Cleveland Browns 2024 Season Outlook!

what's going on everybody welcome back to another page from The Playbook this is Nate bringing to you guys episode two of our In-Depth series where we look at all 32 NFL teams and give you just basically a season outlook for this upcoming year we've got a month until football starts right it is here we had a football game last night doesn't matter but it was a football game that I didn't know the score to and I love that that is so exciting it is almost here cannot wait so we got to start pumping these out to you guys so today's team we're going to talk about the Cleveland Browns before we get into today's video guys I just want to give a special shout out to today's sponsors starting with gold finding blls lawyers for the injured personal injury workers compensation those are their two things but any sort of legal advice they're the people to call give them a phone call 309 673 5144 tell them we sent you okay and I'd also like to shout out SeatGeek for sponsoring today's video as well use promo code Playbook Sports on their website to get $20 off your first purchase of $30 or more it's back to the video so last season Browns fans real quick if you had told me that you guys were going to lose deshun Watson to an injury just in general if you told me yeah we're going to lose to Shan Watson be like oh okay you guys are going to suck that's okay you know you bounce back when he's healthy you'll be just fine but I mean they made the playoffs they won 11 games that was super impressive and it just shows how well constructed that that Cleveland Browns roster truly is which we all know Addison loves that Cleveland Browns roster so with DeShaun Watson coming back right with Watson this year health is this Browns team still a legit Contender not just for playoffs but to make a run in the playoffs to make a Super Bowl run in the playoffs is this roster good enough to do it when they can make a run like they did with flacko last year let's dive into this and see what we got in clev we're going to start where we always start in the coaching talking head coach Kevin stefansky I he's done a fantastic job since he took over the Browns in 2020 including two 11- win Seasons during his tenure that is unheard of guys that's unheard of out of Cleveland you think about before that Cleveland was always the worst they were just always terrible constantly constantly in purgatory so the and I give Kevin stansky a lot of credit for that I know that the GM has built this team and Kevin stefansky deserves credit so does he but I I remember days when Browns won one game in two seasons they went 0 and6 and 1 and 15 in backtack years I mean fans were wearing paper bags to the stadium you're not seeing that anymore in Browns fans this is a new team kind of a new organization and I really like Kevin stansky I I with having flacko in there right just putting Joe flacko in there last year the offense still moved probably even better than it did with deshun Watson honestly the offense was still great and I lead I I like to give credit there for Ste Kevin stefansky without Nick chub without his quarterback he led that team to 11 wins and a great defense defense led by defensive coordinator Jim Schwarz fantastic in his first year as Browns defensive coordinator obviously they've got a ton of Talent on that side of the ball he really did help them kind of put it all together the Browns had the pieces but wasn't totally all put together in 2022 last year though we really saw this defense take a step man and at home they were allowing like what 10 points a game they were unbelievable at home last year the Browns defense was absolutely I mean they on average allowed the fewest yards per game last season that's unbelievable they also brought in Ken dorsy to be the offensive coordinator for this team but we all know Kevin stefans is running the offense there not Ken dorsy I don't really plan on thinking about that a whole lot I really like this coaching staff I think Kevin stefansky a great offensive-minded head coach as he has shown and Jim Schwarz in one year as the DC for the Cleveland Browns looked looked apart he absolutely looked apart so let's dive into this roster starting in their depth chart and we're going to start at QB I really think that it's fair to say just based off of statistics and what we saw last year that Joe flacko was Far and Away the best quarterback on this roster last season old man Joe flacko came in and lit it up he averaged 323 passing yards a game versus deshun Watson's 185 passing yards per game he threw six more touchdowns in Deshawn Watson and he had a higher passer rating He just flat out outplayed DeShaun Watson and he was picked up off of the couch he was at home doing nothing and he came in picked up this offense quick and had it absolutely rolling the Browns didn't bring him back they said nah we're good we're good we're going to go a different route and we're going to bring in jamus Winston to be the backup we'll see how that goes hopefully they don't need him hopefully deshun Watson I mean they're you know that they're hoping and praying that DeShaun Watson returns to 2020 deshun Watson and not whatever form of deshun Watson they've had for the last few seasons I mean if he comes out and doesn't throw doesn't just play better football doesn't play like he did for Houston that that contract and that trade just looks worse and worse and worse for them especially with how good Houston looked last year having knocked the