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Browns: Evaluating the opponents for the 2021 NFL Season

By Chad Porto

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 17: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns drops back to pass against the defense of the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 17, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 17: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns drops back to pass against the defense of the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 17, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 15: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns throws a pass during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 15, 2019, in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Browns 38-24. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 15: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns throws a pass during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 15, 2019, in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Browns 38-24. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Week 6- Cardinals (Home)

This one may be a hassle. The Cardinals are on the rise. They were a top-10 offense last year and a top-13 defense and they only got better. They secured A.J. Green for the offense, giving Kyler Murray another target to throw to besides DeAndre Hopkins while improving the offensive line with long-time Raider and three-time Pro Bowler Rodney Hudson.

Defensively is where they really stepped up. Drafting Isaiah Simmons wasn’t the home run many thought it would be as a rookie, so the Cardinals protected themselves by drafting Zaen Collins in 2021. They also brought back Markus Golden to help secure the defense. The big get of the offseason, however, was signing J.J. Watt. The Cardinals should be a 10+ win team in 2021 and a team that could seriously beat the Browns, even if the Browns are much improved on defense and stay consistent on offense.

The Cardinals will succeed if Kliff Kingsbury is the right guy. He went from five wins in 2019, to eight wins in a very difficult-to-prep-for 2020 season. Now with a third year, and a better idea of how to implement his schemes with the new players, the Cardinals should be much improved.

Expectations: The Cardinals are going to be a tough out. The issue comes down to a pass-happy offense against a rebuilt defense, all in the midst of fair weather still. If this were November or December in Cleveland, the Cardinals would have a rough time trying to score points with the wind, rain, and snow. This is going to be a battle if everyone is mostly healthy.

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