How many games will the Cleveland Browns win in 2016?
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns have not impressed most national prognosticators. But what does the Dawg Pound Daily staff believe is in store for the team in 2016?
The Cleveland Browns open the 2016 NFL season today when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Browns have been the talk of the NFL – and not always in a good way — since the end of last season. Another regime change by owner Jimmy Haslam has been derided as front-office appointees Sashi Brown and Paul DePodesta are adding analytics to the team’s toolbox for rebuilding the team. This has ruffled the feathers of traditionalists who fear what they don’t understand.
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The hiring of head coach Hue Jackson has been well received, however, as for the first time since returning to the NFL in 1999, the Browns hired a head coach that other teams were actively coveting.
On draft weekend the Browns selected 14 players – 13 made the final roster — and last week claimed a league-high five players off the waiver wire. Consequently, Cleveland enters the regular season with more than half of its roster comprised of players in either their first or second year in the league.
That has led many to predict nothing short of doom and gloom for the Browns this season. Forget challenging for a playoff spot, the Browns are going to be so bad, according to some, that they may find a way to post a record worst than 0-16.
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So just what does 2016 have in store for the Browns? The Dawg Pound Daily staff got together to look into their respective crystal balls and come up with a prediction for the season.
Jonathan Goehring (Final record: 7-9)
Though expectations are low as the Browns move through a lengthy rebuilding process, the team has an opportunity to surprise many in 2016.
Led by quarterback Robert Griffin III, who is possibly Cleveland’s long sought-after franchise quarterback, as well as several young playmakers on both sides of the ball, the Browns do not lack talent. They also have found a head coach in Hue Jackson who has had experience succeeding at the NFL, a coach whose expertise is on offense and can work with a young offensive line and young receivers.
Cleveland’s schedule is also manageable, as each of the first four games before wide receiver Josh Gordon returns from his four-game suspension are winnable. The young talent Cleveland possesses will not form a winning franchise overnight, but it will translate to more success than 2015.
Given the way the Browns lost games in heartbreaking fashion last season, the team will experience slightly better fortune in 2016. The rebuilding process will get off to a solid start this year, as the Browns will finish 7-9.
Steven Kubitza (Final record: 7-9)
There are two groups of Brows fans. The first thinks the Browns are going to go 1-15, and can’t wait to see the team end up with the first pick in the draft. Then there is the group that wholeheartedly believes the Browns are headed to the playoffs this year. I fall in the middle of these two extremes.
The Browns are a team consistently falling in the three- to five-win range, with a break from that cycle being more unexpected than the starting quarterback making it all 16 games. The Browns did go 7-9 in 2014 with an extreme lack of leadership off the field, so this new, organized leadership group should lead to some success. Right?
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The main reason for this prediction is the presence of head coach Hue Jackson on the sidelines. Those Browns teams that finished in the realm of 3-13 and 4-12 lost many close games, either blowing fourth quarter leads or losing at the last second. Think of last year’s “kick-six” loss against the Baltimore Ravens as an example.
With Jackson as head coach, these late-game losses can be avoided, or at least managed better. The Browns are a young team who are going to lose some close games, but if the team has a late lead, Jackson should be able to do a much better job at keeping his team poised than the coaches of Browns past. Think of Pat Shurmur calling a handoff to a backup tight end for an example of that. I was there. I won’t forget.
It is a new era. There is a new coach and a new quarterback, and that will result in more wins. Or so I hope as the Browns will finish at 7-9.
Joel Cade (Prediction: 5-11)
The Browns are undergoing yet another “rebuild,” but unlike years past, this front office’s plan is bold and outside the box.
Their moves have been decisive with a dash of unconventional. Much like a baseball rebuild, the first move was to tear down the remnants of last year’s veteran laden 3-13 team. Letting all of their free agents leave gave this front office the embarrassing look of incompetency to those outside of Berea. Drafting 14 players and trading for cornerback Jamal Taylor helped rehabilitate the front office’s image. However, the total makeover the Browns will ultimately play out on game days this fall.
