going with the Jaguars today, I think CJ Beathard is an experienced solid backup who will execute his game plan.   Unlike Kevin Stefanski, Doug Pederson knows how to win with his backup QB, the Jags will be patient and wait for the Browns to do something stupid.  The weather may be a factor too, lending a hand to whichever team is willing to win ugly.  That too causes me to lean towards the road team today. 

The Brown BLog Predicts

Jacksonville             17

Browns                    13

The Brown BLog are 6-6 season to date.

Leveraging Every Advantage

Kevin Stefanski has refused to reveal who will be the starting QB for the Browns this week against Jacksonsville.  Most pundits believe that Stefanski hopes to force the Jaguars coaching staff to prepare for both Joe Flacco and Dorian Thompson Robinson.  By diluting their opponents prep time, an advantage is created for the Browns!

One might dismiss this because it cannot be that difficult for an opponent to prepare for DTR since as a QB he basically is a less accurate version of Cody Kessler, but in fact, the Brown BLog can confirm that Coach Stefanski's strategy is working.

Our sources indicate that Doug Pederson and his staff have spent over two hours praying that Stefanski starts Dorian Thompson Robinson!   

 

Brown BLog Predicts: Odds are against winning ugly.

When I think about predicting the outcome of a given game, I always start with the thought, what if these two teams played 10 games?   If the Browns played the Rams in Los Angeles ten times today I do believe the Rams would win 6 or 7 times.  So as Lloyd Christmas might say, "you are telling me there is a chance!".  Indeed, if the Browns defense plays well which is something they've done all season, the Browns could win today if Kevin Stefanski is willing to "win ugly".  What is winning ugly?  It is something Bill Parcells and Marty Schottenheimer knew how to do.  You can tilt the odds in your favor in a game where you are apparently likely to lose, if you use the clock and leverage your teams strengths.  The Browns are in trouble due to injuries on offense, but they have a great D.   Run the damn clock and you move the odds of winning in your favor by limiting your opponents time of possession. 

The problem with that is that Paul DePodesta and Kevin Stefanski just hate winning ugly.   Don't get me wrong, Kevin Stefanski does something that most Browns Head Coaches during the rather ugly and sleezy Haslam era did not.   Stefanski has his team ready to compete almost every Sunday but he just cannot resist trying to be cute once or twice in any given game. 

As Jim Schwartz was quoted this week when asked about analytics, "football is not played in a vacuum".  So why is it that in a cold weather game, Kevin Stefanski called a double reverse with a QB who had just entered the game, PJ Walker, and another player, Pierre Strong, who also had barely a snap on offense?   Why?  Because our 80's corner bar Archie Bunker drunk, Paul DePodesta must have told him that the Broncos would never imagine that the Browns would be stupid enough to run a double reverse with two cold players (literally and figuratively).   It always works after all!   Throw a long pass with your backup QB on 4th and 1??   Sure fire Browns Touchdown!  Hooray!  

Instead, the Broncos had done their homework.  They knew damn well that the Browns are apt to do stupid things so their defenders understood to be patient against the Browns offense and make their reads.  Result?  There were not one but two Broncos ready to crush Pierre Strong on the double reserve, which Mr. Strong obviously noted, because he fumbled the pitch to him. 

End of game.

The scenario in which the Browns win today involves running the ball 60% or more and passing with veteran Joe Flacco very conservatively.  

The Browns won't do that because analytics says there is no such thing as winning ugly and that if you study the statistics enough, you will discover human beings can indeed be coached to perform like robots.   

The Brown BLog predicts

Rams        26

Brown      17

The Brown BLog are 5-6 season to date. 

Brown BLog Predicts: Doubling Down

 Over the 10 + years The Brown BLog have predicted Browns games, we have always had a winning record.  I probably came to believe that I actually know what I am talking about but truth be told, I usually predicted the Browns to lose and frankly, for as long as most can remember, predicting the Browns to lose is a winning formula.

This year the Brown BLog is 4-6 year to date predicting the outcome of Browns games.  Why?  Because more often than not, we see the Browns losing.

So maybe just maybe the 2023 Browns will make believers out of us naysayers?   Well, maybe but my view today is that even a homer should think seriously about the Browns chances of winning today.   But homers will all line up saying the Browns will win.  

