The Cleveland Browns have been highly disappointing at 2-4 entering the bye week but how will they fare after the break? Game-by-game predictions post-bye.
Many people were expecting Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns to be the toast of the NFL in the 2019 season. With the additions of Odell Beckham Jr. and Olivier Vernon, among others, the Browns were expected to make a big leap. But as they enter their Week 7 bye, the Browns have fallen immensely short of expectations, posting just two wins to their four losses on the year.
Mayfield has been a big part of the problem, already having thrown 11 interceptions and struggling behind a poor offensive line. And while Myles Garrett and the defense have flashed big time, injuries have taken the defense off of their course. Perhaps the only consistent part of this team through six weeks has been running back Nick Chubb, who’s been great for the Browns.
Having said that, the Browns remain one of the most talented teams on paper in the NFL. And if head coach Freddie Kitchens is able to build off of some good things that they’ve seen early on with the week off, Cleveland could still make a run as they face a soft schedule in the second half of the season.
Taking that into account, let’s make game-by-game predictions for the Cleveland Browns coming off of their bye week.
Week 8: at Patriots
Coming into the 2019 season, this was one of the games that NFL fans were circling on the schedule. By preseason projections, the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots were going to be two of the leading contenders in the AFC to make it to Super Bowl LIV. With the way that the Browns have struggled, though, the luster has worn off a bit.
Off of the bye week, though, Cleveland has a chance to make a statement. They showed noted improvement against the Seahawks in Week 6 and can build off of that, even if it was in a losing effort. They likely don’t have the juice yet to get past the Patriots elite defense to win but they will acquit themselves well in a hard-fought loss in Foxborough.
Prediction: Loss