WEEK 1 vs. CINCINNATI BENGALS
This happened two years ago and I would not be surprised if this scenario occurred again considering that the Cincinnati Bengals under Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow have lost four of their last five opening day matchups. Remember what happened in Week 1 of 2023, when Burrow was held to just eighty-two passing yards and three points? For the record, Deshaun Watson was the quarterback of that game. Another reason why I can see an upset taking place is because the Bengals are the epitome of agony. They are a team that has a star-studded offense, but whose defense is a total garbage chute. Even though they missed the playoffs last year, Joe Burrow threw forty-three touchdowns to just nine interceptions and Ja’Marr Chase was the Triple Crown winner. How many teams can they say they have playmakers like those two? Not to mention that Tee Higgins signed a contract extension to make him the highest paid number two option in football, so Cincinnati’s “Big Three” will be in the Jungle for years to come. But let’s not dismiss some of their other playmakers. Chase Brown stood out with 1000 yards from scrimmage in his sophomore year and is poised for a breakout season, Mike Gesicki signed a small extension to remain the security blanket, and Andrei Iosivas is a stud on the rise as he continues to develop upwards. Hopefully, Jermaine Burton shakes off a dismal rookie season, because the talent he showed in college was truly too good to waste. Yet, the one weak link that always leaves me cautious about this team is their offensive line. Cutting Alex Cappa was a start, but I don’t know if it truly fixed everything. They allowed forty-eight sacks the season before, so even though they have a boatload of talent on the offensive side of the ball, it might be another wasted season if Burrow cannot stay in the pocket.
We all know what is going to hold the Bengals back from making the playoffs and that is their defense. Sure, they let go of Lou Anarumo and replaced him with Al Golden. But that side of the ball still has so many flaws and weaknesses. For starters, not only is Trey Hendrickson holding out for a new deal, but so is their first round pick Shemar Stewart! Cincinnati already lost Sam Hubbard due to retirement, so if they lose two of the only guys that will keep this defense relevant, then that is just going to give the secondary even more trouble. Cam Taylor-Britt is probably the only notable player on that unit, but he is another player that has been inconsistent throughout his career. Geno Stone has not been the difference maker the Bengals were expecting, even with a late turnaround. Even their run defense was a massive flaw, although Logan Wilson finished 2024 with over 100 tackles. Maybe Oren Burks can stabilize things since he is a solid rotational piece, but you can only ask but so much.
Joe Burrow finally managed to win a game in Cleveland last year, yet that was the game Watson tore his Achilles and Dorian Thompson-Robinson was the backup. I do not believe the quarterbacks on Cleveland’s roster are nearly as bad, so as long as they hold onto the ball and not screw things up, then I have faith that the Browns can get off to a promising start to their season.
WEEK 2 @ BALTIMORE RAVENS
Unfortunately, I do not think that such luck will work on the road against the Baltimore Ravens, who are expected to be a championship contender this season. Lamar Jackson is a two time MVP for a reason, and if it were not for a certain Josh Allen fellow, then there is no question that he would have won his third. Besides him, the rest of the team has a boatload of talent that should be a championship contender. Derrick Henry proved that not only is he still the King, but he is easily one of the top two running backs in all of football. What I’ve been more impressed with is how well the Ravens opened up the passing game. Zay Flowers has slowly but surely emerged as a number one option and Rashod Bateman has not done too bad as a number two. But now that DeAndre Hopkins has been added to the mix, Lamar will have more than just Mark Andrews or Isaiah Likely to lean on as a security blanket. The biggest win of their offseason, in my opinion, was bringing back Ronnie Stanley. He turned more money down to stay with Baltimore, so as long as he stays healthy, he will be a huge investment that will pay off. The interior still gives me some concern, but with Lamar under center, it should not be too huge of a liability.
Hopefully this time, the defense will stay consistent all season long, rather than just wait until the second half of the season to show up. The pass rush has really come alive in the last two years, led by Nnamdi Madubuike and Kyle Van Noy, but players like Odafe Oweh and Tavius Robinson have really stepped into the fold in a positive way. The Ravens also drafted Mike Green in the second round, who led the FBS in sacks last year, so it will be interesting to see what type of role he can carve out in Zach Orr’s system. In the second level, there is nothing else to say about Roquan Smith besides the fact that he is the best middle linebacker in the league. Trenton Simpson really stepped up as the right-hand man and those two are why Baltimore allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league. What really stepped up in the second half of the season, though, was their secondary. Marlon Humphrey still proved that he was one of the best cover corners in the league, but with Kyle Hamilton as the deep safety, they exploded and took off. If Jaire Alexander can stay healthy, then this group will be even more lethal, especially since Ar’Darius Washington and Nate Wiggins are expected to have bigger roles. To top it off, I think that the safety room will be better with Malaki Starks jumping on as a first round pick.