Of course, the Brown BLog is doubling down on losing. 

Why double down on losing?

- It is extremely hard to win in Denver.  The average NFL home team wins about 56% of the time.  The Bronco's all time home winning percentage is about 63%

- Russell Wilson may be getting up there in years, but he can still run if he needs to and to beat the Browns amazing defense, the opposing QB has to rack up at least a handful of big runs.   

- Dorian Thompson Robinson took a solid step up vs the Steelers but he is a rookie and he still played mostly poorly vs the Steelers.  He has potential but he's a warm weather rookie QB playing his first NFL road game in one of the hardest stadiums for any visiting NFL team.   And the weather promises to be extremely cold.

- Last but not least Denzel Ward is out today.  That hurts, big time. 

Look for DTR to struggle.   Look for Russell Wilson to play well and look for the Browns to lose

The Brown BLog Predicts

Denver          20

Browns         10

The Brown Blog are 4-6 season to date.

Ohio's Football Tradition: Ohio State vs Michigan

If you want to understand the passion for football in Ohio, look no further than Ohio State Football.

Steeped in tradition, Buckeye football is nearly a religious experience on any given fall Saturday in Ohio.   Generations of Ohioans love their Buckeyes and sometimes the passion is so intense that it can be nearly embarrassing.   But passion it is.

Embarrassing?   Well, try attending an Ohio State vs Michigan game in Ann Arbor, Michigan and you might see what I mean.  Fans in Ann Arbor are polite and respectful of Ohio State fans which stands in sharp contrast to the behavior of many Buckeye fans at any home game in Columbus.

The Ohio State University themselves actually encourage this behavior with the relatively new and mostly not funny tradition of "crossing out" the M in many communications that the University themselves produce during Michigan week.   It is an utterly stupid, pointless and relatively new tradition that should be done away with.   

Why, ask you?

Stupid - Because effectively an institution of higher learning is defacing public property and encouraging poor spelling. 

Pointless - Because at it's worst, the demonization of the letter M encourages poor sportsmanship.

I hope the Buckeyes win this weekend, but you won't catch me getting caught up crossing out M's and hopefully someday our great University will find something positive to do during Michigan week.

The Brown BLog Predicts: Game 10 vs the Steelers - Experience

The Browns, under the leadership of Paul DePodesta, have spent much of the last 7 years doing two things:

 

- Losing games

- Trying desperately to prove conventional wisdom wrong 

Today vs the Steelers conventional wisdom says that a rookie QB will struggle.  In fact, as a case in point, the Browns even have data to prove that Damian Thompson-Robinson is going to struggle.   His performance in his first game vs the Ravens.   But let's ignore that data, after all, DTR, who was the Browns backup QB at the time, did not have a week to prepare as a starter when he played vs the Ravens.  Some message there, if you are a backup on the Browns, you are apparently excused for poor performance and preparation if you are a backup.

But Brock Purdy played well last year and he was the last pick in the 2022 draft!  Yes, he did but there are hundreds of other QBs who struggled in their rookie season.  Ignore that data?  Why not.

DTR starts today vs the Steelers.   The Browns know that PJ Walker gives them better odds of winning, data proves that however they must keep one foot in the future, and they believe DTR can improve his future value by playing now and there is no doubt that they believe that the Browns can go 4-4 with DTR at the commands.   

So get ready for a wild ride today knowing that the Browns still have games against the Jets, Bears, the Bengals without Burrow and the Rams.   Win every one of them for sure!   Even with a bad QB?   

Let's see

The Brown BLog Predict that our defense will be just fine but DTR won't

Steelers  30

Browns  10

The Brown BLog are 4-5 predicting Browns games this season.

Drinking the Kool Aid?

Either the Browns believe they can shape their future by the power of positive thinking or they are simply unwilling to face reality.   This week pushes all of the limits of their ability to spin.

SPIN FAILURES

1. You read it on the Brown BLog weeks ago that Deshaun Watson was heading towards a season ending shoulder injury.   Micro tears are STRUCTURAL damage because strong muscles support the shoulder structure and Watson's muscles were micro torn.  I felt you could see this season ended injury coming from miles away.  I guess Berea is simply too close to see it coming.  

