Cleveland Browns Win Total Projections: Over/Under 8.5 Wins For 2022

The Cleveland Browns were the biggest talk-about team in the NFL offseason. This is largely because they made the controversial trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson.

 The Browns had a miserable end of the season last year, with Baker Mayfield, and made the decision to trade for Watson, before knowing what kind of suspension he would receive.

Now the Browns are aware that Watson will be suspended for the first 11 weeks of the NFL season, and will return on Week 13 against the Houston Texans. This has shifted oddsmakers into how many games the Browns are predicted to win. The Browns will open up the season with quarterback Jacoby Brissett starting and hope that they can maintain a decent record until Watson comes back. 

However, the Browns' season could be over by the time Watson can start. 

The Browns open up with an over-under of 8.5 wins for the 2022 NFL season, and there is an avenue just as easy to see them go over as there is to see them go under. Here are both reasons.

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Why The Browns Can Hit The Over

The Browns have a tremendous schedule to begin the season on their hands. Although they will be trotting out quarterback Jacoby Brissett, the Browns will not be facing a top or even mid-level quarterback in the first four weeks of their season, giving them a real chance in all the games.

In the Browns' first 4 weeks, they will be playing quarterbacks that are not considered. The Browns play the Carolina Panthers with Baker Mayfield, the New York Jets with Joe Flacco due to Zach Wilson’s injury, the Pittsburgh Steelers with Mitch Trubisky, and the Atlanta Falcons with Marcus Mariota.

If the Browns are at a .500 record come Week 5, they are in a great position to be able to get nine wins by the end of the year with Watson returning in week 13. Watson will be able to start with six games left in the season. The Browns can rely on their elite running game with Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt and one of the best offensive lines in football to get them through and help Watson readjust to the NFL and the Browns can still create a winning season out of this year.

Why The Browns Can Hit The Under

The biggest issue with the Cleveland Browns going under 8.5 wins, is the uncertainty at quarterback. The Browns are one of the most loaded teams when it comes to talent, with great players at nearly every position, but quarterback. The Browns will open up the first 11 games of their season with quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Brissett is an NFL backup, who has struggled when needing to take the helm for the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. 

Furthermore, when quarterback DeShaun Watson does arrive for the Cleveland Browns, he has been out of the league for two years, and not much is known about how he will look in real NFL game time. It may take some adjustments, and this year may be a throwaway season, and regroup next year.