DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Come One Come All .... ITS PREDICTION TIME ...

VetteDawg I join the minority with you....I see 7-9 at best.

Jamals hammie will nag him all season as they most usually do, especially in the cold weather months.

Cribb's has the dreaded high ankle sprain...another injury that seems to nag for along time.

Thus, two big time contributors don't contribute as much as expected with no one else to really pick up the slack. Steptoe may be able to handle the return duties but we will miss Jamals bruising style.

The final nail will be at the QB position as DA's weakness will be exposed...D's will play a deep cover zone to guard against the deep stuff (much like they did to Holcomb) forcing DA to throw the short finesse passes which it doesn't look like he can. Not to mention DA can't handle the pressure, becoming tentative, and indecisive. RAC hangs on too long, and when he does make the change BQ shows he isn't ready.

I don't think the D is not ready for prime time as Wimbley over pursues, Willie is too damn slow, and our LB's are not very good. How many players did they light up in preseason? Perhaps we can stop the run, but teams will pass on us at will until we show we can stop it...they won't need to run. also, our tackling is still as suspect as ever, poor technique, we hit people too high and don't wrap them up.

I hope I am wrong and DA is the answer but there were too many flashbacks this preseason to convince me otherwise at this point.

Browns will be better despite tough sked, go 10-6, win AFC North by two games, win at least one playoff game. We will start off 2-0, have a home record of 6-2, and be 4-4 on the road.

Braylon, Josh Cribbs and Joe. T. return to Pro Bowl (along with Phil Dawson), KW2 and Derek do not.
Sean Jones leads team in picks, Kamerion Wimbley will be only adequate and the 'bust or close to it' whispers will pick up. Willie McGinnest has a bounce back year.

This will be Chud's last year with the Browns, after this year he'll get a head coaching offer seeing as how he helped engineer our Super Bowl championship.


My surprise team: Arizona Cardinals win NFC West.
My surprise bad team: Steelers (bias aside).


Edit: Shaun Rogers goes to Pro Bowl too and our defence suddenly demolishes people.

I say it every year, but this year I can say it with a straight face (mostly : this could be our Super Bowl season.

I will go 10 and 6. why not, a tougher schedule counter balances a more experienced but better team.

They make the playoffs. everyone else has a tougher schedule.

i can give you a prediction, but that would be all it is, a guess.

i'm guessing around 9-10 wins... not an optomistic or pessimistic view, just my guess.

as far as my thoughts on this season, i think the obvious has been pointed out, the schedule is tough, we have guys banged up, we appear to be thin in several key areas (but again, what areas aren't really key?)

i will say this, the browns are going to miss joe jurevicious for these first 6 (and maybe more) weeks, he may not produce the espn worthy highlights, but he was so important to us on third down, and as good as donte stallworth is, i don't think he is the correct replacement, joe's absence has me worried about our offense, someone is going to have to step up, and if it's donte stallworth, i will happily stand corrected (don't take it the wrong way, i think stallworth is awesome, and he's a better player than joe, but he's not the same type of player, if you get me)

i'm also going to cross my fingers on jamal lewis, i've said it a million times on this board, i love him, i love what he brings, but if he goes down, we are in big trouble.

jason wright and jerome harrison are nice pieces, but they are not 25 carry-type guys and our offense is so dependent on balance, we aren't like the pats (yet) where we can line up shotgun on first down and be ok.

defensively, i don't know what people are so worried about, we won 10 games with a porous defense, and phil savage went out and addressed our most glaring need, 2 big giant defensive lineman who are ready to play NOW.

yes, we gave up leigh bodden, and while he was a fine cornerback, he was constantly hurt, and should he have played to his potential, he eventually would have went asante samuel/insert star cornerback on us. i would do that trade 99 more times if i could.

i actually think all the negativity with the media (both local and nat'l) surrounding this team right now may actually be a benefit.

if you remember in the days after the opening day fiasco loss to the steelers, there was a ton of negativy, everyone was ready to pack it in (like some are now) and the browns responded with a huge division win against the bengals the following week... so i think all this negativity from everyone can maybe help them, and stick them BACK in the underdog role that they so cherished being in last year.

we were the "sexy pick", the "darlings" of the nfl until people started making predictions, so now we are back to people thinking we'll only win 5 ballgames, fine with me.

with that being said, i think the pressure is on a lot of players this year to show up, can dqwell jackson prove his worth? can kamerion wimbley grasp the linebacker position? can shaun rogers live up to the hype?