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The Browns schedule is formidable. Opening the season with five of seven games on the road means this young team will get a baptism by fire NFL style. The early part of the season will be rough as rookies and young players learn to adjust not only to playing in the NFL, but also to head coach Hue Jackson’s power run, West Coast style offense and defensive coordinator Ray Horton’s complicated zone blitz 3-4 base defense.
Expect this team to struggle out of the gate and start slow. By mid-season, Jackson and company should be able to separate the studs from the duds on the roster. This will allow for better game planning and should prove for closer, more exciting games. By December this team should be comfortable in the NFL and in their respective schemes.
Unfortunately, it will be a rough season on the field for the Browns, especially early. However, as the team jells around its coach and scheme, the games will grow far more exciting.
Contrary to Brian Billick’s thoughts, there are winnable games on the schedule. Look for the Browns to finish at 5-11.
Roger Cohen (Prediction: 6-10)
One thought came to mind when I saw ESPN’s analysis of 10,000 computer simulations rating the Browns Super Bowl chances as ZERO: that’s probably a bit too optimistic.
Conversely, the Browns will not go 0-16 and may actually “shock the world” by:
- Duplicating the team’s 1950 NFL debut by defeating Philadelphia this afternoon — although this Eagles squad is not the reigning league champs
- Open 2-0 by topping the Baltimore Ravens in the home opener
- Beating the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium
- Win the “Brady Bowl” return game against the New England Patriots on Oct. 9
That’s what might shock the sports universe, here’s what won’t:
- Josh Gordon relapses and never plays a down for the Browns.
- RG3 can’t overcome his problems with quarterback mechanics, ego management and injuries and starts fewer than eight games.
- The Browns run a bus terminal for place kickers, punters and returners, with special teams play costing them at least four winnable games.
- Quarterback Kevin Hogan jumps off the practice squad to start in December – more than once.
- And the worst: Joe Thomas’ consecutive snap streak ends.
By some crazy combination of the above, the Browns will finish at 6-10 with Hue Jackson earning some Coach of the Year votes.
Eric Szczepinski (Prediction: 6-10)
National reporters are giving the Cleveland Browns no love heading into the 2016 season, with many predicting the team to win fewer than three games. However, there is reason for Cleveland fans to be optimistic heading into the season.
The offense will be centered on an improved receiving corps featuring rookie Corey Coleman, Terrelle Pryor and the long-awaited return of former Pro Bowler Josh Gordon. Robert Griffin III will have a solid group of playmakers to ease the offensive workload.
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Griffin remains a huge question mark beginning the season, but with his athletic ability, the Browns revamped playmakers and head coach Hue Jackson’s player-friendly scheme, there is no reason to believe that Griffin will not be able to hold his own at the quarterback position for the Browns.
Defensively the team is extremely young and lacks playmakers at key positions. However, the offense should be much improved and give fans hope and something excited about heading into the season.
Look for the Browns to finish at 6-10 on the season.
Thomas Moore (Prediction: 3-13)
Buckle up, Browns fans, because things are about to get ugly, at least in terms of the team’s final won-loss record.
The Browns are undergoing a rebuild that is taking the roster down to its foundation. A year from now — after a season of growth and evaluation, another off-season of work and the 2017 NFL Draft – the Browns will be closer to the end of the beginning, but the next few months are going to be rough.
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There are still several questions surrounding quarterback Robert Griffin III; the young wide receivers, and that most certainly includes Terrelle Pryor, still need time to learn how to play the position at the pro level; and the rookies will have their ups and downs as they discover that playing 16 games in the NFL is far different from playing 12 or 13 games at the college level.
But that doesn’t mean the next four months will not be filled with some excitement. On those days when Griffin is hitting deep passes, or Carl Nassib and Emmanuel Ogbah are harassing opposing quarterbacks, the Browns will be fun to watch.
This team is not set up to “win now” under any definition of the term, but rather is one that should get better as the season goes along. It may be hard on the eyes at times, but will be of benefit when looking at the big picture.
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Las Vegas oddsmakers have set the over-under on wins for the Browns this season at 4.5. All those glittering buildings on the strip were not built because the people running things are stupid, so that number feels very accurate. The Browns will have no problem hitting the under as they will close out the year at 3-13.