2. The next big spin failure is one that we will have to confront this Sunday.   Our new spin is that DTR's performance against the Ravens was understandable because he did not have a full week to prepare as the starter.   DTR himself said that he did not even know some of the play calls coming in from Kevin Stefanski.

Are you drinking the Kool Aid??

I am not.   Why?

Well for starters

- Why is it that DTR after a full training camp, was not in command of his playbook?

- Why is it that DTR did not apparently take his role as backup QB seriously enough to prepare as if he might have to play?

If you drink the Browns Kool Aid and expect to see a new man at QB Sunday against the Steelers I suspect you're going to be seriously let down.

The Brown BLog Predicts: Quesions Answered - Week 9 vs Ravens

The Browns vs the Ravens will be the most important game the Browns have played in over two seasons because this game is going to answer a lot of questions.

Among the questions that we will have the answers to after Sunday's match:

- Are the Browns a Super Bowl contender?

- Is Kevin Stefanski capable of a flawless day of coaching, or will he continue to listen to Paul DePodesta's staff during the most critical moments of a game and make mind numbing decisions that mar games that are generally well planned on offense. 

Those are two pretty big questions.   A road game vs the very talented and well coached Ravens is a test.  Win it and pass.  Lose it and fail.

I see the Browns battling tomorrow but losing a relatively close battle.   But whether the Browns lose by 1 point or 30 a loss will be a failure that foreshadows yet another disappointing season for the Browns 

Brown BLog Predicts

Ravens    23

Browns   16

The Brown BLog are 4-4 this season predicting the outcome of Browns games.

CJ Stroud vs Deshaun Watson: What is the Difference?

After his remarkable performance last Sunday in an amazing come from behind victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaners, CJ Stroud was asked to explain his incredible success as a rookie QB in the NFL.

Stroud answered that he gave all the credit to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When fans seek to understand what is the difference between Deshaun Watson, a very good QB and CJ Stroud who is emerging as a world class QB the answer is in Stroud's own words.

Watson has even more ability than CJ Stroud, the only difference is that Stroud has surrendered his life to our Lord Jesus.

If fans want the Browns to win a Super Bowl, they should do everything in their power to shower Mr. Watson with the words and love of Christ the Savior.

Once Deshaun Watson is saved, and begins to live his life in the brilliant light of our Lord, he will be transformed off the field and then on it! 

The Brown BLog Predicts: Game 8 vs Cardinals

The Browns luck ran out against Seattle last Sunday.  

What?  Luck??

Luck does not exist, right?  It's all about the numbers.   Well, I don't know which set of analytics says that but I thought at a bare minimum it was a terrible idea to put the entire game on PJ Walkers shoulders after such a gutsy performance.   So instead of being a hero, Walker ends up the goat and the Browns yet again try to outsmart an opponent, who instead made their reads and won the play, then the game.

So will we need luck against the Cardinals today?  I was ready to predict Arizona if Kyler Murray were to start, but a rookie QB against the Browns amazing D?   

I see no way the Browns lose to a rookie QB, Clayton Tune will make a few errors and the Browns will get a win at home

The Brown BLog Predicts

Browns            23

Cardinals         17

The Brown BLog are 3-4 this season  

The Brown BLog Predicts: Stay the Course

The Browns have won two games in a row without their franchise QB, whose rotator cuff hangs in the balance.   The Browns Defense and Special Teams deserve much of the credit for those two wins, not to mention some officiating calls that seem inspired by the legendary gambler Tim Donaghy.

However illogical it is that the Browns are 4-2 today, it remains hard for me to accept that this Browns team is destined to success.   PJ Walker undeniably is a cool customer under pressure and I like his leadership, but carry the Browns to the playoffs?  I don't think so.   He's putting more film out there every week, NFL teams are going to find even more cracks in his game.

So this week the Brown BLog stays the course and predicts yet again the Browns will lose this week vs. a very good Seahawks team.

