PFF projects more wins for Cleveland Browns in 2017, but not many more
Analytics website Pro Football Focus believes the Cleveland Browns will improve in 2017, but only by three wins in 2017.
Adding three wins to the previous year’s win total would be welcomed news by a lot of NFL teams, that is unless your the Cleveland Browns, and you won one stinking game last year.
Pro Football Focus, the analytics website believed by some to be the “Browns Bible” believes the team will improve enough to win three more games this season, but the orange helmets will still be in contention for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Browns received praise for what many experts consider to be a strong draft class last May, but with such a young roster, PFF doesn’t believe Cleveland is ready to win and compete for playoffs just yet.
"The Browns spent the last few months assembling one of the best offensive lines on paper, adding the best player in the draft in Myles Garrett, and acquiring new starters at multiple positions. Garrett had 50 pressures when lined up on the defenses right side at Texas A&M last year, which was fourth-most for FBS defensive ends. Everything points to things going in the right direction, but with so many new players who lack chemistry together yet, it might not be until 2018 that they can fight for the division or a wild card spot."
I’ve played the schedule game and believe the Browns are capable of pulling of six wins next season, but four wouldn’t be surprising either.
Really, what it comes down to–as it always does–is the quarterback play. Remember, nobody saw Dak Prescott coming on with the Cowboys at this time last year. It’s wishful thinking to harbor the belief DeShone Kizer could pull off the same kind of heroics, but the point is, you never know.
Heck, maybe Brock Osweiler somehow gets a start and flourishes under Hue Jackson.
Brock won eight games as a starter last year with Texans. Cleveland’s defense isn’t that good, but it should be an improved unit. There’s no reason to believe Osweiler couldn’t win more than four with the Browns.
Throughout the rest of the Division, PFF believes the Steelers are the team to beat in the AFC North, who are projected to go 11-5 behind a big season from Ben Roethisberger who should greatly benefit from the return of Martavius Bryant.
Cincinnati is projected to finish 7-9. PFF predicted a rough year for Andy Dalton, who could struggle behind an offensive line that suffered some key losses over the offseason, including guard Kevin Zeitler signing with the Browns.
Baltimore was also projected to go 7-9, which was a little surprising. The Ravens should have a terrific run defense, and their secondary could also be elite, but PFF has questions about the team’s passing and rushing games.
Joe Flacco promises to be under the microscope a lot because his record as a starter has basically been average since winning the Super Bowl. Will Flacco continue to swim in mediocrity or will he remind pundits that we used to debate whether he was an elite quarterback.
Finally, for what it’s worth, and this isn’t a good thing in what promises to be a quarterback rich 2018 NFL Draft class. The Jets, not the Browns, are projected to have the AFC’s worst record, at 2-14.
Next: Browns Training Camp: Planning your visit
Never forget, Cleveland: #GPODAWUND