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Cleveland Browns Week 12 score predictions: Going for the hat trick

By Randy Gurzi

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 14: Wide receiver Odell Beckham #13 of the Cleveland Browns stands on the sidelines before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 14: Wide receiver Odell Beckham #13 of the Cleveland Browns stands on the sidelines before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OHIO – NOVEMBER 14: Running back Nick Chubb #24 of the Cleveland Browns finds a hole in the line during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Steelers 21-7. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – NOVEMBER 14: Running back Nick Chubb #24 of the Cleveland Browns finds a hole in the line during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Steelers 21-7. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Writer: Elliot Kennel

Game: Miami Dolphins (2-8) at Cleveland Browns (4-6)

Summary: The Dolphins should be given a puncher’s chance, but since they have fins instead of arms, it probably will not work out for them.

The Fish are tanking, just as the Browns did with Sashi Brown.

They have gouged the team much more blatantly than Sashi Brown ever did. They traded left tackle Laremy Tunsil, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and running back Kenyan Drake. They will have three first-round picks in 2020 plus two number twos, a number three and seven picks on Day 3. This strategy will work, and we may see Miami start to win some games in 2020 or 2021. But you know what? It is not 2020 yet and for now, they will look like Fish flopping out of the water.

They are a team that is unable to stop the run, having given up 1,483 yards on the ground. That’s second-worst in the NFL, behind only Cincinnati, and it just is not good against the likes of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. They’re ranked 19th in the league in terms of passing yards and opposing quarterbacks are rated 105.6, meaning that every quarterback that faces them looks like Aaron Rodgers.

The major hope they have for an upset is the accurate passing arm of Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fans falsely believe that it is impossible to win games without a glamorous quarterback, and hate the “game manager” guys, but old stodgy Fitzpatrick has enough head smarts to take apart a weak defensive game plan.

Cleveland will have to play defense without Myles Garrett which is going to set them back significantly. With Olivier Vernon coming back it is up to Chad Thomas, Bryan Cox, Jr., and Chris Smith to find a way to drain the pond.

Of course, there will be concerns about a psychological letdown after their massive fight with Pittsburgh. But the play calls of Freddie Kitchens are much more concerning. With Jarvis Landry playing against his former team, Kitchens will not be able to resist the temptation to call trick plays for number 80. But of course, Miami will be expecting it, blow it up and probably get some points they do not really deserve.

Prediction: Cleveland 31, Miami 27

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