4 Bold Browns predictions: Deshaun Watson continues to progress against Ravens

The Cleveland Browns are coming off a lopsided 27-0 win over the Arizona Cardinals. They were able to take it to a team with just one win but don’t expect them to apologize for taking care of who was on the schedule. 

Instead, look for them to try and build upon the success they had against the Cards. They’ll need to do exactly that if they plan on knocking off the Baltimore Ravens, who are the top team in the AFC North.

Cleveland knows this is a huge game and they also know they have the talent to come away with a win. That victory could be even more likely should these three bold predictions come true.

4. James Proche II scores a TD against his old team

One of the surprises for Cleveland in Week 9 was seeing how quick James Proche II was. A former sixth-round pick out of SMU, Proche spent the first three seasons of his career in Baltimore.

This year, he signed with the Browns practice squad ahead of the Week 9 meeting with Arizona as they looked to replace Donovan Peoples-Jones. He wound up doing that as he not only wore his old number but took over punt return duties. He finished with 55 yards and had a long of 17, but it could have been more. Proche also had a 20 and 16-yard return negated by penalties.

After his performance, Proche was signed to the active roster and should be the return man once again. In this first bold prediction, he takes one back to the house, making his old team regret letting him walk.

3. Cleveland manages 150 yards on the ground

As has often been the case with this franchise, the Baltimore Ravens have been very stingy on defense, entering Week 10 ranked second in passing yards surrendered and eighth in rushing. They were even able to hold the Browns to just 73 yards through the air and 93 on the ground in their Week 4 win.

Of course, Cleveland was at a major disadvantage in that one with Deshaun Watson missing the game while Dorian Thompson-Robinson made his first NFL start. DTR had three interceptions and managed just 121 yards on 19-of-36 passing. Truthfully, Baltimore dared him to pass and he was unable to make them pay.

The rookie was benched after the performance and P.J. Walker took over until Watson returned from his shoulder injury. Walker was better but not by much, but that doesn't matter in this one.

With Watson back under center, the Ravens are going to have to respect Cleveland’s passing attack. That focus will open things up for the running backs as they gain at least 150 yards in Week 10. Hopefully, some of that comes from Pierre Strong, who really needs to see the field more — especially since he had 49 yards on just five attempts against Baltimore back in Week 4.

2. Browns defense records 5 sacks

In their last meeting back in Week 4, the Browns were able to get pressure on Lamar Jackson as they sacked the Ravens quarterback three times. Both Myles Garrett and Ogbo Okoronkwo had a full sack while Jordan Elliott and Dalvin Tomlinson each had a half-sack.

It wasn’t enough to stop the Baltimore offense who walked away with a 28-3 win but it showed they know how to get after the electric Jackson.

Coming into this one, Cleveland’s defense has more confidence than ever. Not only did they hold Clayton Tune and the Arizona Cardinals to just 58 yards total but they also sacked the rookie seven times — with Tomlinson leading the way with three of his own. They even saw Za’Darius Smith record his second sack of the year, perhaps opening the floodgates for even more from him.

There will be those who shrug off the performance since it was against a player making his first career start but again, they won’t apologize for who was on their schedule.

Cleveland had a huge advantage in that one and they capitalized on it. Now, they look to ride that momentum and again get after Jackson. In this bold prediction, they’re able to do this as they sack him five times.

1. Deshaun Watson has 3 TDs, no picks

The Browns offense started out slow against the Arizona Cardinals and Deshaun Watson was part of the reason for this. In his second attempt to return from a strained rotator cuff, Watson was low on several passes and seemed generally rusty.

As the game went on, he started to put it together. He hit Amari Cooper on a deep shot that went for 59 yards late in the first half. 

That clearly helped him find his confidence because he was hitting his passes in stride for the entire second half. He finished 19-of-30 for 216 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers.

His performance was exactly what the Browns needed to see with this showdown in Baltimore on the schedule. Watson has the talent to beat this team but he also needs to believe he can do it — and the rest of the offense needs to believe he can as well.

With some solid film to study and build on heading into Week 10, look for Watson to come out in this one looking like the player we saw in the final 30 minutes last week. 

This final bold prediction is that his confidence from the Week 9 outing leads to him throwing three touchdowns while again having no turnovers against the Browns most fearsome rival.

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