i'm completely sold on the latter, shaun rogers could change this defense immensely... he can make everyone look better

he was thought to be an unmotivated fat guy in detroit, but i think the change of scenery, and the coach (romeo has always been known as a great motivator, even back in his days with the giants) can make him an elite player at his position... it is an unrewarding position, because you don't rack up a whole lot of stats, but if he buys into the "take 2 blockers up and let the dogs in" the defense could step into the top 15 in the league, instead of the bottom 15 where we have been for some time,

as far as wimbley and jackson go, rookie year and sophmore slumps are over with, it's now time to show us that you are worthy of starting, otherwise, i think we need to make that one of our top priorities come draft time.

making predictions is fun, but it's also pretty dumb at the same time...

people look at this early stretch of dallas and pittsburgh and say "well that could be two losses right there"

it could, but the way i see it, is 1-1 is the most likely scenario, either we come out and beat dallas, and maybe have a letdown against pittsburgh (they have one 9 straight, after all) or we get beat by dallas, the media, and fans all say the season is over, and they go out in front of the whole country and prove us wrong (again)

that's the kind of team i think we are right now, an elite team can win both of those games (new england, indy) but a good, or even a very good team will probably go 1-1, most likely, i'm not saying it's a sure thing, but if i had to bet on 2-0, 0-2, or 1-1, i would stick my money on 1-1.

those are my thoughts, i felt like saying this because i find the negativity with some of you browns fans hilarious. i expect it from the clowns at espn, but you guys are better than that.

So is Diam chicken crap for not posting his?


Well, this is based off a healthy season. Healthy meaning your typical injury here or there, guys getting dinged, and no major losses. Not the number of losses we saw in camp and preseason, or in previous years up until the last year or 2.

The whole division is going to struggle a bit, as the schedule will test us. But, that which doesn't kill us will only make us stronger. Playing the best will only help us to be the best. And there's a good amount of talent on this team. The chemistry seems to be there. They all need to just stay on the field.

I think it'll all come downt 2 things: Can we stay healthy, and can we surmount a pass rush.

Here's the predictions:

Browns 24 Cowboys 27 L
Browns 30 Steelers 24 W
Browns 23 Ravens 10 W
Browns 31 Bengals 24 W
Browns 17 Giants 23 L
Browns 26 Redskins 20 W
Browns 20 Jaguars 16 W
Browns 24 Ravens 13 W
Browns 20 Broncos 17 W
Browns 24 Bills 23 W
Browns 31 Texans 21 W
Browns 17 Colts 27 L
Browns 20 Titans 13 W
Browns 16 Eagles 21 L
Browns 27 Bengals 28 L
Browns 16 Steelers 23 L

Browns finish 10-6 and are atop of the AFC North.

I can see the Browns going anywhere from 8-8 to 11-5. We'll follow the same pattern as last year where we'll win games we're supposed to lose and lose games we're supposed to win.

Anderson puts up another fine year and makes another pro bowl.

I can honestly see Lewis taking a step back this year. He can train all he wants but can his body handle the pounding during his Raven years?

Edwards, Winslow and Stallworth will have good to great years. I'll say twenty three touchdowns between the three of them.

Our OLine will once again be dominant after Tucker returns and Thomas makes his second career Pro Bowl along with Steinbachs first.

Shaun Rogers will be the MVP of our defense.

Wimbley and Jackson will have career years. Davis will have a solid year while providing good leadership.

Our secondary will have its fair share of struggles forcing Savage to sign Ty Law.

Dawson and Zastudil both have good years. Cribbs has 2+ KR for Touchdowns and one punt returned for a TD.

This is the year we finally beat the Steelers and possibly sweep them.

--On a side note did anyone listen to Colin Cowherd on satalite radio today? Cowherd was doing his usual Cleveland bashing and said by the end of the season the Browns and Dolphins will be basically the same team. He also said we are the third best team in our division behind the Steelers and Bengals.

I hope winning a few big games gives confidence. Like last years NY Giants confidence as we roll along.

But the bottom line is we need to take care of things in the North. thats the key. Thats the difference between 7-9 and 9-7. The schedule is going to be a grind. Can we stay healthy thru it is the big question?

7 wins...9 losses...

And, yes, it hurts to be brutally honest about my Browns.