Let's hope for a Washington Commanders loss this week because word is that if they win, Jacoby Brissett is not getting traded.   Without Brissett the Browns hopes for salvaging a playoff season are going to go down the toilet, because I don't care what anybody says, you can say what you like about Deshaun Watson off the field, but on the field he is a warrior.  If he's not playing something is seriously and structurally wrong with that rotator cuff.

Brown BLog Predicts

Seahawks        28

Browns            17

the Brown BLog are 2-4 season to date predicting Browns outcomes.

The Brown BLog Predicts: On the Road to Indy

Winning on the road is hard in the NFL, the home team wins 56% of the time in the NFL.  Fans and pundits are almost universally aligned in predicting a Browns win this week and that the Colts, because Gardner Minshew is at QB, are beatable.

Wrong.   While I like Anthony Richardson, think he will be a goo QB and am sorry to see him out for the season, I also think facing a rookie QB would have been a bounty for the Browns defense.  Minshew on the other hand, might be a journeyman, has been around the block enough to know when to take a risk and when to fold.   Furthermore the Colts have a good run game and plenty of young, fast and talented defenders.

This is a trap game and I think the Browns are the prey.  Deshaun Watson might well be back, but unless the Browns can run the ball and get a long overdue big game from their $15,000,000 Tight End, I see this game tilting to the Colts.   

Watson is likely to be rusty yet again and Njoku rarely produces a Travis Kelce like output, in spite of his similar salary.  I think Watson will be his old self at some point this season, but not after 3 weeks off and I think Njoku will eventually put up some numbers, maybe today but it won't be enough today.

The Brown BLog Predicts:

Colts        26

Browns    13

The BL are 2-3 this season prognosticating Browns games. 

The Brown BLog Predicts: Week 6 vs SF 49ers - - - EaSy!!!

 PJ Walker off the taxi squad to battle the 5-0 49ers?

Easiest Prediction of the Season:

The Brown BLog Predicts

49ers        31

Browns    10

The Brown BLog is 2-2 this season predicting Browns games. 

Paul DePodesta's Guardrail of the Week: No Uncoordinated Leaks!

 One of Paul DePodesta's Guardrails is "no uncoordinated leaks"

This week, we all learned for the first time from Josina Anderson, that Deshaun Watson will not play vs the 49ers.   

This is chaos, not coordination.

Paul DePodesta's GUARDRAIL OF THE WEEK- Don't Pay for Depth! - Cleveland Browns Analytics

 Absurd to think but the Cleveland Browns have been extremely secretive when it comes to detailing the strategies that result from their extraordinary investment in analytics.

Why is it absurd?   Because analytics have produced below average results.

How can we measure the results of analytics if the Browns hold their strategies so close to the vest?  Well let me take a stab at this.

- Paul DePodesta is in his 8th season as Chief Strategy Officer

- The Browns record in his first 7 seasons is 40-73-1.....

- The only documented record I can locate of Mr. DePodesta's strategy are his infamous Guardrails:

 

Every single guardrail published all those years ago can be questioned and the Brown Blog plan to look at every guardrail in the coming weeks, but today let's look at one guardrail that is "in the news" of late.

PAUL DePODESTA GUARDRAIL OF THE WEEK - DON'T PAY FOR DEPTH

In a season in which Jimmy Haslam is paying over $280,000,000 in player salaries, many of them free agent signees, which in itself is an abandonment of another guardrail strategy, but leave that for another week, the Browns simply could not resist the analytical goldmine of accumulating a 5th round pick and saving $2,000,000 in salary by trading Josh Dobbs.   Dobbs is playing well, he is playing in fact like a QB who has been in the NFL for 6 seasons and knows how to handle the QB role.

I too was swept away by DTR's pre season performance however I am not being paid a 7 figure salary to make roster decisions for the Cleveland Browns.   

The aligned team of Paul DePodesta, Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski are however paid millions to decide how to spend Jimmy Haslam's billions and in less than 2 months that trade has the stench of horrid decision making.

Given how and how often the Browns run Deshaun Watson, having depth at QB is critical in a season that Jim Haslam hoped to make a deep playoff run.   But Analytics says don't pay for depth and here we are.........

Go Browns!

