Why the Browns are a Lock for the Playoffs if Watson gets 6 Games or Less

It’s July 29, 2022 and the whole NFL is still waiting for a decision on Deshaun Watson. Browns fans are becoming more and more anxious every day waiting for how long their Quarterback will be suspended. Nobody has any clue how long it will be, it could be zero games, or it could be the whole season. But, multiple sources have recently said that the most likely probability is 2-8 games. This is calming news to Browns fans and here is why.

Let’s say Watson gets suspended for the first 6 games of the year. Backup QB Jacoby Brissett would start those games and have it not so bad. The Browns open up the season in Carolina against their former QB Baker Mayfield. The Panthers roster doesn’t compete with what Cleveland has built and even without Watson the Browns should be able to pull this one out.

In week 2, Cleveland is at home against the New York Jets. Same thing applies here, the Jets don’t have a roster that can compete with Cleveland’s and this should be an easy win for the Browns to start 2-0. The Browns roll into week 3 against their rival the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have a Quarterback battle going on right now between the veteran Mitch Trubisky and the rookie Kenny Pickett. Cleveland’s defense should not hav trouble with Pittsburgh’s offense. It’s the Browns offense that will need to show up against that amazing Steelers defense. But, being at home against Pittsburgh and it’s a night game, the crowd will be able to push the Browns to come out on top and beat the Steelers.

Cleveland would then head into Atlanta at 3-0 and playing the Falcons. Atlanta is in rebuild mode and the Browns once again will have too much talent for the Falcons to compete with them. Cleveland should be heading into week 5 at a surprising 4-0 without Watson. But, week 5 is where the Browns will pick up their first loss. Cleveland will have the Chargers at home, but home field won’t matter in this one. Justin Herbert and the offense will be a lot for Jacoby Brissett to keep up with. The Chargers also beefed up their defense a ton in the off-season. Los Angeles will win this game and Cleveland will fall to 4-1 going into week 6.

In week 6, the New England Patriots come to Cleveland. The Browns have struggled a ton with the Patriots over the past couple years and without Deshaun, that won’t change anytime soon. Patriots coach Bill Belichick has come up with perfect game plans for the Browns every time they play. That won’t change this year with Brissett playing because he used to coach Brissett in New England. Belichick knows Brissett’s weaknesses and he will exploit them.

So, the browns will head into week 7 of the NFL season with Deshaun Watson back in the lineup at a surprising 4-2. From then on Cleveland will win and be in a lot of games with Watson leading the charge. Until that suspension is announced, Browns fans will be itching to find out when they get to see their Quarterback debut in the Brown and Orange.