I do hope I'm wrong...but that is my prediction...mac

Browns start off slowly, go 4-4 in the first half of the season, 6-2 in the second half. Offense really starts clicking in the second half of the season, after some growing pains and injury recovery. Defense is much improved, despite a thin secondary, helped by an immensely improved D-line, an attacking style defense, and the LBs and CBs are helped by the D line rotation. Special teams struggles a bit in coverage, but improves as the year goes on. Cribbs recovers from Sprain and has a monster second half in returns. Browns win division in week 16 win at home vs CInci, as they have 2 more wins than steelers ( second place), following that week. Browns rest most of their starters for week 17, and still beat the Steelers.
Brady Quinn throw 3 TDS in final game in relief of Anderson, who has another Pro bowl year, ( This time as number 3)

In the playoffs, Cleveland first outscores the Colts at home,then they upset the Patriots( Top seed in the AFC again) on a last second FG by Phil Dawson in Blizzard conditions, then travel to Denver to face the surprising Broncos ( 2 seed) and pull off a difficult win in high altitude freeze, as J Lewis scores the tying TD with a seven yard run, dragging several Broncos with him. Cleveland wins in OT on a Phil Dawson FG.

Cleveland wins the greatest super bowl ever played, beating the Giants 31-28 on, you guessed it, another last minute FG by Dawson. Josh Cribbs wins the super bowl MVP award, for returning one kickoff for a TD and setting up the game winning FG, by catching a 42 yard pass from D Anderson in the 4th quarter.

I guess this response will serve as my commentary on a lot of the reading I've been doing on this board about where the Browns are in their development/maturity in the Savage-RAC era.

I'll state 7-9. My heart says we'll be 9-7, maybe 10-6, with super breaks this year. However, my realistic prediction is this team will finish .500 or less. The good thing is it’s one game at a time. One caveat, we start 2-0 and we finish 10-6 unless they’re fluke wins.

My rationale: Too much has to come together all at once.

DA is still a project and his leadership will have a significant impact on the success of our offense.

He has a strong OLine, backs that can be effective (more about that later), receivers who are very strong and are one of 4 areas of strength on this team (OLine, Cribbs, Punt/Kick unit & Receivers). I think much more is necessary than those 4 areas for us to be a challenging opponent over 16 weeks.

Preseason: This team hasn't shown the ability to play at a level necessary to meet the challenge of their schedule. I point to the lack of a consistent showing of unit strength in the 4 preseason games. OL probably had 3 drives, tops, where they showed sustainability. QB was scattered across the specturm, i.e., lucky completions, missed scores, throwing behind receivers, not hitting in stride, among others. Sure there were 'NFL caliber' completions but inconsistently! If this is what we continue to see in the season, 52% is going to kill us.

Backs: I’m optimistic that Harrison/Wright have skills but Jamal needs to have a full tank for the year. We need luck to have him play 13+ games again this year. Hopefully, he will.

That brings me back to DA, considering what should be progress from the last half of '07, thru the Pro Bowl, to Spring and working on short/touch to Camp/Exhibitions, I believe we are still looking for solid evidence he's progressed. Still in 'hoping it'll all click into place' mode and that's not good because we can't sneak up on people. We certainly didn't sneak up on the schedulers!

Defense: Cohesiveness achieved? Not a chance. Unit cohesiveness achieved? Not a chance.
Hopefully, the DLine puts pressure that masks weaknesses, for 16 games. Hopefully, the corners continue to grow stay healthy and step-up, right away. Hopefully, a magic bulb goes on for Pool - if he can play - and Jones has a lights out year in coverage, plausible. Hopefully, our LB’s magically become hitters enough to put some caution into the opposing OCoordinators’ plans, remote. What’s the chance all this comes together? Not good. So, we need each unit to shine when they’re needed because we haven’t yet shown our overall D can be counted on to nullify the Steelers x2, Dallas, Jax, Indy & NYG offenses.

I know the entire NFC North has the schedule challenge, which gives us an edge on both Baltimore/Cincy and I think we split with Pittsburgh. Hopefully (there's that word again) we'll compete strongly for the Div and that's where I see our success in '08.

I’m not pessimistic because I believe we’ve come a long way quickly under Savage, less so under RAC. The Browns are still 2 years worth of gaining talent to be an elite team. Hence, I see a 7-9 record, with a good shot at NFC North title. There are too many 'hopefully's' to feel otherwise

Just saw ESPN’s NFL Live say Pitt = 9 wins, Cle < 9, Cincy < 7, Balt < 6. I agree with the stacking.

