2018 Cleveland Browns Season Odds & Predictions

The Cleveland Browns have nowhere to go but up after last year’s 0-16 campaign. To be fair, six of their losses last year came by a touchdown or less, so they were competitive at times. However, that’s little consolation for a franchise that has won just a single game over the past two years.

However, the franchise is staying the course. Hue Jackson kept his job as head coach despite the winless campaign. The Browns also did their best to make a splash this offseason with some notable trades and free agent signings, not to mention a plethora of early-round draft picks they hope will make an immediate impact. Of course, it remains to be seen whether those additions will be enough to make the Browns respectable in 2018, or at the very least give them a win or two.

Cleveland Expected Win Total & Super Bowl Odds

As expected, the Browns have slim Super Bowl odds at +10,000. However, six teams have longer odds to win the Super Bowl, so that’s something the Browns can hang their hat on. Oddsmakers are also projecting them to win 4.5 games in 2018. For a team that has just one win in two seasons, those a lofty expectations. While it’s not impossible to foresee the Browns topping that number, it’s best to play it safe and go for the under.

There’s a lot of talk about Baker Mayfield, but there’s every chance Tyrod Taylor will begin the season as Cleveland’s quarterback. Taylor is far from elite, but he’s athletic and was good enough to guide the Bills to the playoffs last year, so he knows a thing or two about winning with a historically bad team. When Mayfield is ready, he’ll play, but the Browns will give Taylor a chance early in the season.

Cleveland’s receiving corps is still a work in progress, but this group has some potential. Jarvis Landry, for instance, was a huge addition. He should help the Browns keep drives alive rather than always going 3 and out. The team also has high hopes for fourth-round pick Antonio Callaway. There’s also a snowflake’s chance that Josh Gordon can finally put all of his off-field issues aside and become a productive football player over a full season.

Meanwhile, the Browns should have a competent running game. Carlos Hyde is a legitimate NFL running back and second-round pick Nick Chubb should be able to contribute right away. The Browns will also find a way to utilize the versatile Duke Johnson. Cleveland’s offensive line will have to replace franchise legend Joe Thomas at left tackle. But there’s a surprising amount of talent up front.

On the other side of the ball, the Browns dedicated considerable resources this offseason to fix their secondary. They took Denzel Ward with the 4th overall pick with the hope that he can step into the starting lineup right away. Terrance Mitchell, E.J. Gaines, and Travis Carrie also give the Browns a fair amount of depth at cornerback. Cleveland also acquired Damarious Randall with the plan of putting him at safety in order to move Jabrill Peppers closer to the line of scrimmage where he can be more of an impact player.

The Browns also have the makings of what could be a solid defensive line. The group is quite young, so they may not be great early in the season. However, Myles Garrett, Emmanuel Ogbah, Carl Nassib, and veteran Chris Smith are all good enough to get after the quarterback if the Browns can get teams into obvious passing situations. Cleveland should also have a steady set of linebackers with Jamie Collins and Joe Schobert as potential standout players. The Browns also picked up Mychal Kendricks from the Eagles to add some depth at that position.

Obviously, Cleveland’s roster is full of flaws that opposing teams will be able to exploit. They won’t have a downfield passing game while the defense is high on potential but low on accomplished NFL players. However, there are definitely the makings of a viable NFL team in Cleveland, which should allow the Browns to win at least a couple games this season.