As of right now, the Ravens are just a vastly superior football team and I doubt that they will let this game slip away on their home turf. Then again, they have been known to let easy wins turn into surprising upsets, so anything is possible. However, I think that narrative will be reinforced at a later time.
WEEK 3 vs. GREEN BAY PACKERS
This is unfortunately the part of the season where the Browns face reality and realize that just because they beat the Bengals in week one, it did not mean that things were going to immediately turn around. Just ask the Patriots how that worked out for them last year. Like Baltimore, the Packers are a team that many hope can make it back to the playoffs. Jordan Love is still their face of the franchise and proved that he is capable of leading this team to glory, but the supporting cast around him might indicate a bit of a down year. The good news is that the Packers still have Josh Jacobs, who ran for over 1300 rushing yards. The bad is that their depth at receiver is still lackluster. At least they drafted Matthew Golden in the first round, somebody that can complement the speedster Jayden Reed. Unfortunately, Christian Watson is expected to miss extended time with a knee injury and Romeo Doubs is a really inconsistent receiver. Dontayvion Wicks has also been really disappointing, and if he cannot have a big training camp, he might be a stunning roster cut. Both Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft cannot be the only security blankets Love will have to lean on, but thank goodness that their offensive line gave up the second fewest sacks in the league, so there should be more time for the receivers to get open.
The Packers defense is always a confusing one for me to analyze. Some days, they are above average. Other times, they get exhausted if they are on the field for too long. On paper, they should be decent. Rashan Gary is still an exceptional pass rusher, the rest of the defensive line has plenty of starpower such as Devonte Wyatt and Kenny Clark, Lukas Van Ness is slowly improving, and there are a few rotational guys that have stepped up as well. The linebacking room lost Eric Wilson in free agency, but they at least still have Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper. However, the secondary is one that I want to keep a close eye on this season now that Jaire Alexander is officially released. Xavier McKinney emerged as one of the top safeties in the league with eight interceptions and Carrington Valentine had his best season yet last year. They shouldn’t be horrible! The problem is that they are too inconsistent.
The reason why I have the Browns losing this game is going to be the same reason why I have them losing a lot of matchups. We do not know who is starting nor do we know how good or bad they will be this year. Until we finally get an answer, then the reality is that Cleveland is still going to be a bottom-tier football team.
WEEK 4 @ DETROIT LIONS
Yeah, I can already tell this is going to be a mismatch and we just approach mandatory minicamp week. The Lions might have lost both of their coordinators, but as long as Dan Campbell is in charge, then they are the team to beat in the division. For all the flaws that Jared Goff might have as a quarterback, he has still been one of the best the organization ever had. The only worst case scenario is that he turns into a turnover machine again and causes them to slip out of the playoff race, but with the cast around him, it should not be an issue. Detroit still has a one-two punch at running back featuring Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Amon-Ra St. Brown is easily one of the top five receivers in the league and Campbell is hoping that Jameson Williams could emerge as a legitimate number two. Sam LaPorta is always one of the more reliable tight ends in the league and their offensive line is one of the best in the league. We know that this offense will keep Detroit in postseason contention, but what about the other side of the ball?
When the Lions defense was healthy, they were one of the more improved units in the league. But the more guys they lost, the worse it got. If Aidan Hutchinson can successfully bounce back from the gruesome knee injury he suffered against the Cowboys, not only is this group going to get back on track, but he will be in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year. The only issue is that there is not anybody else on the line that can generate consistent pressure. They have a few perennial run stuffers, but the only player that had more than a few sacks in 2024 was Za’Darius Smith, and he is still a free agent. At least the linebacking room is still deep with Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, and Malcolm Rodriguez. But without a pass rush, then that means the secondary is going to be put in a tough place. They lost Carlton Davis in free agency, but they still have a few key playmakers that will at least hold their end of the bargain. Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are easily one of the best safety tandems in the league, they signed DJ Reed to complement the rising Terrion Arnold, and the additions of both Amik Robertson and Avonte Maddox should keep things stable. However, if this group is not healthy, then this season might turn out even worse than the last two.