So you think we'll be 9-2 going into the Indy game? I like that. Now puff, puff, pass.

Good to see another great Browns tradition in this thread Diam

Sorry i can't contribute more as i don't see enough of the Browns to give any kind of articulate reasoning to my predictions....i guess a Butch gut feeling is all i have to go with.....that or a coin flip

Browns v Cowboys L
Browns v Steelers W
Browns v Ravens W
Browns v Bengals W
Browns v Giants L
Browns v Redskins W
Browns v Jaguars L
Browns v Ravens W
Browns v Broncos L
Browns v Bills L
Browns v Texans W
Browns v Colts L
Browns v Titans W
Browns v Eagles L
Browns v Bengals W
Browns v Steelers W


9 - 7 and good enough for the playoffs and the division.

Concerned at the Secondary, the Backers and at RB if Jamal rides the pine for a month with a dodgy hammy.

Thanks Diam... Welcome back... Haven't read this whole thread...

But, I'll post mine after you post yours... As usual.

Can the Browns stop the run? With an unproven D, an underachieveing or lack of talent on our LB corps and very young, unproven and not very deep secondary my prognostication won't be very flowery... I still can't believe the Browns run the 3-4 and don't have even average to good LB's.

The preseason, mostly the injuries that prevented the team, especially the offensive line from working together has me a little nervous. But everything I've heard and what I saw before the rains came in preseason game 1 is that the offense was picking up right where it left off. DA was better. Braylon is the elite WR that many of us didn't think he could become (I plead guilty and throw myself on the mercy of the court).

Ryan Tucker's injury is the worst thing that could happen to this team, but it is what is is, so now we hope that McKinney can be a solid as he was before he got injury last season. Because this season goes as far as the offense can carry us.

Defensively, we should be able to stop the run better. It would be practically impossible to be worse, really. We didn't stop the run, we didn't create turnovers, but at least as the season went one, we gave up less "big plays". Now, Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams with the Smith Brothers give us a formidable DLine.

I still think the LBs are questionable, and why can't we get someone healthy opposite Kam? Speaking of Kam, I hope he learned the play the run in the last 2 weeks. He was dreadful in the Detroit game. Just absolutely cover-your-eyes awful. He's got to learn to keep his shoulders square, step up and drive through. Instead, he currently overpursues, gets his hips and shoulders turned in opposite directions and the RB just glides around his contain.

'Dra Davis has been improved this preseason, still struggles shedding blocks, but has been much more active near the line of scrimmage, both in the play and on the outsides. All of our linebackers still struggle getting to the QB on the blitz. The run up and find a blocker EVERY TIME. Always frustrating. DQ Jackson, improving, still hasn't shown me anything to get excited about.

The secondary worries me. I think the safeties are OK. Pool, Jones, Adams and Sorensen are better with the calls than they were last year. Limited depth scares me, but the added year of experience is good. The corners are the teams weakness, as everyone knows. I am not in a hurry to get a Lito Sheppard or Ty Law. I'm a gambler, I want to see what kind of talent these guys have. Wright was OK last year, BMc has the look. It's experience and depth we lack. Let's just pray that Davin Holly is our unlucky horseshoe this year and see what the kids can do.

Special teams have been this team's strength. DZ is healthy. I wouldn't trade PD for ANYONE in the league. How many teams have a K they would name as a team captain?

Where I am worried is on the coverage and return teams. We need to be as good or better than last year to take the next step. JCribbs getting healthy is far more important to the cover teams than it is to the return game (as hard as it is to believe). But I 100% believe it. We can still get plenty good returns with Steptoe and the return blocking providing good field position if not scores. But stopping other teams is key.

Long story made short, this team has all the makings of "should be even better than last year's team that came out of nowhere". We went 10-6 so we should be 11-5 or 12-4 right?

Well, the schedule is a little tougher. Thankfully the division plays the same schedule. And after watching the preseason, I wanted to downgrade the team further to a 9-7. But I think need to go 2-2 or 3-1 during the first quarter of the season to have a shot. And we have to beat PIT at least once.

I think we will do it all and we'll be 10-6 again and win our first AFC North division title.

So I just have to say GO BROWNS!!!!.

As a norm, I like to not think of a general record beforehand, but rather go by each game, individually. Here we go!

