Predicting the Cleveland Browns record without Deshaun Watson

Away vs. Buffalo (Nov. 20)

And we suck again. The Buffalo Bills are one of the most complete teams in the NFL. I’m not as over the moon with the Buffalo Bills’ offense as others. Stefon Diggs is good, but I wouldn’t say he’s a Top 10 guy anymore. Don’t conflate production with talent. He was a Top 5 guy in Minnesota but he’s getting older, he’ll be 29 this season, and he’s taken a lot of damage.

You got Josh Allen, who I think will be in the MVP race this season, but Devin Singletary isn’t “that guy”, nor is Gabriel Davis someone you can expect big things out of yet (if ever). Dawson Knox is a solid-enough tight end, but the man just suffered a horrifying death in the family. That will likely affect him to some degree this season. You’re mostly looking at Allen throwing deep bombs to Diggs as your primary big play.

Defensively is the issue and this is where the Browns may suffer. I’m petrified of the team’s offensive line falling apart this year. Joel Bitonio is older, Jack Conklin is coming off of a major injury, Jedrick Wills has not improved and now you have a giant gaping hole at the center position.

A lot of people like to say “whoever starts will have two Pro Bowl guards next to him” but what they fail to realize is that isn’t how it works usually. Usually, it’s the bad player pulling everyone down around him. With a defense filled with guys like Greg Rousseau, Matt Milano, Jordan Poyle, Micah Hyde, and newly added Von Miller at defensive end, this is a team the Browns should hope to god they don’t face at full health.

That said, if the Browns’ offensive line is as good as it has been, regardless of whose at center, I don’t think the Bills’ offense is good enough to outpace the Browns. If the Browns can even get a decent running game going, this will be a dog fight.

I just don’t think the center position is going to be as good as people hope.

Bills Win: (21-17)

Record: 3-7