Browns out of the playoffs hopefully you don't need jamus Winston and hopefully desun Watson comes back but I've got my I'm skeptical man we haven't seen Deshawn Watson play good football in four C calendar years so we need to see something from him or else they're going to have to maybe I mean they can't really look for a new quarterback right they have too much guaranteed money on the deal so I'd have to look at spot track and see exactly how much money they can void by releasing him if it comes to that but man you got to see something from Deshawn this year you absolutely have to running back room I cannot wait to see Nick chub get back on the field he is one of if not the best running back in football Just Pure Runner the dude is such a Hos absolute stud hated to see that injury last year that was one where football fans alike all groaned when they saw him get hurt like that because that's just not something we want to see for a player like Nick chub just universally love man I'm sure even I'm sure they hate playing him but I'm sure his Rivals even respect the hell out of him because he is so so good and then we've got Drome Ford backing up again he did well in spells but you don't want to see him we want to see Nick chub wide receiver I think they've got three solid receivers here Amari Cooper has been fantastic really stinks that Dallas picked Michael Gallop over Amari Cooper considering Michael Gallup is now either out of the league I think he just retired either way I mean they picked him over Amari Cooper and Amari Cooper is a Bonafide number one receiver they also brought in Jerry Judy from Denver no he has not quite lived up to that first round billing we were all expecting out of him with his crisp route running and his very sure hands and his way above average athleticism he just hasn't put it all together but let's be totally fair who was really his quarterback where you know in Denver what has he worked with the Russell Wilson who could not play who had Nathaniel Hackett calling plays big mistake and then couldn't work with Shawn pyton they were at odds and ends the whole time so no he hasn't he hasn't played with the high-end quarterback let's just say that I'm interested to see what he can do with the high-end quarterback is that deshaan Watson I don't know but maybe and then Elijah Moore is a decent number three however after these three guys there's really not much there so you cannot afford to lose one of them because there goes a lot of your passing game and God help them if Amari Cooper gets hurt for any amount of time but they've got three solid receivers with low depth not much depth here offensive line no changes up front these boys are are fantastic this offensive line has been great for years this was really their staple for a long time they've got I think that their starting five is one of the best in the NFL if not the best and it feels like it has been for a while and also go look at their offensive or their uh offensive line coach look at that hair people I'm sure I'm posting a picture of him on here how can you not be an amazing unit when this guy's coaching your team I mean come on I love it love it defensively on the defensive side of the ball I do like the addition of zidus Smith who will Rush alongside of Miles Garrett so they've got two solid Edge rushers again coming after the quarterback and Miles Garrett isn't a solid Edge rusher he's the best Edge rusher other than maybe TJ watt I mean you can argue it but miles Garrett is that freaking dude he looks like a superhero in real life he's so so good so good and then they also brought in a couple new linebackers in vet Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush some of those you know I like those moves a lot they've got fantastic depth on this defensive line I mean they've really got six defensive tackles who could see some legit playing time this year and rotate in and out so you keep those guys fresh you have miles Garrett rushing off the edge along with zidus Smith I really like that and then this unit being coached up by Jim Schwarz again I do think it has potential to once again be one of the best defenses in the entire NFL can they win 11 games on the back of that defense is the offense going to step up there weren't a ton of changes to this depth chart right I didn't really have anything notable Jerry Judy really yeah yeah is he the most notable one really they're getting additions by returns from injury bringing back their stud running back Nick chub getting him healthy again sha Watson getting healthy again can he be DeShaun Watson we all know but I don't know we're going to find that out this year and it'll be fun to watch no matter what so will they improve on 11 wins will they reach 11 wins or are they going to regress let's look at their 17 game schedule we're going to start this one out week one they take on the Dallas Cowboys the two seed in the NFC last year Cowboys were so good last year offensively unbelievable even defensively losing Travon Diggs seemed like they really weathered that storm very well they were so good and I think they're going to be a trendy pick week one Dallas to go into Cleveland I'm taking Cleveland in this game you guys know I love Dallas Big Love rooting for Dallas they're my NFC team for sure and I think the Browns shock some of the analyst here and they get the win at home against the great Dallas Cowboys team I like the physicality that the Browns bring and to be fair for Dallas at home Unstoppable minus the playoff