Week 1 - Dallas - WIN. I like Dallas this year, but with only 1 WR it allows us to focus on TO. Witten will kill us at TE (as all decent TEs seem to do). I like the Browns to win this game, but it's a shootout. 43-40 Browns

Week 2 - Pittsburg - LOSE. I'm sorry, but Pittsburg still stands in our path in the division. I know it's at home and the fans will be fired up, but PIT is loaded offensively. I look for a big year from both Willie Parker and Santonio Holmes and Holmes will burn us often this game. 35-21

Week 3 - @Bal - WIN. Baltimore is in shambles, and will be worse as the season progresses. If Willis McGahee is injured still, we could be facing a rookie QB and a rookie RB in the game - our defense better be able to handle that! 24-3

Week 4 - @Cin - WIN. I thought Cincinnati was going to be tough this year and be a surprise 8-8 team. But with all of the Ocho Cinco antics, re-signing Chris Henry, cutting Rudi Johnson and the porose D, I see them as being very disappointing. DA has a field day. 34-28

Week 5 - Bye

Week 6 - NY Giants. LOSS. Football teams are supposed to have short memories, but I'm still some of the Browns still remember the preseason loss. Even without Osi, the Giants still have a formidable defense, and Eli Manning will start to really mature. I could see this being a close game or an absolute blowout. 17-10

Week 7 - @WAS - LOSS. I feel bad for the Redskins - they had a great team last year, and everyone predicts them as being last in the division this year. The bottom line is Portis can still run, and I have a feeling that the young WRs they drafted (Harris, Kelley, and Davis at TE) will really help Jason Campbell. Cooley will also destroy our secondary. The Redkins defense is underrated, especially in the secondary. RIP Sean Taylor. 20-28

Week 8 - @Jacksonville - LOSS. Love Jacksonville this year. Garrard is a caretaker+ QB (he protects the ball and can make the occasionalgreat throw). Taylor and MJD will run wild. Talk radio starts calling for RAC's head. 28-10

Week 9 - Baltimore - WIN. Baltimore's not getting much better. Ray Lewis is calling out new coach Harbaugh and is demanding for veterans to play more to eek out some wins and try to sneak into the playoffs. Bart Scott realizes he probably should have signed with Cleveland, and not complain about the smell. 33-10

Week 10 - Denver - WIN. Denver is just so....average. Does anything about them stand out? Teams have learned to stay away from Champ Bailey, and being another year older will not help Dre Bly. Denver will run the ball well, but I question how Jay Cutler will handle Diabetes in his first NFL season with it. I see this as being an easy game, even on the short week. 28-17

Week 11 - @BUF - WIN. It will be pretty cold in Buffalo on November 17th, and I question how Californian Trent Edwards will deal with it. I remember listing Marshawn Lynch as a bust last year, but he certainly played well enough. Hopefully he doesn't have any more off-the-field issues. I see this as a close win. 24-21

Week 12 - Houston - LOSS. I see this as a trap game. Houston is going to be a good team this year, with an outstanding young D-line and LB corps. Their secondary is below-average to average, and that's the way we have a chance to win. Browns are caught looking at Indy next week. 24-17

Week 13 - Indianapolis - LOSS. This is somewhat of a toss-up for me. The Colts D was completely beset by injuries last year and I wonder if Freeney and Sanders can remain healthy for the whole year. If the Colts are healthy, it's an easy win. If not, should be close. 27-21

Week 14 - @TEN - WIN. Revenge from last year. Newsflash: Vince Young can't throw. The D focuses on stopping LenWhale and ROY candidate Chris Johnson. The O grinds out some points by throwing to KWII underneath and avoiding the Titans stellar secondary. 21-20

Week 15 - @PHI - WIN. I see the Eagles as a disappointment this year. They are starting a bunch of no-names at LB and are hoping guys like Trent Cole will have career names again on the D-line. I like their secondary, but think Jamal Lewis can run over them. On offense, the Browns focus on stopping short passes to Brian Westbrook and eek out a victory. 17-13

Week 16 - CIN - WIN. The Bengals are in full explosion mode. I think there's a good chance that Marvin Lewis will be fired by this point and replaced by an interim. At home, with playoff intensity burning, the Browns avenge the loss last year with a blow-out. 42-17.

Week 17 - @PIT - WIN. At 9-6, the Browns need a win to get into the playoffs. Finally they rise up and beat Pittsburg at home to win either the division title or the wildcard.