Even then, there is no way I see the Lions losing this game in their home stadium. I do not think this will be a blowout, but I am not going to say that this will be an upset. Once again, show me results and I will think about it then.
WEEK 5 vs. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
I remember it like it was just yesterday when the 0-16 Browns in 2017 played the Vikings in London with DeShone Kizer and Case Keenum as the starting quarterbacks. What a time to be alive then. Cleveland got off to a promising start, but one turnover gave Minnesota all of the momentum and they eventually pulled away in a 33-16 victory. Eight years later and I fear that the Browns will be in the same situation. If Sam Darnold can win fourteen games with this team last year, then JJ McCarthy is going to have a lot of pressure riding on his shoulders. Thankfully, he has a solid supporting cast to help him develop. Let’s start with Justin Jefferson, who is still to this day the best receiver in football. If he gets doubled, then McCarthy will have Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor, along with a trusted security blanket in TJ Hockenson. In the backfield, Aaron Jones does not seem to have lost a step and is still one of the best flexible backs in the league. Their offensive line retooled in the offseason, letting go of their biggest liabilities and replacing them with potential gems. They signed Ryan Kelly and Will Fries in free agency and then drafted Donovan Jackson in the first round, pairing them with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill.
Their defense under Brian Flores was one of the more promising units to watch. They led the league in takeaways, allowed the fifth fewest points, tied for fourth in sacks, and gave up the second fewest rushing yards. The only category that this defense did not excel in was their pass defense, but those previous statistics I mentioned prove that this is a “bend but do not break” group. Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel thrived in their first seasons with the team by totaling double-digit sacks, and then they beefed up the trenches with the additions of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Just imagine what happens if Dallas Turner breaks out in his sophomore season. Patrick Jones II unfortunately departed in free agency, but their linebacker corps is still intact with Ivan Pace and Blake Cashman hoping to stabilize things with their run defense. The secondary is where it gets interesting because while they have a deep safety group and a number one corner in Byron Murphy, I do not like that their replacement for Stephon Gilmore was Isaiah Rodgers. Not to mention that their backups are Jeff Okudah and Ambry Thomas. I think that we are going to get more or less the same production from this defense as last year, but it is their quarterback that will be the ultimate X factor.
The rosters might be dramatically different, but I can see the Vikings turn this game into an ugly and boring blowout. I do not want it to be that way because I want the international promotion of the league to continue to grow and succeed, but that is the direction we are most likely heading in right now.
WEEK 6 @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS
As shocking as it may seem to a lot of people, this was the easiest loss I could give the Browns this year. The reason why is because they have beaten the Steelers on the road in a regular season game since 2003, and I do not see that streak ending soon now that Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback. The most boring and useless quarterback watch has finally come to an end, and now Pittsburgh can finally focus on football. Mike Tomlin might have another winning season after all. Najee Harris is gone, but Jaylen Warren has always been a huge focal point of this offense, and I think rookie Kaleb Johnson could mold in well with Arthur Smith’s system. George Pickens got traded, yet DK Metcalf is always a receiver that any quarterback would love to have. Hopefully, he shows more consistency in his play because he is incredibly athletic and physical, but you do not see it as often as you would hope. Pat Freiermuth is always a serviceable security blanket, Calvin Austin shows plenty of flashes with his speed, and Roman Wilson is trying to bounce back after an injury-riddled rookie year. However, the offensive line brings up a lot of concerns as they allowed the ninth most sacks in the NFL. Dan Moore Jr. left in free agency, which will make Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones the two startling tackles for the season, so let’s see if that is a move that will pay off over time.
Whether the Steelers make the playoffs or not, I seriously doubt that defense is going to regress. That is if TJ Watt clears up whatever issues he might have with the front office. Otherwise, they are screwed. As much as I love guys like Alex Highsmith and Cam Heyward, they will not have a pass rush without the former Defensive Player of the Year. We can only hope that rookie Derrick Harmon can have an instant impact on that line because that would be absolutely critical. The linebacking room is a deep one per usual, and I think it will get even stronger with Jack Sawyer as a late draft addition, but I hope they do not wear down like they did last year before. As for the secondary, it is also a well respected group that just got stronger. Darius Slay might not be the corner that he was in his prime but he can still play at a high level and complement a shutdown beast in Joey Porter Jr. The same goes with safety Juan Thornhill to help out Minkah Fitzpatrick. They will be the biggest reason why this Steelers team is competitive, but if their offense is near the bottom of the dumpster, then it is going to be an exhausted group as the season progresses.