game Unstoppable at home on the road they were very iffy very iffy not very great on the road and they're in Cleveland here if deshun Watson comes out and lays an egg all bets are off and it's probably the Cowboys to win this game but if they're healthy if Nick chub is playing in this game and if DeShaun Watson just doesn't make the mistakes that he is prone to make I think the Browns get the win here I think the Browns get kind of a surprising week one victory at home against the Cowboys to move to 1 and0 week two on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars I do have the Browns falling here I think this going to be a really close game I think these are two teams that are absolutely going to be fighting for one of the Wild Card spots I don't think either of them are going to win their division but I think that they will definitely be fighting for a wild card spot I'm going to go with the Home Jacksonville Jaguars to get it done here in a game that is really going to be a close one this one's uh like a coin flip game in my opinion week three they take on the Giants in Cleveland and it's Cleveland all day right it's Cleveland all day to moved to two in one on the year they're just significantly better than the Giants everywhere I don't need to do a whole lot of analysis here guys I'm sorry Giants and Giants fans I don't see anywhere where you can say we're better than them maybe at the edge rusher room but when you have miles Garrett like he's so much better than everybody else doesn't matter I know Brian Burns is there and I know Kon Tibido is there and they're both real so Brian Burns is great fantastic even and Kon Tibido was solid last year but either way that doesn't matter I don't care it's it's Cleveland by a million here Cleveland at home Big Win week four at Las Vegas I don't care where this game is at because the Raiders are not going to be good the Raiders aren't going to be good either I'm sorry Raiders fans if you're watching this one I just don't think you guys are going to be the greatest I I like Gardner mshu I think Gardner minu is fine I don't know about Antonio Pierce's creativity as a head coach I know he's a big players guy and the players all love him but he's not going to whip up something that has the defense surprice he's not going to whip up something on the defensive side of the ball where the offense is like whoa what are they doing he's a grinder kind of a guy who doesn't have the talent to be a grinder kind of the guy they're not there I think in this game Gardner muu gets sacked four or five times holding the ball too long and Cleveland just doesn't let them run the ball zamir white doesn't get anything going averages you know three yards a carry they just can't get anything going on the offensive side of the ball and Cleveland steam rolls them here give me Cleveland to win the game on the road and move to three and one week five they travel to Washington to take on the commanders and I have written here C Giants game they're just better than this team all across the board everywhere you look the Browns are better than Washington I know it's on the road and yeah it's a mobile quarterback and Jaden Daniels that will be something to keep an eye on can Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush contain him well with the QB spy do you move someone like Jeremiah U coroa down and just make him a QB spy because of Daniel's propensity to run the ball we'll see what they do that game but at the end of the day the Washington commanders just don't have the talent on the defensive side of the ball or the offensive side of the ball to keep up with a very good Cleveland Browns team Cleveland 4-1 after 5 weeks pretty good start week six another great game here between two of the more physical teams in the entire NFL as Cleveland travels to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles the the fact that this game's in Philadelphia once again leads me to go with the home team here at when it's teams that are so similar in how they play and in how they like to dominate The Trenches and they want to just be the more physical team up front I like to go with the home team I don't think this has anything to do with the officials not in this one I I do think this will be a good game I think the Philly offensive line can hold up against the Browns defensive line and then you've got AJ Brown and Devon Smith two guys that are hard to cover for too long Dallas Gard they brought in saquan Barkley I mean the Eagles are loaded man they are absolutely loaded I'm not even talking about their defense which is loaded as well I think the Eagles are going to bounce back this year in a big way and I think that starts with the win at home against the Browns if this game's in Cleveland I'm taking Cleveland but it's in Philadelphia I'm going Philly here week seven they host the Cincinnati bank angles and later on in this series we are going to have a very serious conversation about Cincinnati and what their season may or may not look like but the short of it here the you know Spark Notes Spark Notes version is their offensive line is the key to their entire season and if their offensive line I mean they have to prove to be competent before I'm even willing to give their offensive line the benefit of the doubt I mean we're seeing practice stuff already where three defense three of the five def three of the four defensive linemen are getting right through the five offensive linemen like it is nothing that is a problem Cincinnati is