The Brown Blog Predicts: The Roller Coaster Ride, Week 4 vs The Ravens

 Being a Browns fan is much like riding a roller coaster, especially game to game.   Browns fans aspirations this season have gone from "Super Bowl" after the Bengals game, to the world is ending after a tough loss to the Steelers and right back to "We are the Champions" after an impressive win against Tennessee.

Look for this weeks game against Baltimore to be like riding a roller coaster all game long.   

There is a lot to peel back when looking at this week:

- The Ravens have a ton of injured players

- Deshaun Watson has a sore right shoulder and at this point, it is starting to feel like he won't be anywhere near 100% for the Ravens.

- The Browns incredible defense now has three full games of film out there and John Harbaugh is a tactician who knows how to make a game plan and work the clock when his team is at a disadvantage. 

Here is how I see the game unfolding:

The Browns defense is amazing however so is Lamar Jackson.  Like every fan I have been utterly impressed by what Myles Garrett and his teammates are achieving under the vision of Jim Schwartz.  Playing the Devil's Advocate, it's hard to come up with scenario's of how to combat a defensive line that is playing so fast combined with defensive backs who are capable of strong man coverage.

The one tactic I can imagine working is a $50,000,000 QB who can run the football like a tailback.

I see Lamar Jackson gaining over 100 yards Sunday using clever run designs.  The Ravens are going to score more than 3 points.

On the other side, Deshaun Watson is sporting a clipped wing right now.   I can envision a scenario in which the Browns, knowing it's a long season with a bye week coming, pull Watson early if he is struggling.  Especially since the extremely physical Ravens D is going to look for every opportunity to pound the Browns star QB.

So.... I think the Browns will lose, right?   Not quite.

The Ravens are nursing injuries at every key position group while the Browns, other than Watson are in relatively sound shape.   I think Sunday is going to be a roller coaster where the lead changes hands numerous times, but the Browns defense is going to get burned for a few big plays by Lamar, will also  manage to force a few turnovers, maybe even score a few points.

If Dorian Thompson Robinson plays I believe he will play well, if Deshaun Watson guts out an entire game, I think he will play responsibly and avoid turnovers.

I see Baltimore scoring two TDs and kicking 3 field goals, but I think the Browns will get "one more point" and win a thriller

The Brown Blog Predicts

Browns        24

Ravens        23

The Brown BLOg is 2-1 Predicting the outcome of Browns games season to date.

The Brown BLog Predicts: Week 3 vs Titans

 While it would be great fun to watch the chaos that will unfold should the Browns lose on Sunday against Tennessee, a Browns loss would require an emotional collapse that is unprecedented even for the Browns. 

The loss of Nick Chubb is a massive blow to both the team and it's emotions, but signing Kareem Hunt was a very smart move that has already lifted spirits.  I see at least one touchdown by Kareem on Sunday. 

Tennessee is well coached but they really lack the depth of talent needed to compete on the road with a team that's as loaded as the Browns.  

I see a tough day in store for Tennessee as the Browns coast to an easy win on Sunday.

Brown BLog Predicts

Browns        27

Titans            17

The Brown BLog is 1-1 predicting Browns games this season

Paul DePodesta's Guardrail of the week! Scheme Production = Plays not Players

 The Cleveland Browns believe that scheme production exists and after last Monday night I think they've convinced me!

One can imagine Kevin Stefanski and "AVP" deep in the bowels of their Berea lair, preparing their game plan by saying: 

"Mike Tomlin will NEVER imagine that we will throw to our third string tight end on the very first play of a huge game!!!"

Of course they were right however the fact that they surprised Mike Tomlin is small consolation to Browns fans because unlike Kevin Stefanski, Mr. Tomlin teaches his athletes to trust their reads and make plays.   

So unfortunately for the Browns, opening in 13 Empty did not confuse the Steelers. They adjusted Alex Highsmith into coverage against the legendary Harrison Bryant and the result of the play could most certainly be labelled "scheme production"

Unfortunately for the Browns it was scheme production on behalf of Alex Highsmith.

Touchdown Steelers

What is Deshaun Watson's problem?

 People are already debating what exactly is wrong with Deshaun Watson.   He once was one of the best QB's in the entire NFL and now he has slipped in every category.  

The Brown BLog has the answer!

