Predicting the Cleveland Browns record without Deshaun Watson

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Aug 23, 2019; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Griffin (4) points at Cleveland Browns linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong (52) during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports /

Home vs. Tampa Bay (No. 27)

Ho boy, here we go. Is Tom Brady done? Is he filming the Masked Singer? Is he having issues with his new head coach? Or is he 45 years old, the greatest quarterback ever, and doesn’t feel like doing training camp anymore? I think it’s the last one, but hey, who knows?

If Brady is for whatever reason done and doesn’t show up again this year, the Browns are going to skate to a win over the Buccaneers. They have no real ground game to begin with and many people were pegging the Bucs as a team that could use Baker Mayfield. Were they hearing something about Brady’s long-term commitment that we didn’t know about? Again, who knows? The team can’t win without Brady.

Blaine Gabbert is the backup. They’d be better off with Josh Rosen. If Brady is back, however, and is playing as well as he did in 2021, then this is yet another bad day for the Browns. It may be close if guys like Leonard Fournette are wholly ineffective or if Chris Godwin can’t bounce back from his knee injury. If they’re both on par with a healthy Brady and Mike Evans, I just don’t see the Browns being able to match score for score.

Buccaneers Win: (38-17)

Record: 3-8

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