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Related: About this forum2019 Browns will be lucky to win five games
Browns should have eviscerated the Jets in Week 2, winning 35 (or more) to 3 instead of 23 to 3. They had some impressive plays -- Chubb finds a hole, Beckham make an all-pro catch -- but they really didn't dominate with that o-line. They're really not much of a ball control offense. And Mayfield is is still learning.
The defense played more promising, but given New York's QB injuries, it should have been expected.
Season loses? They'll be 1-6 after Week 8, having lost in succession to the Rams, Ravens, 49ers, Seahawks and Patriots. If Mayfield and most the skill players are still healthy after these five games they just might squeak out a win at Mile High against Denver in Week 9. As of now, though, I'd bet against it.
Weeks 10 and 11 match them against the resurgent Bills and always difficult Steelers, even without Roethlisberger. This will be an emotional game as always, and maybe they find a way to beat them at home for win #2.
In Week 12 they should be beat the Dolphins for their 3rd win. They finish out Weeks 13-17 at Pittsburgh (loss), Cincinnati (win), at Arizona (loss), Baltimore (another loss), and at Cincinnati (loss). That makes them 4-12. If they get lucky they beat Cincy twice for a 5-11 finish. If they're extraordinarily lucky they beat either Denver or Arizona and finish 6-10.
I didn't believe the pre-season hoopla. It didn't make sense to trade Beckham for draft choices when the roster of trench players was thin. That trade will hurt them long term. That's my prediction.
exboyfil
(17,996 posts)You are right that those resources used on Beckman would have been better used on OLs.
empedocles
(15,751 posts)Like in basketball; there are tons of good point guards - good 7 footers much harder to come by.
Quick, strong, 300 lb ers harder to come by.
JonLP24
(29,348 posts)They finally found Ricky Rubio who is alright but nothing special. Our 7 footer is Deandre Ayton who has a bright future.
philf99
(268 posts)There is no way you will get a talent like OBJ with the 16th pick in the draft.
I somewhat question the trade of Zietler for Vernon but we shall see.
But there is absolutely no question the Browns won the OBJ trade
Auggie
(31,798 posts)On paper the trade might look good, especially for a contender bereft of receivers, but not the rebuilding Browns. The 49ers were in a similar boat as the Browns, but they went for defense in Ohio State's Bosa.
Or any player of his talent (he was the second pick)
would never have made it to pick 16. And if you neutralize Beckham (and that isn't easy) there are other quality receivers.
It's going to take a little time for this team to "gell" but this is playoff caliber team. Who is going to win the AFC North?
Baltimore (is Lamar Jackson the real deal) is 2-0 but really hasn't played anyone. Pittsburgh has been decimated and Bengals are the Bengals.
Injuries can cause a change but this team contend for a playoff spot last year and should do so this year.
JonLP24
(29,348 posts)Last edited Wed Sep 18, 2019, 09:53 AM - Edit history (1)
I watched both of the Ravens games. He did miss more throws in the Arizona game but against the Dolphins he was 3/4 on tight deep throws mostly to Marquise Brown. One of several QBs to throw for 250 and rush for 100 against Arizona. Baltimore should end up leading the league in rushing attempts.
philf99
(268 posts)Let's see what Jackson does when he plays a real NFL team. I can't include the Dolphins in that category and the Cardinals may or may not.
JonLP24
(29,348 posts)He missed a few throws against Arizona but overall he is accurate. Baker Mayfield had a more shaky performance against the Jets than that I saw from Lamar Jackson. Mayfield missed an open in the middle of the field TE by waiting to long then got him hurt tossing it into coverage. I didn't see those kind of mistakes from Lamar Jackson. He rifled a pass instead of putting more loft in the throw kind of thing.
philf99
(268 posts)After today's game 9-29 no doubt Baker Mayfield is without a doubt a better quarterback than Lamar Jackson.
