Season Preview
Posted: Mon Jul 7, 2008 5:27 pm
http://football.realgm.com/src_teamarticle/365/20080703/2008_season_preview_cleveland_browns/
From the piece:
Bellwether Games: Cleveland plays just two games all season outside their division against sub-.500 teams from 2007 (DEN and @BUF), so taking care of business inside the AFC North is critical. Week 2-4 all feature division rivals, starting at home against the Steelers, then on the road at BAL and CIN. If the Browns are going to achieve their lofty goals, they need to win at least 2 of those 3 games. Win all 3, and they basically seize the division; drop more than one, and they’ll likely need help to make the playoffs.
Prediction: The Browns are clearly improved, but the non-divisional schedule is brutal, and this team still has some questions. So long as all the key parts stay relatively healthy, put the Browns down for 6-4 out of division and 4-2 in the weakened AFC North. That would be a 10-6 finish and an AFC North division title. This team is going to need a lot of luck and great execution to win a playoff game from IND, NE, SD, or JAX, but the potential to make the AFC title game is certainly there.
From the piece:
Bellwether Games: Cleveland plays just two games all season outside their division against sub-.500 teams from 2007 (DEN and @BUF), so taking care of business inside the AFC North is critical. Week 2-4 all feature division rivals, starting at home against the Steelers, then on the road at BAL and CIN. If the Browns are going to achieve their lofty goals, they need to win at least 2 of those 3 games. Win all 3, and they basically seize the division; drop more than one, and they’ll likely need help to make the playoffs.
Prediction: The Browns are clearly improved, but the non-divisional schedule is brutal, and this team still has some questions. So long as all the key parts stay relatively healthy, put the Browns down for 6-4 out of division and 4-2 in the weakened AFC North. That would be a 10-6 finish and an AFC North division title. This team is going to need a lot of luck and great execution to win a playoff game from IND, NE, SD, or JAX, but the potential to make the AFC title game is certainly there.