The Cleveland Browns will head to Charlotte to play the Carolina Panthers in Week 1 of the 2022 season. Here are 5 bold predictions for the opener.
The Cleveland Browns season kicks off in a few days against the Carolina Panthers. The big story of this Week 1 battle is that Carolina’s starting quarterback is none other than Baker Mayfield.
The Browns also have a new starter under center in Jacoby Brissett and a new wide receiver too in Amari Cooper so these additions should be intriguing as well to see how they handle the first game.
While many things could happen, we’ll try our hand at guessing a few bold predictions that would certainly help Cleveland post their first opening game victory in a very long time.
5 Cleveland Browns Bold Predictions for Week 1
5. Browns win Week 1 for the first time since 2004
Let’s begin with the one prediction that would make everyone the happiest. It’s something this team hasn’t done since 2004. Cleveland hasn’t won an opening game since then and it’s really an awful record that needs to end now.
This year, they have a Carolina Panthers team standing in front of them. The Panthers also have Mayfield under center, looking for his revenge game. He’s even produced a t-shirt for the first meeting.
Oddsmakers are predicting a loss for the Browns as they’re 2.5-point underdogs against the home team. Outside of Mayfield, the Panthers have an All-Pro at running back and Cleveland is suspect against the run, which may be the reason for the odds.
However, the Browns have a defense ready to take advantage of all the knowledge they have on Mayfield’s tendencies. They also have the best running back duo in the league with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt ready to wreck the Panthers’ defense. In addition, they’ve brought in an All-Pro wide receiver Amari Cooper, who’s ready to roll and help his new team to a win.
Cleveland also has a very reliable game-managing quarterback in Jacoby Brissett, who can get the offense moving in the right direction. It’s never easy for the boys in orange and brown, but they have all the things they’ll need to win the game.
4. Browns defense ruins Mayfield’s revenge game
This past week has been another typical controversial week from Baker Mayfield. Cleveland’s former signal-caller denied saying a few choice words about the upcoming game and then he started promoting his departure from his old squad by selling “off the leash” t-shirts. Again, it seems as though Mayfield needs to create such noise to get himself fired up for games.
This is a big meeting for both teams and many are predicting Mayfield is going to beat his former team. However, the Browns have several advantages on defense. That includes defensive end Myles Garrett, who’s ready for another record-setting season. He had 16.5 sacks a season ago and he will look to get an early start against Mayfield.
The Browns secondary wants to start the season well and they have a talented group back there that can have a great game against their former teammate. Cornerbacks Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, and newly drafted Martin Emerson will be ready for those targeted throws Mayfield likes to throw when he locks in on a particular player.
Mayfield has had issues with throwing interceptions, especially last season when he threw 13 of them. What a better way for Cleveland to get off on the right foot by getting an early interception or two.
3. Amari Cooper goes for 125 yards
Cooper was traded to the Browns back this past offseason and we now will get to finally see him on the field after he didn’t play in any of the preseason games. Hopefully, this will be a big boost to the offense this season. Cooper brings a wealth of experience and several All-Pro seasons with him.
He’s been described by many as letting his game do the talking unlike some NFL players out there. Let’s hope his play on Sunday speaks volumes to where his new team is headed this season. He’s amassed 7,076 yards receiving and 46 touchdowns in his eight NFL seasons. He’s registered 25 games of more than100 yards in individual games that have included three where he went for over 200 yards receiving.
The opportunities that Cooper will be able to provide for his team this season are enormous. He’s the new leader of the wide receiver room. There hasn’t been much discussion to this point of Cooper’s value to this team, but it could be the one area that could be a difference maker in wins and losses.
I expect in this first game against the Panthers, Cooper will have a big impact. Last season, when Cooper was still a Dallas Cowboy, he caught 13 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns. The Cowboys lost 31-29, but Cooper was very involved in the game.
Brissett should be able to involve Cooper early and often in this game on Sunday. I’ll predict eight catches for 125 yards and one touchdown for the receiver in the Browns first win of the season.
2. Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt combine for 200 yards of offense
The best part of the Cleveland offense is their reliable run game. They have some new faces at quarterback and wide receiver but having Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt back and healthy this season is a huge factor.
Hunt was especially missed last season as he was absent from nine games a year ago. D’Ernest Johnson did a great job in his absence and Chubb continues to show out but Hunt just brings a different energy and can turn the tide in the blink of an eye.
I expect Chubb to get 15 to 20 carries in this first game and him to plow over 100 yards rushing in the game. He has a career 5.3 yards a carry average and 83 yards a game average over his first four seasons.
Hunt will get probably get eight to 12 carries in the contest, but he’ll also be used as a receiver which is a huge advantage the Browns have due to his prowess in the passing game. I see Hunt going for 50 to 60 yards on the ground and then another 50 through those patented screen passes.
If these two stars can get off to a fast start, then the Panthers will not have a chance on Sunday.
1. Anthony Schwartz catches a touchdown pass
This prediction is obviously the boldest for many reasons. We’ve all witnessed Anthony Schwartz having his struggles catching even a singular pass during the preseason. Many of us have started to call for him to be cut by the team and yet here we are, and Schwartz will likely get his moments on Sunday.
A year ago, Mayfield hit Schwartz on a deep pass in the opening moments of their game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Why not start this game with a bang too? Let’s see if Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski takes that chance and has Brissett look to stretch the field early. Schwartz only had one touchdown last season and that was on a five-yard pass against the Green Bay Packers on Christmas.
In that Chiefs game from a season ago he had three receptions and finished the season with 10 catches. The Browns seem hell-bent on making this Schwartz experiment work, so let’s see him get the first touchdown of his sophomore campaign in Week 1 against Carolina.
It certainly would be big news if he did, and the team would be off and running in the right direction too.
With all these bold predictions, there’s always a lot of chance at play but that’s what makes these takes all the more fun to guess. However, should all these come to fruition, it could be a great start to the 2022 season for Cleveland.