time to figure out that offensive line man and again I'll get more into that later I think Cleveland's defensive line is one of the best in football when you just look at who they have out there and I don't think that Cincinnati's offensive line can hold up in this one and it's in Cleveland where Cleveland's defense was unbelievable last year I think this is I think if you Joe bur in for a long day here and he's going to be closing his eyes and praying that he gets through this game because they're going to tee off on him I'm afraid so I'm going with Cleveland at home against the Cincinnati Bengals to move to 5-2 on the year week eight Cleveland stays at home to take on the Baltimore Ravens I'm giving him another win here I'm giving Cleveland a victory in this game I think Baltimore is the best team in this division uh until proven otherwise but going into Cleveland very very hard they always play the Ravens tough even last year when Deshawn wasn't playing well his best game came against the Baltimore Ravens when they won what like 35 33 he absolutely bowled out I think this is an a classic AFC North slugfest game in Cleveland give me the home team to win this one in an ugly like 13 to 10 or 174 game and I'm going to take the home team here and kind of cop out a little bit week nine against the Chargers another home game for Cleveland again Cleveland at home is just a different animal man I don't see how the Chargers score on them I don't see how I you you guys tell me how how how are they going to do it how's that offensive line going to hold up against this Cleveland defensive line how are those receivers going to get open against Cleveland secondary which is really good who's Chargers number one receiver is it lad makoni he's not gonna beat Denzel Ward he's just not they aren't going to be able to move the ball Herbert is already hurt it is August 2nd and Justin Herbert already has a foot injury yes he'll probably be okay for the regular season but is that going to linger and if they start out slow do they shut him down I don't know I do not see how the Char I might eat a ton of crow because I'm going to say this anytime I see the Chargers I don't know how they're going to play I don't know how they're going to score points I don't know how they're going to defend anybody either I'm just not high on them uh I if it's Cleveland here for sure for me especially at home moving to seven and two going into the week 10 buy smack dab in the middle of the season love this by week they've played nine games they've got eight more games to go I absolutely love that time for a bye week 11 they go to New Orleans I think this is a trap game I think this is a game where you're like oh Saints suck Derek Carr not worried about them I mean they're old they're not very good they're constantly in Capell there's no way this team's any good I think it's a trap game because you've got a long winning streak you're coming off of a couple emotional victories at home against Cincinnati and Baltimore you just had a byee that was just in time to cool you down just in time to lose your momentum and completely stop it then you go Walton in New Orleans with one eye on next week's game against Pittsburgh and you get let down I think this is a game that the Browns should not lose but I think that they do I think this is the perfect kind of trap let down sort of game and I think they lose it and fall to seven and three on the year still obviously in great shape Browns fans week 12 against Pittsburgh fortunately for the Browns and their I think they bounce back here and I think that they get the home victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game where these two teams are so similar I said it a ton in the Steelers video too if you guys haven't seen that one make sure you go check it out I think these teams are just so similar and when teams are so so similar I typically like to lead with the home team and the Browns defense I have said it so many times I'm going to continue to say it the Browns defense at home last year and I'm basing this off of some last year obviously their defense was impeccable at home I don't see how the Steelers get it done on the road here and a hostile environment like Cleveland so I'm going with the Browns moving them to eight and three on the Year great year so far and then week 13 they get another pretty good one here at Denver I don't care this game's in Denver don't care where this game is uh Browns are just too physical a team too good of a team I will say Denver is built building a pretty good offensive line if you haven't noticed they've got some good pieces on the offensive line but I don't like Bon knck you think I trust bcks against Cleveland's defense yeah he gets hit by Miles Garrett one time and he's going to get rid of the ball so fast it's going to be check down City cuz he's going to be terrified to take that hit again I don't see any way Denver gets this done and that their quarterback situation bad roster not terrible but quarterback situation is a huge problem and it's a rookie I'm I'm going I'm going with Cleveland here moving them to nine and three on the year week 14 against Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh again like I just said similar to week 12 two weeks ago I two teams very similar they hate each other they're Rivals give me the home team I'm going to move him to 9 for week 15 they take on the Kansas City Chiefs at home it's going to be a very good game but I do think it's a tough draw to take on the