Browns Schedule & Game-by-Game Predictions

Date Opponent Time
Sep 9 Pittsburgh Steelers 1:00 PM
Sep 16 @ New Orleans Saints 1:00 PM
Sep 20 New York Jets 8:20 PM
Sep 30 @ Oakland Raiders 4:05 PM
Oct 7 Baltimore Ravens 1:00 PM
Oct 14 Los Angeles Chargers 1:00 PM
Oct 21 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1:00 PM
Oct 28 @ Pittsburgh Steelers 1:00 PM
Nov 4 Kansas City Chiefs 1:00 PM
Nov 11 Atlanta Falcons 1:00 PM
Nov 25 @ Cincinnati Bengals 1:00 PM
Dec 2 @ Houston Texans 1:00 PM
Dec 9 Carolina Panthers 1:00 PM
Dec 15 @ Denver Broncos 4:30 PM
Dec 23 Cincinnati Bengals 1:00 PM
Dec 30 @ Baltimore Ravens 1:00 PM

The NFL tried to give the Browns a manageable schedule with only five games against playoff teams. There won’t be a lot of opportunities for the Browns to win games against this schedule, but don’t kid yourself, there will be a few.

Week 1: vs Steelers – Loss

The Browns were so close to beating the Steelers Week 1 last season. Of course, that just means that Ben Roethlisberger and company will make sure they aren’t asleep at the wheel for this one. At least for Week 1, it’s the same old Browns.

Week 2: at Saints

Let’s be clear about this, the Browns aren’t going to be a threat to win games on the road too often. Let’s just call the Browns winning in New Orleans highly unlikely.

Week 3: vs Jets – Win

It has happened! The Browns are early 2.5-point favorites in this game and that line holds true. Hyde has a big game running the ball while Taylor does just enough to lead Cleveland to victory.

Week 4: at Raiders – Loss

The Raiders are upset after a slow start to the season and they take their frustrations out on the Browns. Jon Gruden may have been out of coaching for a while, but he knows enough not to get beat by the Browns.

Week 5: vs Ravens – Win

It happened again! The Ravens make the mistake of looking past the Browns. A windy day in Cleveland makes it tough for Joe Flacco to throw the deep ball, leaving the door open for Taylor to work his magic late in the game to give the Browns their second win.

Week 6: vs Chargers – Loss

The Los Angeles defense doesn’t fear Cleveland’s playmakers, so they unleash their pass rush on Taylor and the Browns. The Cleveland offense sputters at home in a game they could have won.

Week 7: at Buccaneers – Loss

The Cleveland doesn’t do enough to make Jameis Winston uncomfortable in the pocket. Thus, the Browns get into a shootout they can’t possibly win.

Week 8: at Steelers – Loss

The Browns are in no way ready to beat a team like the Steelers away from home. Cleveland also doesn’t have the secondary to hang with Antonio Brown and company.

Week 9: vs Chiefs – Loss

Even if Pat Mahomes hasn’t developed by this point in the season, Kansas City’s playmakers are too good for the Browns.

Week 10: vs Falcons – Loss

The Cleveland defense hangs tough in this one, but without much of a passing game, the Browns simply can’t score enough points to challenge the Falcons, leaving many fans to call for Taylor to be benched.

Week 11: Bye

Week 12: at Bengals – Loss

Mayfield earns his first start of the season coming out of the bye. He shows flashes but makes a few rookie mistakes on the road that end up costing the Browns.

Week 13: at Texans – Loss

The Browns spent too much time preparing to face Deshaun Watson that they didn’t pay attention to Houston’s running game. The Texans give Lamar Miller 20 touches and he carries them past the Browns. 

Week 14: vs Panthers – Loss

The Panthers are coming off a loss the previous week and come to Cleveland a little mad. They know they can’t afford a slip up against the Browns, so they’re focused and end up pulling away from the Browns in the second half.

Week 15: at Broncos – Loss

The Browns are a little tired and banged up coming down the stretch, and a trip to the Mile High City isn’t going to help. Denver’s pass rush is too much for the Browns to handle, as the Broncos win easily.

Week 16: vs Bengals – Win

In his fifth career start, Mayfield finally starts to get comfortable playing in the NFL. He makes some big-time throws while the Cleveland defense also starts to grow up a little.

Week 17: at Ravens – Loss

The Ravens were embarrassed that they lost to the Browns earlier in the year. There’s no way they let that happen again. Baltimore’s defense shines in the season finale, as the Browns lose in lopsided fashion.

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