So, 10-6. I honestly would have started off the year thinking we'd go 8-8 or 9-7 but I will take 10-6

In the spirit of predictions, thought I'd post this. I think this is the most accurate prediction article I've read so far. I agree with just about everything this guy says ... it's like he's done his homework. Of course, I hope he's wrong about our Browns.

I'll put up the AFC North, but he does the entire league. Very realistic outcomes, IMO.

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Commentary/Columns/2008/danyluk090408.htm

Quote:

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Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
The depth issue at running back is finally addressed. He is Rashard Mendenhall, a rookie from Illinois. What do I see? A short-stepper. Lots of leg action but many yards chewed up in the process. Ran away from USC in the Rose Bowl, but it looks like the pros can catch him from behind. Pittsburgh’s brass is more concerned with the fumbling (three in the preseason). Still, every little bit helps as Pittsburgh slams into the NFL’s fiercest schedule. 8-8 can take this division. The Steelers will manage a little better than that.

Cleveland Browns (7-9)
The word is out on big Derek Anderson, the Browns’ 6-foot-6 flagpole of a quarterback. Get him moving. Churn up the pocket and force him to use those stilts. Then watch his passes sail and dive and his completion percentage melt away (53 percent, eight interceptions over the last five weeks of the ’07 season). Worse news is that Anderson would have little trouble torching his own defense if he had to face it; the Brownies allowed nearly 360 yards per game last season.

Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)
An old zinger from spacey comedian Steven Wright — “You know when you’re sitting on a chair and you lean back so you’re just on two legs, then you lean too far and you almost fall over but at the last second you catch yourself? I feel like that all the time.” So do the Bengals.

Baltimore Ravens (4-12)
GQ magazine, obviously unimpressed with the current look of the Ravens’ helmet/logo, recently asked a handful of designers to each submit makeover suggestions. You know things are getting bad when the fashionistas start chiming in. The house has been gutted and they’re still talking about changing the drapes.

---

Dallas- Lose. Jason Witten kills us. We lose big.

Pittsburgh- Win. We finally get the monkey off our back, and get a win vs. Pittsburgh.

Baltimore- Win. They are a mess, I expect a sweep.

Cincinnati- Win. Another team I expect to sweep. They might be in worse shape than Baltimore.

BYE- 3-1 going into the bye week.

Giants- Win. The game that no one is expecting us to win. Monday night, at home, the stadium will be electric. Upset win for us.

Washington- Loss. Short week after the MNF game vs. the Giants, and coming off a huge win. This is our letdown game.

Jacksonville- Win. I just don't see Jacksonville being able to keep up with us offensively. I expect a middle of the road score. Something like 27-20.

Baltimore- Win. Again, I expect a sweep.

Denver- Win. Like Nemy said, they are an average football team. Will be closer than expected after a short week, though.

Buffalo- Win. I don't buy the Buffalo hype this year.

Houston- Loss. I expect Houston to be very good this year. I don't know if we can stop Andre Johnson.

Indianapolis- Loss. One of the few teams on our schedule that I think is just flat out better than us.

Tennessee- Win. Vince Young is terrible. We stack the box the entire game and force him to throw. And regardless of our corners, VY can't beat us.

Philly- Loss. Kind of a disappointing loss, because I don't buy the Eagles hype this year, either.

Cincinnati- Win. Like I said, I expect a sweep.

Pittsburgh- Loss. Already at 10 wins for the year, and our fate as the divison winner sealed, we rest our starters, while Pittsburgh is fighting for a wild card.


I started the year hoping for a 8-7 year because of our strength of schedule. But, once I finally started looking at it, 10-6 is very achievable. 11-5 is possible.

I originally predicted 11-5 for the Browns, but, after seeing them in preseason and how the NFC teams pretty much dominated them, I think, 10-6 is about the best we will do.

Offensively-I think the Browns will do very well. I'm expecting BIG seasons from B.E., K.W., and Lewis. I also can see Lewis, Winslow, and DA going down for a game or two, I don't believe it will be major but Quinn will most likely get some playtime due to a DA injury.

Harrison will emerge as our solid No.2 RB. Still won't be great at blocking so Wright will still be in at times but Harrison will be a bigger playmaker than Wright at RB. We'll still need to draft a future stud.

I'm holding out hope that JJ will return and I believe he will. If so, then he'll contribute with plenty of first down catches and some red zone TD's. Stallworth probably won't have beastly numbers but should help out DA or Quinn a lot., not too mention his value as a decoy. Steptoe should see some action and do very well in a shorter passing game and in the red zone.

