http://espn.go.com/nfl/preview10/team/_/name/cle
Everyone at ESPN is predicting a 4th place finish with the exception of Seth Wickersham from ESPN The Mag, who is picking them 2nd at 8-8. That’s very generous, but I do not think an 8-8 record gets us 2nd in the tough AFC North. Baltimore and Cincy can easily both have 10+ wins this year.
Shockingly I find myself agreeing with Wickersham. However and more realistically I am going with a 3rd place finish for our Browns. Going 8-8 and defeating Pittsburgh in the final game to knock them to 4th place with a 7-9 record. I do not know why everyone likes the Steelers so much, including Peter King. They will have Dennis Dixon starting for the their first 4 games, and I cannot see him shouldering the load until Roethlisberger returns. My opinion is that the Steelers have run their course and this year they will fall hard. It will not take them much to get back, but it will not be this year.
I see the division shaking out like this:
Cincinnati – 11-5 wins division. (Browns steal win at home in week 4)How will the Browns go 8-8?
Ravens – 10-6 (I really want to say 9-7, but the addition of Houshmandzadeh is going to help their passing game and may account for another win. I think the Browns can steal one of these games as well.)
Browns – 8-8 (Wins at home versus Cincy & Pitt and a possible win against the Ravens to go 3-3 in the division)
Steelers – 7-9 (They will get swept by either the Bengals or Ravens this year and with a loss at the end of the year versus our Browns will put them in the basement.)
Week # 1 Sep 12 – Win at Tampa Bay (1-0)
Week # 2 Sep 19 – Win versus Kansas City (2-0)
Week # 3 Sep 26 – Loss at Baltimore (2-1)
Week # 4 Oct 3 – Win versus Cincinnati (3-1)
Week # 5 Oct 10 – Loss versus Atlanta (3-2) [I really wish I could see a win here since I now live in ATL]
Week # 6 Oct 17 – Loss at Pittsburgh (3-3)
Week # 7 Oct 24 – Loss at New Orleans (3-4)
Week # 8 – BYE WEEK
Week # 9 Nov 7 – Loss versus New England (3-5)
Week # 10 Nov 14 – Loss versus New York (3-6)
Week # 11 Nov 21 – Win at Jacksonville (4-6)
Week # 12 Nov 28 – Win versus Carolina (5-6)
Week # 13 Dec 5 – Loss at Miami (5-7)
Week # 14 Dec 12 – Win at Buffalo (6-7)
Week # 15 Dec 19 – Loss at Cincinnati (6-8)
Week # 16 Dec 26 – Win versus Baltimore (7-8)
Week # 17 Jan 2 – Win versus Pittsburgh (8-8)
*BOLD denotes home game
I am really on the fence with the Atlanta game. I get to see lots of coverage on the Falcons now that live in Atlanta. I think they are actually a year or two away from being serious contenders and the Browns can win that game. My problem is that I cannot see the Browns going 9-7 this year. Going 8-8 is very optimistic and can happen as long as they stay competitive within the division.
I realize that this would have us losing 5 straight games right in the middle of the season, and if that happens I think Eric Mangini will be on the hot seat or even fired. His only saving grace is that those five loses would be to the Falcons, Steelers, Saints, Patriots and Jets. Hard to argue or feel bad about loses to any of those teams. If Mangini is fired this season, do not look for Mike Holmgren to walk the sidelines. My gut tells me that Rob Ryan may get promoted as the interim if Mangini falters.
Overall, I believe the Browns will be one of the feel good stories of the NFL this year. Hold your head high Browns fans. It’s looking better everyday.
Kickoff in 5 more days!
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