Browns Season Halfway: Looking Back at Our Predictions
The Cleveland Browns are halfway through their season. With the Thursday Night game tonight it will be easier to have time to fully process after their 9th game but we do want to look back at our predictions to see how we are doing so far.
To do so we will go back to our very in depth, long and extremely time consuming effort to give you a great Browns Season Preview (New Window). That write up was broken down into a variety of categories so we will look at some of what we expected and where we were right and wrong:
Key Off-Season Additions
"Karlos DansbyBen TateJoel Bitonio"
Dansby has been everything we expected him to be. He is fast to the ball and holds his own in coverage. Tate has not been a stud back but did deliver early in the season before getting hurt. Alex Mack‘s injury has derailed the running game. Bitonio has been a stud and we are glad we went on a limb a bit to put him on our list.
One player we mentioned but didn’t make our list was Andrew Hawkins:
"Andrew Hawkins might also prove to belong on this list."
Hawk has proven he belongs on the list. He has been everything that many had hoped, and more. He is solid in routes, catches everything he can and is tough to tackle.
Key Subtractions
"T.J. WardD’Qwell JacksonJosh Gordon"
Ward and Jackson were key subtractions but ones we felt would be made up for. Gordon missing has been big. His presence may not have led to any more victories, though I am confident that we would be 6 – 2 if he were around, but he would be an important piece. Gordon would clear coverage for the running game and some of the underneath throws. Gordon would also be a big security blanket for Brian Hoyer in late game situations, no one has stepped up to that just yet.
Live Feed
Factory of Sadness
Key Decisions
"Firing Joe Banner and Mike LombardiHiring Mike Pettine and Kyle ShanahanIgnoring Need at Receiver"
The Browns made huge sweeping decisions which led to Banner and Lombardi being gone just after hiring Pettine and Shanahan. All of those moves seemed to have paid off. Pettine still has a lot to learn but has provided a solid voice of solidarity for the team. Shanahan’s play calling has been a huge key to the offenses success. That the Browns ignored receiver will stick in fans craw even if they make the playoffs. The Browns could have drafted Sammy Watkins but Justin Gilbert and the two picks next year will be far more valuable over the next four seasons. Adding Miles Austin and Hawkins has helped plenty.
Biggest Strength/Weakness
"Defense – StrengthPassing Game – Weakness"
These two haven’t switched roles but the defense has struggled most of the year. It is likely the weakest part of the team through 8 games but has shown signs of improving. The Browns passing attack has been solid, as Kyle Shanahan has made something out of nothing.
Live Feed
Musket Fire
Fantasy Football Contributors
"DefenseBen TateJordan CameronAndrew Hawkins"
Well we got one right: “Andrew Hawkins – In a PPR league Hawkins could be a solid backup. He won’t get a ton of yards but he should be targeted in all short yardage situations and his release moves make him deadly in the redzone. He works well in tight spaces and if he can get on the same page with Brian Hoyer, he could be the answer to the question Davone Bess was suppose to answer last year.”
The defense has had some moments, especially Tashaun Gipson‘s ball hawking, while Tate and Cameron have been limited by injuries and poor play.
"Needless to say Manziel has work to do before he will be a high quality starting QB in the NFL. He has shown that he can do it, and isn’t afraid to work hard during the season, but his development will take time.It seems like playing this year could be bad for his long term success but he is only one Hoyer injury, or horrific stretch of play, away from getting on the field. The cameras will click, the headlines will roll out and the media will have their field day the moment that happens."
Think we were right there except the cameras continue to stay on Manziel even though he is on the bench.
AFC North
"The state of the division is changed. The Steelers and Ravens used to put fear in the hearts of Browns fans. Now just their names and history do, the rosters not so much. The Bengals are formidable but somehow the Browns have been in the head of Dalton, especially Joe Haden covering A.J. Green. The division means the Browns route to contention isn’t as hard as it was a few years back."
The division is still formidable. All four teams are above .500 and the Steelers have been putting on offensive clinics over the past two weeks. The Ravens have been using a bit of smoke and mirrors to make things happen but still are succeeding. We find out tonight if the Browns are truly in Dalton’s head.
Buffalo Bills Draft Picks
"The Bills hopes for a competitive year have a few bumps in the road. The loss of their defensive coordinator, now Browns Head Coach, Mike Pettine causes transition. The season long loss of defensive leader Kiko Alsonso hurts their top shelf defense while Mario Williams is starting to hit later in his prime years. The development of E.J. Manuel, or lack there of, in the pre-season has to give the Bills a huge concern for their chances to compete this year. Watkins’ injuries through the pre-season also could hurt their return on investment. Finally playing in a division with the Patriots, who tend to dominate division foes, the tough Jets defense and the Dolphins who have talent in multiple spots, makes for a tough season."
Most of our concerns for the Bills season have come true and yet they sit with the same 5 – 3 record and tied for second in their division. The Bills schedule toughens a bit, including playing the Browns, but they have played themselves likely out of a Top 10 pick. The Browns will still have two picks, just not as exciting as we had hoped.
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Predictions
Here is what you all are waiting for. We predicted the score and winner of every Browns game, how have we done so far?
"Week 1: Browns 20 – Steelers 13 – Win (Actual – 30 – 27 – Loss) – WRONGWeek 2: Saints 34 – Browns 24 – Loss – (Actual – 26 – 24 – Win) – WRONGWeek 3: Browns 17 – Ravens – 15 – Win – (Actual – 23 – 21 – Loss) – WRONGBye WeekWeek 5: Browns – 21 – Titans – 17 – Win – (Actual – 29 – 28 – Win) – RIGHTWeek 6: Steelers – 30 – Browns – 28 – Loss – (Actual – 31 – 10 – Loss) – WRONGWeek 7: Browns – 24 – Jaguars – 21 – Win – (Actual – 24 – 6 – Loss) – WRONGWeek 8: Browns – 27 – Raiders -17 – Win – (Actual – 23 – 13 – Win) – RIGHTWeek 9: Bucs – 24 – Browns – 10 – Loss – (Actual – 22 – 17 – Win) – WRONG"
So we only predicted two games correctly which is just bad. Yet our predicted record at this point in the season was… Oh yeah 5 – 3! So while we predicted a bunch of games wrong we have the Browns actual record correct. That has to count for something, right?
If you are wondering, since we did such a marvelous job on those predictions, here is the rest of our predictions:
"Week 10: Bengals – 33 – Browns – 27 – LossWeek 11: Browns – 14 – Texans – 10 – WinWeek 12: Falcons – 35 – Browns – 21 – LossWeek 13: Browns – 17 – Bills – 10 – WinWeek 14: Colts -28 – Browns 24 – LossWeek 15: Browns – 21 – Bengals – 20 – WinWeek 16: Panthers – 17 – Browns 7 – LossWeek 17: Ravens – 21 – Browns 14 – LossRecord: 8 – 8"
Conclusion
So far not so bad. We expected the Browns to be where they are but to loss 5 of their last 8. With Gordon returning soon and the defense improving a 9 win season is easily within their reach.
How have your predictions fared so far?