Last year, the Cleveland Browns somehow made the NFL playoffs in 2023. The number of factors that the team overcame are part of the reason that GM Andrew Berry and HC Kevin Stefanski got contract extensions this offseason.
A non-exhaustive list of injuries and problems the Browns overcame last season:
- Jack Conklin and Nick Chubb missing almost the entire season
- Deshaun Watson missing over half of the season
- Jedrick Wills and Dawand Jones finishing the year on injured reserve
- Five starting quarterbacks
- The worst completion percentage in the NFL
- Joe Flacco, while exciting, throwing eight interceptions in five regular season games
- Dustin Hopkins missing the last two games of the regular season and the playoff game
- Anthony Walker Jr. missing a total of six games including the last five with the playoffs
Despite all of that and more, Cleveland still found their way to the playoffs.
With Watson returning, most of the offseason predictions have been focused on the negatives around the team which is why USA Today’s Touchdown Wire’s Browns 2024 prediction stood out:
Nick Chubb is going to be able to carry this offense to respectability, and their two star edge rushers are going to continue to lift up a fantastic defense. If Watson can experience a revival, this will be one of the best teams in the league.
Record prediction: 11-6
Interestingly among the AFC North, the site has the Baltimore Ravens with the same predicted record while the Cincinnati Bengals are expected to be one game better. (The Pittsburgh Steelers write-up is not published yet.)
What do you think of the 11-6 prediction for the Browns?
Share your thoughts below in the comment section including thoughts on three AFC North teams winning double-digit games again this year