CLEVELAND BROWNS
2023 Record - 11-6
Head Coach - Kevin Stefanski
Key Additions - Jerry Jeudy (WR), Jordan Hicks (LB), Quinton Jefferson (DL), Jameis Winston (QB), Devin Bush (LB), Germain Ifedi (OL)
Key Losses - Joe Flacco (QB), Jordan Elliott (DL), Anthony Walker (LB), Geron Christian (OL), Kareem Hunt (RB)
2023 STATS LINE
PASSING - Joe Flacco (1,616 yards, 13 TD, 8 INT; Deshaun Watson 1,115 yards, 7 TD, 4 INT)
RUSHING - Jerome Ford (813 yards, 4.0 ypc, 4 TD)
RECEIVING - Amari Cooper (72 receptions, 1,250 yards, 5 TD)
SACKS - Myles Garrett (14)
INTERCEPTIONS - Martin Emerson, Jr. (4)
OUTLOOK FOR 2024 - The Browns had a big run last season and made the playoffs, where they were manhandled and blown out by the upstart Houston Texans in the wild card round. Head Coach Kevin Stefanski will be expecting more from this team this season.
On offense, quarterback Deshaun Watson is making his way back from injuries as is All-Pro running back Nick Chubb, who went down in the second game last year with a knee injury. Getting both of them back healthy and playing well would be huge for a team that averaged 23.3 points per game with Joe Flacco taking over at quarterback in mid-November and leading the charge to the playoffs. But Flacco is gone this year and Watson must step up and get it going in the right direction for the Browns, who were middle of the pack on offense (336 YPG), but turned the football over too much.
The defense is among the best in pro football and is led by Myles Garrett, who had another great year in Cleveland. The Browns were tops overall on defense, giving up just 270 yards per game while allowing 21.3 PPG. The pass defense was number one, allowing only 164.7 YPG and the run defense gave up 105.5 YPG, which ranked eleventh in the NFL. Cleveland had 49 sacks and intercepted 18 passes last season, which helped lead to an outstanding performance.
If this team wants to have continued success, the offense has to do more to support the strong defense the Browns have. Watson will be instrumental to that effort and he has a plethora of players to pass to. Getting Chubb back this year will definitely help and Jerome Ford (nine TD overall in 2023) showed he can do the job running the football as well as catching 44 passes out of the backfield. As long as the defense maintains their level, the Browns will likely be in most every game they play. Challenging Baltimore and Cincinnati and perhaps even Pittsburgh for the division title is a realistic goal and if they catch fire in January . . . watch out. A Super Bowl appearance is in the cards if things fall into place.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. Dallas
Week Two - at Jacksonville
Week Three - vs. N.Y. Giants
Week Four - at Las Vegas
Week Five - at Washington
Week Six - at Philadelphia
Week Seven - vs. Cincinnati
Week Eight - vs. Baltimore
Week Nine - vs. L.A. Chargers
Week Ten - BYE
Week Eleven - at New Orleans
Week Twelve - vs. Pittsburgh
Week Thirteen - at Denver
Week Fourteen - at Pittsburgh
Week Fifteen - vs. Kansas City
Week Sixteen - at Cincinnati
Week Seventeen - vs. Miami
Week Eighteen - at Baltimore
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