2019 Browns will be lucky to win five games [View all]

[Auggie]

Browns should have eviscerated the Jets in Week 2, winning 35 (or more) to 3 instead of 23 to 3. They had some impressive plays -- Chubb finds a hole, Beckham make an all-pro catch -- but they really didn't dominate with that o-line. They're really not much of a ball control offense. And Mayfield is is still learning.

The defense played more promising, but given New York's QB injuries, it should have been expected.

Season loses? They'll be 1-6 after Week 8, having lost in succession to the Rams, Ravens, 49ers, Seahawks and Patriots. If Mayfield and most the skill players are still healthy after these five games they just might squeak out a win at Mile High against Denver in Week 9. As of now, though, I'd bet against it.

Weeks 10 and 11 match them against the resurgent Bills and always difficult Steelers, even without Roethlisberger. This will be an emotional game as always, and maybe they find a way to beat them at home for win #2.

In Week 12 they should be beat the Dolphins for their 3rd win. They finish out Weeks 13-17 at Pittsburgh (loss), Cincinnati (win), at Arizona (loss), Baltimore (another loss), and at Cincinnati (loss). That makes them 4-12. If they get lucky they beat Cincy twice for a 5-11 finish. If they're extraordinarily lucky they beat either Denver or Arizona and finish 6-10.

I didn't believe the pre-season hoopla. It didn't make sense to trade Beckham for draft choices when the roster of trench players was thin. That trade will hurt them long term. That's my prediction.