Chiefs late in the season because this is when they actually start trying and actually play football I can't pick against the Chiefs here I think this game is going to be a very good football game though this is going to be one that comes down to the wire and it's like a field goal from buter to win it for the Chiefs I think the Browns absolutely hang tough with them the entire game I could see this one going to overtime truthfully I think this is a great game ultimately Kansas City pulls it out moving the Browns to 9 and5 week 16 they travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals and I think that again I hate doing this right I hate doing it because I don't want to just take the home team every time it's a divisional match up but at the same time Cincinnati if they're completely healthy at this point in the season I don't see how they lose at home to Cleveland Cleveland's defense fantastic at home very suspect on the road and again I'm assuming health I'm not here to predict injuries but assuming Health they're going to move I think Cincinnati is going to be able to move the ball well I think Cleveland will have a little bit harder time moving the ball in this game at Cincinnati so I'm going with the home Bengals here moving them moving the Browns to N9 and six on the Year little bit of a losing streak here three games in a row not what you want to see week 17 they take on your Miami Dolphins in Cleveland and guys I love doing doing this like I know there we we're still a newer Channel we're still trying to grow I really enjoy doing these things and talking football with you guys and going over these things but sometimes I really hate having to do it because I've got to put aside my fandom and be objective I've got to be truthful about these things I can't be a home and say yeah Dolphins 17 and0 easy easy money the Dolphins at this point will likely be sitting in week 17 about 10 11 wins in my opinion that's probably where they'll be playing for you know maybe the one seed more likely two or three seed and just getting into the playoffs is what I would like just get in again and in Cleveland in the dead of winter against a physical team like Cleveland this is a nightmare match up for Miami a ma a nightmare matchup it's going to be freezing cold outside and we are not nearly as physical as Cleveland is AFC North games in the dead of winter for a South Florida team is a recipe for disaster see the Baltimore Ravens game last year giving the Browns a victory here moving the Browns to 10 and six with a huge game coming up in week 18 as the Browns are fighting for their playoff lives looking to sneak in as a wild card team and they get a tough draw at Baltimore who are fighting for the one seed at this point in the season and this could very well decide the division depending on how well the Bengals are doing and the Ravens are doing CU I think they're both going to be better than the Steelers and the Browns are probably too far back at this point to go for the one seed or uh to win the division I taking the home Ravens in this spot the Ravens have the experience of winning big games like this Cleveland doesn't I know the Ravens haven't exactly been to a Super Bowl in a long time and really done anything for me to say that because they lost in the playoffs last year to the Chiefs like everyone did I mean if the Ravens have already clinched the division and can't get the one seed or are locked into the one seed then Cleveland wins this game in a blowout because they will try and Ravens won't have to if the Ravens are fighting for anything here I think the Ravens win this game at home and also you don't want to go into the playoffs off of a loss at home to a rival that's just bad juju you don't want that so I'm going to give the Ravens the win here and assuming that the Ravens aren't fighting aren't like resting right we don't want if the Ravens are resting players then all bets are off Cleveland's going to win this football game but if this is mono andano both teams need to win I like the Ravens in this spot at home to have the Browns finishing at 10 and seven on the year so yes maybe a slight step back they got a pretty tough schedule they've got some tough games in here but I still think this is a very good team that you're not going to want to come up against in the first round of the playoffs they're going to be an impossible out as a wild card team at 10 and seven I do think 10 and seven gets him into the dance as either a six or a seven seed and no division winner is going to want that as their first matchup because Cleveland is going to come in and they're going to fight tooth and nail this defense is so legit and if deshun Watson just wants to play even average Quarterback that's all just average Quarterback this team is going to be a tough out I don't know if I can consider them a premier AFC team and a team that you're like oh yeah I like them as a pick to win the AFC and represent the AFC in the Super Bowl but who knows I guess that's why they play the games right so that's all I've got for you guys on today's in-depth breakdown on the 2024 Cleveland Browns if you like the video make sure you like the video it does so many great things for our Channel if you're not already subscribed just hit that subscribe button cost you nothing takes two seconds out of your day we really appreciate it it helps us out more than you guys know so that's all we've got and we will see you guys in the next in-depth breakdown for the 2024 NFL season [Music]