Cleveland Browns schedule prediction post Deshaun Watson settlement

With the NFL and Deshaun Watson reaching a settlement let’s look at how the Cleveland Browns season could play out with an 11-game suspension.

On Wednesday the NFL announced that they had come to a settlement agreement with Deshaun Watson’s team on an 11-game suspension with a 5 million dollar fine. With the final discipline finally settled upon it’s time to forecast the Cleveland Browns 2022 season game by game.

Cleveland Browns schedule prediction

Week 1 at Carolina Panthers: Win (1-0)

The Browns will travel down to Carolina to play a familiar foe in quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Panthers in Week 1. Mayfield is a massive upgrade for the Panthers at quarterback but I still don’t think that offensive line is good. Cleveland knows Mayfield and his tendencies well, and the defensive line has a great matchup to make Mayfield’s Panthers debut a long day.

In the end, the Browns’ run game and defense will be far too much for the Panthers to handle. Though this game may be closer than some want to admit, Jacoby Brissett will be able to make enough plays and not turn the ball over resulting in the Browns’ first week one win in ages.

Week 2 vs New York Jets: Win (2-0)

The New York Jets are a vastly improved team and later in the year, I think they will cause some problems for teams trying to make the playoffs. However, I don’t think Zach Wilson or Joe Flacco is good enough to outplay the Browns’ defensive backfield.

This team is full of young talent and as they get the experience I think they will get better but in Week 2 they will struggle. It won’t be easy, the NFL almost never is, but the run game will slowly wear down the Jets’ defense, and the Jets’ offensive line will be tired late facing these Browns’ pass rushers.