JonLP24
(29,348 posts)but it is too soon to tell. Lamar Jackson had great games while Baker had problems holding on to the ball too long (which is the reason behind why the OP mentioned OL issues).
Before entering today Lamar Jackson was in the top 5 in yards per pass attempt.
https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/player-stat/gross-yards-per-passing-attempt
They both have a bright future though.
It's only game 2. Any knowledgeable football fan knows the Browns have lots of talent and are a definite playoff contender.
Go Browns!!!
Auggie
(31,798 posts)Browns 40 Ravens 25
Browns in firsts place and you were wrong!
Go Browns!!!
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)The Browns need to 2 of those 5.
After that is get significantly easier. The combined record of those teams is 2-17-1
JonLP24
(29,348 posts)I remember people saying Arizona State was going to get blown out by Michigan State because they only beat Sacramento State 19-7 and these were Arizona State fans. I wasn't worried myself. It gave them practice and a chance to work out the kinks.
I penciled in wins and losses before the 1997 Arizona Cardinals season and there were wins that turned out to be losses and losses that turned out to be wins so it may surprise what games the Browns lose or win.
This far out I'd still give the edge to Cleveland over Arizona but Baker Mayfield was shaky which is probably why Cleveland isn't living up to the hype but the NFL is all about matchups.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)Three-four of the five teams they will face could come into the game undefeated.
Dont believe the hype. One WR (Beckham) does not turn around a team.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)will limit him to maybe 3 inconsequential catches.
Auggie
(31,798 posts)but they still lost to the Rams.
JonLP24
(29,348 posts)Baltimore hasn't committed a turnover all season but had 3 of them today.
Auggie
(31,798 posts)maybe 7-9 if not 6-10.
Still In Wisconsin
(4,450 posts)Auggie
(31,798 posts)El Supremo
(20,377 posts)Oh, wait. You are some sort of Cleveland ex-pat.
Auggie
(31,798 posts)Your Broncos beat the play-off Browns!
Kitchens is looking like a version of the 49ers Jim Tomsula the positions coach who was hired to replace Jim Harbaugh in 2015. Nice guy, but not head coach material.
Kitchens hire was another mistake of the front office. One step forward, two steps back.
My predictions are holding up.
JonLP24
(29,348 posts)I think they are a good team they just opened the season with the league's toughest schedule. Not sure if they have a good head coach but Wilks defense did good tonight.
Now the Cardinals have the league's toughest remaining schedule.
Auggie
(31,798 posts)Disgusting display. Ejections, suspensions, poor sportsmanship.
Cleveland will be minus two to three defensive starters next week and perhaps longer.
JonLP24
(29,348 posts)Poor sportsmanship indeed
Auggie
(31,798 posts)Seconds left in the game. Pittsburgh's offense was thoroughly beaten. It was over. And then ... that.
Auggie
(31,798 posts)Joe Starkey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Earlier in the game, the Browns put simultaneous head shots (neither one flagged) on Rudolph and JuJu Smith-Schuster, concussing the latter, and defensive back Damarious Randall was ejected for drilling Diontae Johnson with another late head shot. It looked like the Jack Tatum Oakland Raiders running around out there.
Leave it to the Browns to embarrass themselves even in victory.
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/joe-starkey/2019/11/15/Joe-Starkey-NFL-suspend-Myles-Garrett-Steelers-Browns-Mason-Rudolph/stories/201911150103
Auggie
(31,798 posts)Who could have expected victories against two playoff teams, including the number one seeded Ravens? Despite those, my late-season predictions were spot on: split the Steelers, split the Bengals, lose to the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos.
Off-season? Begin by trading Beckham for bodies who can protect Mayfield. Beckham will never be happy in Cleveland.
Auggie
(31,798 posts)In case you missed it a year ago:
It didn't make sense to trade Beckham for draft choices when the roster of trench players was thin. That trade will hurt them long term. That's my prediction.
One year, and nothing's changed. The defense sucks and Beckham/Mayfield is not working.