Assuming that everything works out in the Steel City, I think that the Steelers should take care of business at home and not let this turn into a contest. However, something tells me that a different script will be revealed when they meet each other again in Cleveland.
WEEK 7 vs. MIAMI DOLPHINS
This is honestly one matchup that I could see the Browns winning, but the only way that it can be guaranteed is if everything goes right for them. The Dolphins should be a championship contender on paper, but their self-inflicted failures over the past few years make them look nothing more than a mediocre pretender. Tua Tagovailoa has proven to be a solid NFL quarterback, but his health has always been the biggest X factor for this football team, and the team plummets when he is not on the field. It should not be the case because this offense has a boatload of speed and talent. De’Von Achane has emerged as the starting running back and Jaylen Wright is hoping to break out in his sophomore season. The top two receiving options are Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, they just signed Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to give this offense more verticality, and Jonnu Smith surprised a lot of people with a productive 2024 season. The only real liability that this group has is their offensive line. Terron Armstead retired, the interior is a mess, and Austin Jackson is the only consistent veteran they have. Hopefully, their second round pick Jonah Savaiinaea turns into a solid player, but center Aaron Brewer and left tackle Larry Borom should not be full time starters at the most important positions on the front five.
The Dolphins better hope that they do not suffer any injuries with their offense, or else that defense is going to get eaten alive, especially since Jalen Ramsey might be traded before the season begins. It is a unit that has a likable coordinator in Anthony Weaver Jr. and promising young pieces like Chop Robinson, Tyrel Dodson, and rookie Kenneth Grant. Yet, I don’t see any depth whatsoever. Jevon Holland left in free agency, Kendall Fuller and Nik Needham were released, Jordan Poyer was not brought back, and Calais Campbell left to go back to Arizona for what might be his last season. Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips cannot stay healthy, Zach Sieler is nearing thirty years old at an extremely physical position, and Miami has nobody else in their secondary that has been a proven shutdown defender. Kader Kohou is probably the closest one, but he is mainly a nickel corner, so there is nobody on the outside I can think of that can step up in a big way.
Even though the Dolphins might be a flawed team, this is a matchup that they normally win in a heartbeat. Once again, the uncertainty at the quarterback position is going to be the biggest thing holding the Browns back, so it is hard to determine an outcome if we do not know who is starting.
WEEK 8 @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
If this game was scheduled last year or even two seasons ago, I would not be surprised if the Browns found a way to win. However, now that Mike Vrabel is the new head coach, the Patriots finally have some hope restored entering the 2025 season. The Jerod Mayo experiment failed, so new head coach Mike Vrabel will do his best to develop Drake Maye into the stud that he is supposed to transform into, and the cast around him is ten times better than whatever the heck he had last year. Rhamondre Stevenson had a rough season with fumble issues, which is why New England drafted Trayveon Henderson in the second round, but he is still a flexible back that can fight for yards after contact and bruise defenders with his physicality. They signed Stefon Diggs to be their new number one option, but I have been skeptical about the wide receiver room for the last five years now. It’s not only about the supporting role players, but the fact that Diggs is coming off a torn ACL and is not getting any younger. Fortunately, Hunter Henry is still around and has always been a reliable security blanket, but my biggest area of focus is the offensive line. New England did everything they could to overhaul that unit and managed to do that within a few months. They drafted left Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick, replaced the recently retired David Andrews with Garrett Bradbury, and signed Morgan Moses in free agency to be their right tackle. The only returning starters will be Cole Strange and Michael Onwenu, so their biggest priority is making sure Drake Maye does not get crushed on a weekly basis, or else this season is going to be a disaster.