At some point in the last 4 years, it sure does seem like Deshaun Watson lost his way and has slipped into Satan's traps:  Materialism and Idle Hands. These are the devil's tools and they might be wrecking havoc on this world class athlete.

The Browns organization is driven by facts and figures so I am sure they are studying the numbers and focused on things like Deshaun's reads, his footwork, and a variety of other quantifiable elements of Deshaun's play.   However they are on the wrong track, the only solution is for Deshaun Watson to change his life by accepting the truth of our savior Jesus Christ into his life.

Once Deshaun accepts Christ as his personal savior, all of his on field woes will melt away in the warm embrace of our Lord.   

Let's pray this happens sooner than later!

The Brown BLog Predicts: The Poker Game week 2 vs Pittsburgh

The weather and Jim Schwartz started to create believers in the Cleveland Browns season opener vs Cincinnati last Sunday. 

 In an epic performance the Browns defense dominated the day while Deshaun Watson found a way to engineer points vs a solid Bengal D in spite of the weather. It was a great debut for the 2023 Browns.

The NFL is like a poker match and now there is some film for opponents to start to counter Jim Schwartz' amazing defense. Mike Tomlin talked about Cleveland's "Mr. Chubb" and we should think about Pittsburgh's "Mr. Tomlin". Mike Tomlin is a future Hall of Fame coach and he is bound to come up with an offensive tactic or two against the Browns in week 2. 

 What will be those tactics? Here is my best guess 

 - Challenge Cleveland's corners who shut down Cincinnati mostly running man to man coverage. 

 - Look for Pittsburgh to use extra pass blockers 

 - Pittsburgh will run screen passes in the middle of the field, hunting a few big plays against the blitz and trying to keep Grant Delpit occupied in the middle of the field. 

On Defense the Steelers need the Browns to make mistakes. Winning the battle of turnovers is a key for Pittsburgh on Monday night. 

 Finally, the weather forecast for Monday night in Pittsburgh is for a beautiful night, neither side should be handicapped by bad weather. 

I was immensely impressed by the Browns D last Sunday but their offense is still a work in progress. Deshaun Watson is a leader and I think he will soon be the Deshaun Watson we all saw dominate the NFL in Houston, but against the Steelers and Mr. Tomlin on Monday Night, I see an interception or two in his future and an up and down evening. 

 Look for a tight low scoring battle that Mr. Tomlin walks away yet again with a W vs the Browns. 

BBLog Predicts 

Steelers 20 

Browns 17 

 The Brown Blog is 0-1 this season.

The Brown BLog Predicts: 2023 Season Opener - Browns vs Bengals - Cohesion

During the 2023 Preseason, Browns leadership noted more than once that no other NFL team has to open the first month of the season by facing each of their division rivals.   

Coincidence?

The Haslam's broke with the NFL cartel's unwritten agreement to avoid any player contract be fully guaranteed.   Is it a coincidence that the Browns start the season with a run of difficult games that could derail their entire season?  I doubt it but let's move on to what is relevant right now, the team.

The Browns have a much improved roster:

- Deshaun Watson will have a full season to tune his game.

- The Browns front office has given up on their analytics driven strategy of saving money on defensive tackles.  They now have NFL quality defensive tackles, probably because Jim Schwartz would not agree to coach a defense using tackles chosen by Paul DePodesta.

- Elijah Moore is a game changing talent at WR.

- Juan Thornhill is a legit free safety.

So with all that good news, what do i think happens this Sunday?

Browns will lose a heartbreaker.   Why?   The Brown defense looks ready to play but their offense lacks cohesion.   Teams take time to gel and this team still needs time to come together.   There are too many key players on the Browns offense who have weeks in the Stefanski system.   Meanwhile the Bengals in the last two years have a Super Bowl and two conference championship games worth of experience.  Jim Schwartz' defense will challenge them for sure, but even with a sore calf and one week of practice, Joe Burrow and his mates will find a way to stack up enough points to beat the Browns.

Deshaun Watson will play well, so we can all talk about a moral victory on Monday and look forward to what promises to be an interesting 2023 season.

Brown BLog Predicts:

Cincinnati Bengals    27

Cleveland Browns     17