The right side of our OL needs help, it will be our only weakness on offense.

ST should be good as ever, Cribbs should be a beast but if he's out for a game or two with this high ankle sprain then Steptoe can do KR. (I also liked Austtin Scott doing KR, but if Cribbs is out then maybe he does PR?) I think we'll see Rucker get some good playtime, especially if KW gets hurt but even if he doesn't Rucker should still see the field.

Defense-scares the hell outta me! I think we'll be anywhere from marginally better to really good at stopping the run but we could and probably will get burned by the pass, especially early in the season. I think our CB's, B Mac and Wright, will get better as the season progresses and we won't be so worried about them in the future. I still wouldn't mind seeing the Browns sign Law or trade for Lito and this could happen with a nuclear meltdown of our secondary vs. Dallas.

If our CB's were experienced I would not be concerned for our Safeties but they're going to need to be everywhere helping our young CB's out and that may hurt their play a bit.

I do, however, like the potential of our DL. I think it will hold up and be very solid. However, I'm not as confident in our LB's to get the consistent pressure that we will need to get in order to beat some of the better teams. We were really counting on Peek to help out with the pass rush big time and now he's gone for the season....again! Probably time to start drafting early rd. LB's and CB's.

My final thought.....

AFCN
Browns 10-6
Pitt 9-7
Cincy 8-8
Ravens SOL

Not that it matters, but my prediction is 6-10 - very dissapointed. Something about this team reminds me of the Bengals a couple years ago. I just think our defensive backfield is absolutely horrid. We can't bump and run guys, we play 10 yards off, and still get beat I think we take a stop back this year - Crennel gets fired - we hire Bill Cower.

Don't hate me. . .

I'm hoping our d-backs were doing a football version of the rope-a-dope in pre-season. I hope the coaches were so confident in what they saw in practice that they felt they didn't have to show anything at all in the games. I don't think that is the case, but I hope.

6-11....unfortunately this years schedule will be too much for us....but i do believe we can beat the steelers if we play decent. 6 wins but sweep of steelers wouldn't be ALL bad...it would be bad cuz it's 6 wins...but 2 against the steelers would take the sting off

Do you think we'll win or lose against Bye?

Well, that's a fair question, and I was wondering when I would get it.

I was being optimistic in my original prediction post. My gut is telling me something different. I think this guy's mini-assessment of each team was pretty good. I think 7-9 is a real possibility. But if we get some things to bounce our way, I can see 10-6.

That's kind of what you said too.

Our D secondary will be a MAJOR achillies heel. We will get burnt hard and often at least at first and maybe even longer.

Our DL personnel looks much better on paper. But untill they bond as a cohesive unit, it won't help much. By week 6, we should see noticable improvement in this department. But that is "controling the LOS". I have a major "wait and see" on the LB core.

The oposing D's will be much tougher overall. In pre-season, our starting OL on the right side looked quite suspect with Hadnot in the line up. The faster Tucker returns, the better I'll feel on that one.

So with more pressure on DA? Will he be comfortable and productive or get the deer in the headlights look? Because the protection gave him cause for a LOT of comfort against those weaker D's last year. I'd say you could "flip a coin" on that one!

Did I say that?

So with the SOS and our weaknesses combined, I'd say we could finish 6-10 or as good as 8-8.

I'll split the difference and call it 7-9.

Having a new starting QB later in the year won't help the win total THIS year. But it will be our best investment for the future.



You can hate on me all you want, ( not you Diam. You're not allowed ), but that's how I see it.

DA won't hold up under the pressure and we will begin our future under BQ.

8-8 will be tough. 9-7 will be very good, but we miss the playoffs.

7-9 is my WAG.

Stop the run? Presure the QB? LB's make plays at or behind the LOS? Play pass D?

Who ever said DA will fold, needs to show us why. Not opinion, facts and or proof.

I predict that we will win some and we will lose some and that I will throw up out of nervousness before 4:15 tomorrow.

DnD said no shootouts, but I'm betting we see one tomorrow. Don't envision any after that, but opening day I'm banking on one. Chris Swami Berman predicted a 30-28 Boys victory on a last minute FG....I'm thinking it goes higher than that and that we win.

We win week #2 on SNF as well, and also the next 2 weeks against the ravens and bengals.

Lose to the Giants, beat the Skins and lose to the Jags.

Beat the ravens again and then lose to the Broncos and the Bills.