Just like Bill Belichick did in 2021, Mike Vrabel retooled this defense into a respected juggernaut. They gave Milton Williams a huge contract to be their spearhead on the defensive line, brought in Harold Landry to fly off the edge, added Robert Spillane to be the new starting middle linebacker, and even signed Carlton Davis to complement a rising superstar in Christian Gonzalez. New England had to let go of a few remaining veterans to make these signings possible, but there is no doubt they will have one of the best defenses in football at the end. These signings are going to take the pressure off of guys like Keion White, Christian Barmore, Anfernee Jennings, Jahlani Tavai, and Kyle Dugger to do their best to keep a faded empire alive the year before.
The Patriots have had their way with the Cleveland Browns over the years and I expect that to continue at Gillette Stadium. New England actually has their quarterback, a decent offense, and a revamped defense. As for the Browns, they are still in a futile state and who knows when they will finally be free from that hole known as purgatory?
WEEK 9: BYE WEEK
WEEK 10 @ NEW YORK JETS
I hate to say it but the pain is not going to go away any time soon because after a long needed bye week, they have to go to MetLife Stadium and take on the Jets, who are hoping that this is finally the year they build some promise for the future. With Aaron Glenn at head coach and Darren Mougey as the new general manager, New York is hoping that this tandem will finally be the one that will get this franchise back on the map. It might not be immediate, but if things continue to improve, then there is no doubt that the future is bright for this football team. The biggest X factor is their quarterback Justin Fields. It is nice to see the Jets not reach for a veteran or desperately draft somebody in the first round because a minimum deal for a fringe starter is not a bad option. We know what we are getting from Fields week to week: he will not completely embarrass himself, he will show you tremendous flashes with his legs and his arm, but he will not be a guy that will take you to a Super Bowl. Maybe new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand will unlock something that Fields’ previous coaches could not, but the biggest knock on the quarterback’s career is that he has never been able to maximize his potential. Fortunately, there are more than a few promising pieces around him that could scratch the surface. Breece Hall and Braelon Allen are a legitimate running back tandem that bring acceleration and power, Garrett Wilson is poised for a breakout year with a former Buckeye throwing him the ball, but the big question is figuring out who will step next in line. It could be Allen Lazard, it might be Malachi Corley. Heck, maybe rookies Arian Smith and Mason Taylor could leapfrog their way onto the depth chart. Their offensive line had an okay season last year, but maybe with Fields under center, they can improve their production. The Jets used their first round pick in the draft to select the best right tackle prospect Armond Membou to complement Olu Fashanu. They are banking on Joe Tippmann to solidify himself as the starting center, with John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker to his left and right.
With Glenn taking over as the head coach, the hope is that the defense can have a better season than the up-and-down roller coaster they were on last season. That is what happens when Robert Saleh gets scapegoated in the middle of the season. Fortunately for Glenn, he has a hell of a group to work with. On the defensive line, Quinnen Williams has still proven to be one of the best defensive tackles in the league and they have an absolute stud in edge rusher Will McDonald that is coming off of a breakout season. With Jermaine Johnson coming back from a season ending injury, the hope is that this defensive line can regain the grit and tenacity that they lacked in the second half of the season. Their run defense was the team’s biggest weakness over the last few seasons, but Glenn is hoping to fix that with Jamien Sherwood and Quincy Williams. However, the group that was really disappointing last season was their secondary. Sauce Gardner is coming off an up-and-down year, Michael Carter II had injuries hold him back, and the team just lost DJ Reed and Ashtyn Davis in free agency. I do not like the signing of Brandon Stephens since he was considered the weak link in Baltimore, so it looks like some of their younger prospects will have to step up quickly. At least their safety group looks solidified with rookie Malachi Moore and rising stud Tony Adams. If Andre Cisco can bounce back from last year, it will be even better.
Do I even need to explain why I have the Jets winning at this point?
WEEK 11 vs. BALTIMORE RAVENS
You can definitely call me crazy but I have this series ending in a split for the fifth straight year. Nobody thought that the Ravens were going to get torched by Jameis Winston last year, blow a double digit lead against Deshaun Watson in their own house, or even let a banged up Baker Mayfield outplay Pro Bowler Tyler Huntley. As I said before, Baltimore always loses that one game where they are supposed to win handedly, so my guess is that Cleveland will be that team that sets out the trap.
