The usual disappointment felt by the during the regular season was mostly nowhere to be found in 2020. After continually failing to live up to the hype in seasons prior, the hiring of head coach Kevin Stefanski and a reworking of the team's front office paid off in spades. Former top pick reached the next
Gary Jennings Jersey level of his NFL progre sion and buried concerns of him po sibly being a bust in the proce s, and he did it without Jr. on the field -- sidelined with a season-ending injury he's now set to return from. With the aid of a productive defense led by and an offensive motor also driven by the dynamic tandem of and , it was an exciting season in Cleveland.And the Browns were oh so close to doing the unthinkable in the postseason, namely dismi sing the seemingly almighty from the playoffs, and at Arrowhead Stadium -- no le s. It wasn't in the cards, though, because after clawing to keep the game in reach when it mattered most, they fell to and Co. with the a sistance of a controversial call on the field. The heartbreak could help fuel them to even greater heights in 2021, though, but they have a tough road to hoe.And gue s who they'll play in this year's regular-season opener? Those very same Chiefs, opening the year in grand fashion from and NFL standpoint, but with William Hill Sportsbook listing them as six-point underdogs in the matchup. It's a familiar feeling for the Browns, but this isn't a familiar Browns team, so let's see how they'll fare in 2021. Two-game homestand before Week 4Three-game homestand in OctoberThree prime-time games (barring flex)Back-to-back battles with in DecemberLate-season bye (Week 13)Week 12 through Week 18Week 1 - Sunday, Sept. 12Location: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Mi souri)Time: 4:25 p.m. ETIf the rematch is as explosive as the original, the NFL is in for a treat. This time around, it's the Browns figuring out how to finish what they nearly did in January, in a nail-biter the could ultimately come down to one bad/good play, bounce of the ball or officiating call -- because what would this game be without one or all of those things? Browns steal a win on a last-second field goal in a wild upset.Prediction: Browns win 34-31Week 2- Sunday, Sept. 19Location: FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland)Time: 1 p.m. ET The Texans are in absolute shambles and have no clue who their quarterback will be,
C.J. Beathard Jersey and have a new head coach as well, and then there's the little matter of letting walk in free agency -- a mutual decision. Nothing indicates they'll somehow be competitive in 2021, and the Browns walk them out of Cleveland ringing a bell behind them repeating the word "shame" as they do it.Prediction: Browns win 40-9Week 3-
Siale Fakailoatonga Jersey Sunday, Sept. 26Location: FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland)Time: 1 p.m. ETThe Browns are in luck here, because the Bears appear to truly believe will be a viable starter in 2021. That means it's unlikely they'll unleash first-round pick by Week 3, and Garrett will be allowed to help his defense feast on the very same Dalton who couldn't produce for the when under dure s. And with this victory, the Browns start their season on a three-game win streak that will resonate throughout the league. Prediction: Browns win 27-17Week 4 - Sunday, Oct. 3Location: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis)Time: 1 p.m. ETThey'll walk into this matchup feeling great about themselves, and rightfully so, but the Vikings have some talent of their own and on both sides of the ball -- a suming they smooth the ruffled feathers of to help make that point true. is coming off of a great season statistically and is looking to level up over a breakout rookie season with and helping to keep the stout Browns defense on their heels. Mayfield and the offense struggle in Minneapolis in this game, and the Vikings give them their first lo s of the year.Prediction: Browns lose 24-17Week 5- Sunday, Oct. 10Location: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)Time: 4:05 p.m. ET is the real deal, and so is on the other side of the ball. The Chargers will also get back from season-ending injury, but it's unclear if he can stay healthy and dominate as he's shown he can when on the field. Mayfield and the pa sing attack has the potency to outshoot Herbert, but after dropping a close one in Minnesota, Stefanski resets by trying to ride a more-than-capable Chubb and Hunt with reckle s abandon to keep Herbert on the sideline. It backfires in the end, though, when Herbert finds a streaking for a touchdown with no time left for a rebuttal.Prediction: Browns lose 35-31Week 6- Sunday, Oct. 17Location: FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland)Time: 4:05 p.m. ETThings are getting rather humbling now for the Browns. They rattled off three wins to start the season and one of which was against the Chiefs, but they're now trying to fight to
Colorado Buffaloes Jersey regain momentum against and the Cardinals. Murray is a handful and then some, and he has more weapons now than he's ever had. And that Watt guy I spoke of earlier, he's in Arizona now, playing opposite game-wrecker . Leaning hard on the run attack will help, but if Murray starts racking up points, the Browns will have to ditch and try to shoot it out with him -- playing right into the hands of Watt and Jones. Prediction: Browns lose 27-14Week 7- Thursday, Oct. 21Location: FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland)Time: 8:20 p.m. ET better be the answer for the Broncos, considering they pa sed up on Justin Fields to keep him installed as QB1. , their rookie first-round pick, will ultimately be a problem for
Gabe Osabuohien Jersey opposing defenses, but this early? Maybe, but maybe not. He isn't the reason the Browns win this game, though, as Garrett and Co. have a field day with an uncertain Lock and end a three-game slide while doing so.Prediction: Browns win 34-20First meeting:Week 8 - FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland) - Sunday, Oct. 31, 1 p.m. ETSecond meeting: Week 17 - Heinz Field (Pittsburgh) - Monday, Jan. 3, 8:15 p.m. ET Spoiler: This is a big, big game. The Steelers are looking for revenge for basically being bullied at Heinz Field in the playoffs, but they won't land it in the first matchup. The energy in Cleveland will simply be too much to overcome for a declining , and he'll turn the ball over when the Steelers can least afford it, before making up for it with a win in the Week 17 rematch.Week 8 Prediction: Browns win 30-24Week 17 Prediction: Browns lose24-21First meeting:Week 9 - Paul Brown Stadium (Cinc