Cleveland Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs Week 1 Bold Predictions

Football season is finally (almost) here as the Browns travel to Kansas City September 12 for the season opener.

As we still have to wait nearly a week for the season to kick off, here are three early bird bold predictions for Week 1 for the Browns.

Baker Mayfield throws for more than 300 yards

The Browns are a team that’s built to run the ball better than most. That’s their identity, and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. It’s hard to argue that the identity should be anything else as long as the offensive line is this good and Nick Chubb is the feature back. 

But next Sunday, the Browns could be in a position to air things out. With Odell Beckham Jr. back in the fold, a version of Donovan Peoples-Jones that certainly looked ready for more in the preseason, as well as the usual suspects in Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins, Mayfield’s passing numbers could be sky-high against a Kansas City defense that may be without safety Tyrann Matheiu due to COVID-19 protocols.

The Browns turn KC over at least twice

Last season the Browns only totaled 11 interceptions on the year, with no player having more than two (this, obviously, does not include the five interception game against Pittsburgh in the Wild Card round). That number was tied for 18th in the NFL among defenses. 

With the additions of John Johnson III, Troy Hill, and Greg Newsome in the defensive backfield, that number is sure to rise. Look for the Browns to intercept Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes at least once in the season opener, and bet on a Myles Garrett strip sack to formally announce his Defensive Player of the Year candidacy.

The Browns start off 1-0 for the first time since 2004

We all know that the Browns have been the worst team in the NFL in season openers since the team returned to action back in 1999. Way back in 2004, quarterback Jeff Garcia led the team to a 20-3 victory over the Baltimore Ravens en route to a 4-12 campaign. 

Who could forget the only other time these Browns haven’t lost the season opener when they tied the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019 thanks to a game-tying touchdown grab by embattled wide receiver Josh Gordon with less than two minutes remaining in regulation. 

This year, the Browns may not be favored to join those two instances as not losing in Week 1, but with this being the most talented team Cleveland has seen since the late 1980s, there’s no reason to think they can’t win on opening day.