WEEK 12 @ LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
The euphoria might last too long as the Browns will have to head back on the road to play a pesty opponent in the Las Vegas Raiders, a team that has not lost to Cleveland in over a decade. Pete Carroll and Geno Smith are back togehter, which means the two are probably not going to win less than seven games this season. Actually, if you look at the rest of their roster, it feels like watching the Seahawks in an entirely different conference, but there are a few modifications. The Raiders drafted the Heisman winning running back Ashton Jeanty with their first round pick, which was a huge need because this team has not had a powerful player at that position since Josh Jacobs. However, the passing game still gives me some questions. They might have Brock Bowers, one of the more generational tight ends in the league, but the wide receiver room is lackluster. I like Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker, but they are not quality number one options, so maybe Jack Bech will jump onto the radar and surprise us out of nowhere. Their offensive line is also a pretty substandard unit that allowed the eighth most sacks in the league, so I do not think that signing Alex Cappa in free agency did not make them a better unit. Nor does hiring Chip Kelly as your offensive coordinator! It was an issue when Pete Carroll was in Seattle and I am scared it is going to linger again in Sin City.
If there is one thing that I hope Carroll does well with this team, it is make sure the defense is not set back a decade. You have an unstoppable menace in Maxx Crosby, but the rest of the supporting cast is just average at best. Christian Wilkins is coming back from injury, Tyree Wilson has not lived up to the first round hype, and they did not do enough to address the linebacking room after Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo left in free agency. I hope Tommy Eichenberg and Michael Barrett can carve out starting roles, because if the only solutions are Devin White and Elandon Roberts, then it is only going to prove that Carroll never really learned anything from his one year hiatus. The secondary also lost some key pieces like Tre’von Moehrig and Nate Hobbs, but I honestly like the guys that will take their place. I have always been a fan of Jeremy Chinn, and I believe that both Isaiah Pola-Mao and Jakorian Bennett took big leaps in 2024. I do not expect it to be a great unit, but I think they can be pretty good against certain foes.
Well it is back to reality, Cleveland. You already know what to expect so I am not going to talk any further.
WEEK 13 vs. SAN FRANCISCO 49ers
If you thought that the last two wins were crazy, just wait until you hear what I have to say about this one! Obviously, the 49ers are going to be favored to get a win on the road and for good reason. There will be no more offseason drama now that Brock Purdy got his contract extension, so now that the offense is healthy, it is time to see what he can do. Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Trent Williams will be returning. Unfortunately, Deebo Samuel and Jaylon Moore will not. However, the 49ers still have an incredible amount of depth at wide receiver and the offensive line has been a stable unit for the most part. Deebo might be gone, but if Aiyuk cannot fully recover from the injury, then there is another trio that could pick up the slack: Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson, and Ricky Pearsall. It might not sound totally inspiring, but with Shanahan as the play-caller, they will be effective and efficient.
At the start of the offseason, the 49ers saw many of their stars depart elsewhere. Javon Hargrave, Talanoa Hufanga, Dre Greenlaw, and Charvarius Ward were the most notable names to leave. The good news is that they still have two of their key cornerstones in Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. Not only that, but Robert Saleh is coming back as the defensive coordinator, so a familiar face will be more than welcomed back in the building. The 49ers made sure to give Bosa some extra help by drafting Mykel Williams in the first round, but I truly do not know if this team is going to be truly better than they were last year. With Greenlaw gone, you don’t know who is going to pair up with Warner on the second level. Deommodore Lenoir got himself a nice contract extension, but who is his right hand man? On the other hand, Hufanga’s void will be filled with the likes of Malik Mustapha and Ji’Ayir Brown, along with veterans Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant hoping to adapt to their new change of scenery.
Having said that, there are two reasons why I have this as a stunning upset. The first is that Jim Schwartz has proven to have Kyle Shanahan’s number over the years. The 49ers head coach is 1-9 against the Browns defensive coordinator, in which his offenses have only scored twenty points once. That one win took place in 2008 for the record. Knowing that Cleveland’s defensive personnel did not make any drastic changes, I could absolutely see the same happening again. The second is that the 49ers have not won a road game against the Browns since 1984, when they still had Bill Walsh, Joe Montana, and Jerry Rice. Nobody thought that PJ Walker was going to beat the team that eventually went to the Super Bowl a couple of years ago, and the crazier part was that Myles Garrett did not even have a sack in that game. This is as huge of a trap game as you could ask for if you are the 49ers, so while the Browns will have the odds stacked against them, they are playing with house money.
