The AFC remains wide open after Week 5 of the NFL season as there is no definitive best team in the conference. Just about every team has a bad loss in the early season despite how they may have played in the other games. That sets the Cleveland Browns and their terrible loss to the Steelers up to become redeemable if the offense figures itself out.
They will face what appears to be the league’s best team in the San Francisco 49ers next week but after that, they go on a stretch of really winnable games.
Buy Browns TicketsI’m not saying the game against the San Francisco 49ers is an automatic loss, but it will easily be the best team they have seen this year and likely the best all year. If the team wants to make a statement coming out of the bye getting a great win at home next week would go a long way in making that statement.
vs. San Francisco 49ers
Prediction: Browns Win
I know it’s crazy to think that after getting beat by three scores to the Baltimore Ravens the Browns could win next week but they can. The last time we saw the offense, Deshaun Watson was the best he had been with the team and the defense has been one of the league’s best units.
Jim Schwartz will have to bring his A-game if he wants to limit Kyle Shannahan’s offense but Cleveland has the talent to do it. The 49ers will have to go across the country to the East Coast after a tough matchup with the Cowboys.
Watson and the offense will have to take it to a whole other level and they must figure out how to protect him. Stefanski has to show more evolution in the rushing attack for the offense to improve and what better time to add new wrinkles than after the bye against the league’s best?
at Indianapolis Colts
Prediction: Browns win
The Colts are likely to be without their young rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson due to a shoulder injury. The team is getting Jonathon Taylor back on the football field but with Gardner Minshew and quarterback the offense will be far too one-dimensional.
The Browns’ defense will likely be able to produce plenty of pressure against the Colts’ offense and just overpower them with their defensive line and defense backs on the back end. If the team comes to play and limits turnovers they should be able to beat the Colts even on the road.
at Seattle Seahawks
Prediction: Browns lose
Seattle remains one of the toughest places to play in the NFL and the Browns will have back-to-back road games for the first time this season. The Seahawks’ defense has one of the better cornerback duos in the NFL to go with a pretty good pass rush.
The Browns’ defense will be looking at a talented trio of wide receivers in D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxson Smith-Njigba. Having to go to the West Coast and beat the Seahawks on the road is a big ask for the Browns and ultimately I think they will drop this game before returning to Cleveland.
vs. Arizona Cardinals
Prediction: Browns win
Josh Dobbs has been playing some really good football for the Cardinals who have looked much better than some predicted. Dobbs will return to Cleveland bringing the new-look Cardinals offense to town and trying to upset his former club. Former Browns coach and now Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing has been impressive for his first time as a play-caller.
However, the Cardinals’ defense has not been very good and has been dealing with a ridiculous amount of injuries. This whole second month of the season will hinge on Deshaun Watson getting back on the field and building off his game against the Titans.