Beat Houston then lose to Indy and then bounce back to win against the Titans.

Lose to the Iggles, beat the bengals and roll into Pitt with the division crown on the line where I get arrested before the game and miss out on seeing Brady Quinn throw for 489 yards and 4 TDs.

Anybody got any Pepto-Bismol????

Short and Sweet...10-6 and Division Champs! JMHO Go Brownies!!!

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I don't know if we can stop Andre Johnson.

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This late in the season, he probably won't be playing because of another injury. Go Brownies!!!

I'm thinking 7-9 or 8-8 this year. Injuries to Lewis, Cribbs, Joe J, and the o-line (Tucker, Hadnot), if they linger, will reduce offensive production drastically. Our Defense will improve at stopping the run, but the pass rush is not there. It doesn't do any good to stop the run if opponents convert 3rd-and-long with ridiculous ease. Our LB's are too ordinary, our secondary is too inexperienced and not deep enough, to be effective without a pass rush. The field looks so wide when we are on D in a passing down, that opposing veteran QB's eyes must light up. I don't claim to be an X's and O's type fan, but I'm starting to wonder if we have the personnel to play RAC's defense.

That said, we have not seen one play yet this year in a game that counts, and I have been wrong plenty of times before ... so we'll hope for the best. Good health for key players, a few breaks, and some players step up that I wasn't expecting to, and maybe we get to 9-7 or 10-6. 10-6 will be needed to make the playoffs, IMO.

I have not had a good record in the past predicting the team's record. Hell, if I was any good at this I'd probably try my luck on the stock market or at the track. But I'm not.

Having said that I must say I had a pretty good feeling about this year until we started the preseason. I did not see anything in any of the games that would make me think we'll be better than .500.

The Defense looks like it would have trouble stopping a good college team on a consistant basis. The line doesn't get a good enough push so consequently the DBs are left on an island way too often. Really good DBs can't "live" long like that and our DBs aren't really good yet. And if we have an injury or two back there.....well, get ready for draft day.

The offense should be OK but that is not assured either. DA's noggin got scrambled once so now that will be a concern every time he goes to the ground. Not to mention that if he doesn't get more consistant with his short throws we could be getting a lot of 3rd and longs which eventually always leads to interceptions. If Jamal goes down for any length of time I personally have little confidence that his backups will take up the slack.

What I'd like to see in the opener is a team on fire. A team that thinks they will win. We haven't seen that in the last two openers. In fact, what we have seen is a team that looks like they just got up from a nap. If we see that again it could spell disaster for many, many games. Certainly, it would kill us against the 'Boys.

8-8 for they year. No playoffs. And honestly, I could be off by 2 games either way. I hope I'm way off like I usually am. I just see no reason to be more optimistic than that at this point.

I'm going 10-6 to 11-5 this year. This is our year to sweep the Steelers. I think we will lose one to the Bengals., and sweep the Ratbirds again.

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Having said that I must say I had a pretty good feeling about this year until we started the preseason. I did not see anything in any of the games that would make me think we'll be better than .500.

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If it helps you Otto, the last time the Browns went Ofer in the preseason, they went 10 and 4 in the regular season.....

It's not the 0-4. It's that they looked bad doing it. But we'll see.

I think we will go 9-7.

Offensively i think we'll struggle. I don't believe Anderson has improved his accuracy and touch and will have a very up and down year. I think Lewis will be our offensive MVP and rush for over 1300 yards and 10 tds.

On Defense as long as we stay healthy we'll be better against the run and better at getting after the QB, Hall will provide a nice compliment to Wimbley, but our pass defense will struggle. Defensive MVP will be Rogers.

On Special teams will be great as long as Cribbs stays healthy.

I think overall we'll be a better team then last year but with the tougher schedule, Anderson's inconsistency, and our pourous pass defense it won't show in the record.

7-9

I wonder about RAC's skills. I think Anderson is rattle-able and I think the OL will struggle a bit. Soooo much rides in DA this year, he's going to have to be a second year probowler for us to get to 10-6 or better as many of you predict. The running game will do well, run D will be better. We aint surprising anyone this year and no one is really afraid of us. I think we would have been 6-10 against this schedule last year, so 7-9 is improvement in a sense. One more year before we go over 500 against top notch teams IMO. If we go into the bye 1-3, it'll be a long year. If we go in 3-1 I'll have to revise my outlook. I'm thinking 2-2 at the bye.

So Diam ..... where's your predictions and prognostication?