Cleveland Browns 2023 Game by Game Predictions

When the Cleveland Browns step onto the field this season, their fans are going to be expecting a vast improvement from 2022, but will they get it? The road ahead is sure to be a challenging one, so let’s take it game by game.

Battle of Ohio

Week 1: vs Bengals

Opening up the season at home could easily provide a boost for Cleveland, although it will be quite the test as the game is against a legitimate super bowl contender and division rival. I expect the Bengals to take the challenge seriously, but perhaps not as much as Kevin Stefanski and his squad, who will orchestrate a surprising opening victory.

Browns 24 – Bengals 21

Week 2: at Steelers

Coming off a win that will have the talking heads spinning, the Browns may have a little too much to deal with in their second straight division matchup in week two. Mike Tomlin, who is yet to put together a losing season under his watch, is not about to get the ball rolling in the wrong direction. I expect Kenny Picket and Co. to pull this one off.

Browns 17 – Steelers 25

Week 3: vs Titans

The Titans have been a run-first team with future Hall of Famer Derrick Henry for multiple seasons now, and to complement the attack, they have a shut-down defense. Albeit, Watson, Cooper, and Peoples-Jones will likely have a strategic plan in place to handle the task, even if it is a relatively low-scoring affair.

Browns 17 – Titans 14

Week 4: vs Ravens

In the first year of his new contract, Lamar Jackson has a plethora of weapons with the recent additions of OBJ, Nelson Agholor, Laquan Treadwell, and first-round pick Zay Flowers. Paired with a solid D, I see Baltimore making this a difficult day for the Browns.

Browns 19 – Ravens 28

Week 5: Bye

Week 6: vs. 49ers

Although Cleveland will be fresh off their bye, the dominant 49ers’ defense, led by the likes of Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead, will put up a wall that most offenses will be unable to penetrate this season.

Browns 13 – 49ers 24

Week 7: at Colts

With recent coaching changes and a fight for starting QB between Gardner Minshew and rookie Anthony Richardson, it’s safe to say that Indy is building. While the future might be optimistic, the slightly more battle-tested Browns should hold their own.

Browns 31 – Colts 17

Week 8: at Seahawks

The Seahawks surprised everyone last season, or should I say that comeback player of the year Geno Smith did? Regardless, a battle between Smith and Watson should prove to be a dogfight and close battle, but I see Cleveland squeaking this one out.

Browns 25 – Seahawks 24

Week 9: vs Cardinals

It’s no secret that the Cardinals are working through their share of dysfunction this year, which almost looks like a wash before the preseason. I don’t expect them to turn things around against a Cleveland squad that is hungry to prove themselves. Mark this one down for three in a row.

Browns 31 – Cardinals 19

Week 10: at Ravens

The second meeting between these two rivals should be a closer one than the first, but Baltimore is a team on a mission this season. Call it a sweep.

Browns 24 – Ravens 27

Week 11: vs Steelers

It feels like Pittsburgh will be heavily favored in this matchup, and for a good reason considering their week two win. Nevertheless, I sense an upset and a regular season split between these divisional opponents.

Browns 23 – Steelers 21

Week 12: at Broncos

Not unlike the week before, an upset feels imminent here, as well, but not in favor of the dawg pound this time. Continuing what has been a bit of a roller-coaster season thus far, I think the Broncos will get the win in Mile High.

Browns 17 – Broncos 21

Week 13: at Rams

After putting all of their eggs into the 2021-22 basket, the Rams became the first team to have a losing record (5-12) immediately following a super bowl win since the Bucs beat Oakland at Qualcomm Stadium back in 2003. L.A. paid a heavy price for their rings and sunk like a ship in the wake. Even if Stafford is actually healthy, I don’t see much improvement on the horizon.

Browns 35 – Rams 20

Week 14: vs. Jaguars

The Jaguars have officially entered the conversation for the first time in a while. Building off an incredible comeback playoff win over the Chargers last year, the team is primed to have a successful season, and this December win is only going to help.

Browns 24 – Jaguars 31

Week 15: vs. Bears

Hungry to string together some wins, Cleveland will look to dominate Justin Fields and the Bears. While this is not going to be an easy feat against Fields’ legs and a defense that bolsters their recently named Mike Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, I think they manufacture a fourth-quarter drive to take the game by six.

Browns 27 – Bears 21

Week 16: at Texans

I believe that second-round draft pick CJ Stroud will be pretty comfortable with his weapons by this point in the season, and rookie defensive end Will Anderson will likely be putting up the stats as well. Still, I think Cleveland manages to snag a second straight W.

Browns 21 – Texans 14

Week 17: vs. Jets

Cleveland welcomes Aaron Rodgers and company to town, but sadly for them, the future Hall of Fame QB and his new team will be a well-oiled machine by late December. Possibly fighting to take the AFC East, I see the Jets handling this one with relative ease.

Browns 13 – Jets 24

Week 18: at Bengals

Perhaps some garbage time points will allow the Browns to make this game appear closer than it will be, but there’s no way that Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins are letting the Dawgs leave their corner of Ohio with a sweep.

Browns 23 – Bengals 31

Will They or Won’t They?

With a record of 9-8, it’s difficult to say if Cleveland will make it to the postseason. In the absolutely loaded AFC, the odds are slim. Of course, anything can happen, and a spot on Super Wildcard Weekend is certainly not out of the realm of possibility.