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