Dawg Pound Daily
FanSided

Week 8 Score Predictions: Can Cleveland Browns save season vs. Patriots?

By Casey Kinnamon

CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 22: wide receiver Odell Beckham #13 of the Cleveland Browns poses on the field during warm ups before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 22: wide receiver Odell Beckham #13 of the Cleveland Browns poses on the field during warm ups before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
CLEVELAND, OHIO – AUGUST 08: Defensive end Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns during the first half of a preseason game against the Washington Redskins at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 08, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – AUGUST 08: Defensive end Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns during the first half of a preseason game against the Washington Redskins at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 08, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Writer: Elliot Kennel

Game: Cleveland Browns (2-4) at New England Patriots (7-0)

Forget about Tom Brady, it starts with defense.  The Patriots have only been giving up an average of 6.9 points per game.  This is lower than the 1985 Bears at 12.4.  The Patriots have been extremely tough against the deep ball this season, rarely allowing completions and often coming away with interceptions.  They have an amazing 18 INTs on the year.  No other team has more than nine.  Opposing quarterbacks have a composite passer rating of 35.6 for the year.  These are unbelievable, horrible, made-up-by-Stephen-King nightmarish stats.

On the other hand, the Patriots have played weak teams so far, including the Jets, Dolphins, Redskins and Giants.  They also played the Steelers and a hurting Big Ben Roethlisberger; and the Buffalo Bills, who are the only team to have given them a game.

If there is a weakness, it is that they have given up 4.2 yards per carry this season,  and the Browns have Nick Chubb.  Hello, can we put aside Air Freddie for a game and see if we can succeed with short yardage plays?
The Patriots’ opponents have not run the ball much, mainly because they are always behind.  But the Patriots are death through the air.  Good things are not likely via airball.

Still, the Browns are talented enough to win this game, especially with the new revamped offensive line that may make more than one change. We could see Justin McCray and Kendall Lamm come in, and they may give Baker Mayfield enough time to throw.
Can Freddie Kitchens outsmart Bill Belichick at crunch time? His pattern seems to be to call high risk plays in clutch situations, and this will probably backfire against the Browns.  He is still learning, but Belichick is a master at clock management and using his assistants to get the right plays and right personnel groups on the field at the right time.

The Patriots have decided to release former Browns star Josh Gordon, partly because he is injured but also because they traded for Mohamad Sanu but they still have plenty of former Browns on the team — linebacker Jamie Collins is currently graded third-highest among NFL linebackers by Pro Football Focus.  CB Jason McCourty is also graded third highest but at cornerback.

Danny Shelton is ranked 29th among interior lineman.  Ben Watson, who seems like he must be like 50 years old by now (actually he’s only 38), is backing up at tight end.

The Browns will turn it around this year, but it is not going to happen against the Patriots.  If the Browns lose, it does not mean they are a bad team.  The Patriots are just a very good team.

Prediction: New England 24, Cleveland 17

Home/Browns News