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

Writer: Mike Lukas

Think back, Browns fans – this ever happen to you in high school?

You fight a kid you hate in 9th-period study hall and you get punished but he gets away with it. Then you vow to meet each other in the playground after school to finish what got started.

But first you have to sit through an entire 10th-period poetry class that’s a blow-off but there’s a quiz. And you NEED to pass that stupid quiz but the whole time you’re just distracted, stewing on how it’s not fair that YOU’RE the only one who got in trouble when HE started it. And on how you’re gonna totally kick that kid’s stupid arse.

That’s EXACTLY (well, metaphorically) what the Browns must be going through right now.

For those of you who blew off poetry class, here’s a helpful Metaphor Breakdown:

• The fight = Myles Garrett vs Mason Rudolph in Week 11
• Week 12 Miami Dolphins game = the poetry class
• The poetry quiz = the final score of the Miami game
• That ‘kid’ you hate = the Pittsburgh Steelers, especially Rudolph
• The playground fight after school = next week when the Cleveland Browns face them at Heinz Field

Imagine being a fired up Browns player and trying to get through this “easy” quiz against the Dolphins when all you really want to do is imagine how the Week 13 Browns/Steelers showdown you’re about to take part in is going shake out.

Will helmets stay on? Will cheap shots be taken? Slurs be spoken?
Will a Browns player somehow scribble “Myles” on Rudolph’s expansive forehead using his own black under-eye paint?

All those questions and more will be answered in Week 13, but first, class, take out a slip of paper and get ready for your Week 12 quiz on the Miami Dolphins. Gulp.

Should be an easy win – right now the Browns are better than the Dolphins in every single aspect of the game, top to bottom, including uniform colors. Still, Cleveland needs to ace this one if they expect to sneak their way through the postseason back door.

The Miami game plan is easy – stay on the field longer than them by running the ball and making first downs without committing penalties. Then hit them with the deep ball.

The players just need to execute that plan – be professional, focus on this win only.

Hard to do with that afterschool fight on your mind, but that’s the job here. My prediction is the Browns take care of business and do their job.

They’ll handle the Steelers when the time comes. Gulp.

Score Prediction: Browns 31, Dolphins 6