WEEK 14 vs. TENNESSEE TITANS
I can already tell that this is going to be one of the ugliest games of the season. Both teams have little to no expectations entering the 2025 season and the only real difference I notice is that the Titans know who their future is at quarterback. Because the Titans clinched the first overall pick, they decided to finally move on from the Will Levis era and select the stud out of Miami named Cam Ward. However, head coach Brian Callahan is going to throw this kid into the fire early, and I honestly cannot determine how he will perform. The pieces around him are not terrible, but then again, they only won three games with essentially the same supporting cast around him. You have Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears manning the backfield, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett as your expected top receiving targets, and an offensive line that honestly did not improve over the offseason. I have hopes for rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Deke, but I still cannot understand why new general manager Mike Borgonzi gave Dan Moore Jr. $50 million guaranteed to be their starting left tackle.
As for the defense, it really gave us a bunch of mixed signs every week. They were the second best group in yards allowed, yet were the third worst in points surrendered. All of the veterans that they acquired that offseason were let go before the 2024 season could even conclude, and a couple more might join them if they implode once again. Harold Landry was released, Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs were cut in the middle of the year, and Ernest Jones was traded. Hopefully, things do not head in the opposite direction once again because they have solid guys in their group. Jeffery Simmons, Arden Key, and T’Vondre Sweat held their own on the front four. Cody Barton and Dre’Mont Jones were brought in from Denver to help pick up the slack. L’Jarius Sneed is trying to return to form and will have guys like Amani Hooker and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. to step up on their end.
Although I am still uncertain about who the Browns will start at quarterback, I can at least take comfort in knowing that their defense is not going to let a rookie torch them on their home field, especially under Jim Schwartz’s guidance. As long as Cleveland’s offense does not screw up at any point in the game, they should do the bare minimum to hang on and win.
WEEK 15 @ CHICAGO BEARS
Enjoy those two weeks for as much as possible because now the Browns have another dreaded road matchup against a hopefully formidable team in the Chicago Bears, now that Ben Johnson is the new head coach. It sounds redundant since we have been saying that about the Bears for a few years, but this time has to be different. Caleb Williams is hoping to take a huge leap into his sophomore season, perhaps proving that offensive coordinator Shane Waldron really was a hack and should not have been the guy to guide him in his rookie year. Entering 2025, the pieces are more and less the same, but they are hoping to improve as well. D’Andre Swift is still a capable running back, DJ Moore is a number one option for any quarterback in the NFL, Cole Kmet is always a serviceable tight end, and Rome Odunze is hoping to make sure that his second year is a breakout one. However, I think that there are definitely a couple of additions that could make a difference. The fact that wide receiver Luther Burden fell to the second round was absolutely shocking because he is an incredible playmaker that can take off after the catch, so this is definitely somebody that Caleb would absolutely dream to have as a teammate. In the first round, the Bears drafted a stunner in tight end Colston Loveland over Tyler Warren, but Ben Johnson knew that this guy would fit the Sam LaPorta mold perfectly. Loveland is also going to give Kmet something to think about in training camp, because if he develops in the right direction, then the starting job for tight end is definitely going to change hands at some point in the season. The biggest improvements that Chicago made with their offense revolved around their line. They traded for a four-time champion in All-Pro guard Joe Thuney, made another trade for Jonah Jackson, and signed the best free agent center in Drew Dalman. You pair those three with Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright, that is a solid line. Last year, it was a complete abomination as it gave up the most sacks in the entire NFL, so Johnson is hoping that they make a very quick turnaround.
Despite the Bears defense finishing tenth in takeaways, this unit was average at best. They allowed the sixth most yards in football, ranked sixteenth in both passing and sacks, finished the fifth worst in rushing yards allowed, and placed thirteenth in points given up. I really don’t see Dennis Allen as an upgrade over Matt Eberflus, but he is at least a better coordinator than a head coach. The biggest moves that Chicago made with its defense in free agency is with the defensive line, just to make sure that the identity was not “Montez Sweat or bust.” By the way, he only had 5.5 sacks in 2024. Fortunately, he has a lot more help around him this time. Dayo Odeyingbo got himself a big contract of $48 million over three years, and even though I think they overpaid a tad too much for Grady Jarrett, he is at least a proven pass rusher that might have just needed a change of scenery. What I want to see, though, is the younger guys stepping up. This means that Chris Williams, Austin Booker, and Gervon Dexter are going to need to post bigger numbers. Otherwise, it won’t be long before Ryan Poles sends any one of them to another organization. In the linebacker room, they still have Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards as a rock-solid duo, but they also need to prove that whatever happened last year was just a fluke. The secondary is still an opportunistic unit with a lot of key playmakers. Jaylon Johnson is easily a top three cornerback, Jaquan Brisker is one of the most underappreciated safeties in football when he is on the field, Tyrique Stevenson still has plenty of room to grow, and Kyler Gordon will hope to have a bounce-back year as well. I’m not saying that this defense is going to be great, but if Ben Johnson can get the offense back on track, then there won’t be an overwhelming amount of pressure that they have to drag throughout the season.
