AFC North Schedule Analysis: Cleveland Browns

Just like last year, the Cleveland Browns are coming into the 2020 season with serious expectations. Unlike last year, though, the culture seems to be a bit more serious and structured under newly hired head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry. To top that off, Baker Mayfield has grown into a much more mature player off the field, which hopefully will translate to on-field success. With expectations high, Cleveland has a rather easy schedule, and will look to take advantage early and often.

Last Year’s Record: 6-10

The 2019 Cleveland Browns season was one to forget, and was especially frustrating with the talent they had on the roster. Whether it was Mayfield’s regression, coach Freddie Kitchens’ playcalling, or star defensive lineman Myles Garrett’s suspension, not much went right. If one is looking for a brightside, the Browns lost games in which they were within one score against the Rams, Seahawks and Steelers, all good teams. With that being said, the Browns did not execute well, and were not disciplined at the line of scrimmage. Look for the revamped offensive line to control the line better in 2020 to protect Baker and help the running game. Getting Myles Garrett back will also be a huge asset to a solid Browns pass rush.

Schedule:

WEEK 1

@ Baltimore (9/13 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 2

Vs. Cincinnati (9/17 8:20 P.M.)

WEEK 3

Vs. Washington (9/27 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 4

@ Dallas (10/4 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 5

Vs. Indianapolis (10/11 4:25 P.M.)

WEEK 6

@ Pittsburgh (10/18 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 7

@ Cincinnati (10/25 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 8

Vs. Las Vegas (11/1 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 9

BYE

WEEK 10

Vs. Houston (11/15 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 11

Vs. Philadelphia (11/22 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 12

@ Jacksonville (11/29 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 13

@ Tennessee (12/6 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 14

Vs. Baltimore (12/14 8:15 P.M.)

WEEK 15

@ NY Giants (12/20 1:00 P.M.)

WEEK 16

@ NY Jets (12/27 TBD)

WEEK 17

Vs. Pittsburgh (1/3 1:00 P.M.)

Most Intriguing Game: Week 15 @ NY Giants

Even though the Browns are clearly better on paper over the New York Giants, this game is still going to be intriguing and a must-watch for one reason: Odell Beckham Jr. Last year, OBJ returned to Metlife against the Jets. This year, he will not only be returning to Metlife, but will be facing off against the team that drafted him and watched him turn into a superstar. If everything goes right, the Browns should easily take care of business in this game, but the response Odell Beckham receives and how he reacts on the field will be extremely fun to watch.

Most Important Game: Week 17 vs. Pittsburgh

The term “best for last” is used a lot in society, and it can relate to football too. In the Browns’ case, their last game of the year will be their most important one, a home matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns and Steelers are the clear underdogs in the division behind the Ravens, but both of these teams have a real shot at making the wild card, and this game could easily be a deciding factor on how the playoff spots are filled. Since seven teams make the playoffs in each conference now, there is a chance you see three teams from the AFC North in the playoffs. The Steelers are coming off an underwhelming year, but with Big Ben healthy, they look to make another push for the playoffs. With that being said, Ben’s health is always a question. Speaking of question marks, will Baker return to his rookie form? If so, the Browns are looking at a lot of success. The importance of this game is inevitable, and how these two quarterbacks perform in 2020 may be the deciding factor.

Most Important Stretch: Weeks 10-14

Out of the bye, the Browns are going to have to hit the ground running. From Weeks 10-14, Cleveland will play five games, and four of these games are against playoff teams in 2019. They will host the Texans and Eagles before traveling to Jacksonville and Tennessee. Then, to end this stretch off, the Browns will host the Ravens on Monday Night Football. While four of the five weeks present difficult opponents (as of now Jacksonville looks underwhelming), the Browns still have a good shot to win these games. The Texans are a big question mark this year, but still have Watson. Philadelphia has a tough home stadium with a very good defense, but is weak at the skill positions. Jacksonville should be an easy win for the Browns before they go up against the Titans and Ravens, who are two of the more dominant rushing teams in the league. Baltimore is going to be the toughest game, but Cleveland has played them tough since Baker entered the league two years ago. This stretch of games will prove the Browns worth in 2020.

Prediction: 11-5

While 6-10 to 11-5 is a big jump, the Browns are very talented, and have a very easy schedule to deal with. They play the Giants, Redskins, and Jaguars, all teams that Cleveland should take care of very easily. Teams like the Jets and Raiders can be trap games because of their placement on the schedule, and I think they’ll split these games. Against the good quality competition (Cowboys, Texans, Titans, Eagles, Colts), I think the Browns will win three of these five. On paper, they are better than the Colts and Texans, and can win both of those games if they don’t beat themselves. With the Titans, Cowboys, and Eagles, it will be tough. The Eagles and Titans have very good defenses, and the Cowboys have an abundance of weapons for Dak to throw to, plus Zeke. The best shot to win one of these games is Philly at home. That brings their record to 11-5, but another rough season by Baker Mayfield could make this whole team blow up.

Schedule and stats from nfl.com