My guess is that the Bears are going to do everything to make sure that they can clinch a Wild Card spot, so there is no way in hell that they are going to let them get crushed against a team like Cleveland. However, the Browns are not afraid to play spoiler whatsoever, so this will not be a cakewalk.
WEEK 16 vs. BUFFALO BILLS
I hate to say this but this is expected to look like another blowout loss for the Browns because the Bills are a team that plays their best football in the final two months of the regular season. The biggest reason why this team has been the class of the division is because of the reigning MVP Josh Allen. If it were not for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, Allen might actually have at least one Super Bowl ring to wear, but that has been the only knock on his tenure with the Bills. The supporting cast around him is pretty good, but it is the quarterback that has lifted them to a higher tier. The only true star that they have is running back James Cook, but he is currently unhappy with his current contract, and there is a strong chance that he could hold out for a new one. On the other hand, I have faith that Ray Davis could elevate his game and Ty Johnson has served as a quality third down back. Their receiving room is not as average as it was last year. Keon Coleman has the potential to be a promising number one receiver, but we need to see more from him to truly believe it will happen. I have always liked Khalil Shakir in the slot, and I think both Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore could put up decent numbers as depth pieces. On paper, the Bills have a formidable tight end duo of Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, but their numbers from last year do not indicate that. What masks this flaw is their offensive line, which gave up the fewest sacks in the league. As long as they have Josh Allen fully healthy, then this team is going to be favored to win the division and be a perennial championship contender.
Unfortunately, Sean McDermott’s defenses have not held his end of the bargain of trying to deliver a championship to the city of Buffalo. Their defensive line has household names like Greg Rousseau and Ed Oliver, but they were just okay last season. I don’t really know if bringing in Michael Hoecht or Joey Bosa is going to make them a whole lot better, but my guess is that Buffalo is banking on AJ Epenesa and Javon Solomon to take big leaps. I think one of the biggest reasons why the Bills defense has not been as feared over the last couple of seasons is because both Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard had to deal with long-term injuries, thus affecting their run defense and the strength of the entire unit as a whole. It is no wonder why this secondary is on its heels every day, but even they have their limits. It looks like Christian Benford will be their number one corner after receiving a long-term extension, but I need to see more from him to truly believe he has what it takes. They brought back Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson, yet they are not the same players that they were in 2021. If you had to ask me who would start alongside Benford, it would be Cam Lewis and Taron Johnson, with Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp manning the safety positions. That will allow rookie Maxwell Hairston to sit back and learn, rather than be thrusted into the fire and rush his developmental process.
At this point, do not even be sad or angry. If the Browns put up a strong fight, that should be respectable enough. I do not believe in moral victories, but it would be nice to see if Cleveland can give them a difficult test.
WEEK 17 vs. PITTSBURGH STEELERS
I have thrown out a lot of historical nuggets in some of these matchups, so let me give you one more. Without Ben Roethlisberger as the quarterback, the Steelers have not won a road matchup against the Browns since 2003, a fact that sounds a little familiar from before. The Ravens were not the only team that Jameis Winston got to beat last year, so let’s see if one of these other quarterbacks have what it takes to beat Pittsburgh in a sixty minute contest.
WEEK 18 @ CINCINNATI BENGALS
No, I do not have the Browns sweeping the series. The only way I can see it happen is if Joe Burrow gets hurt, the Bengals dominate this year and decide to play their backups, or if Cleveland somehow turns things around and wants one more win to officially clinch a spot. Until one of these scenarios plays out, I think Cincinnati will get some payback from the beginning of the year.
FINAL RECORD PREDICTION: 5-12
