How Many Games Can The Browns Win With Jacoby Brissett?

The Cleveland Browns made the offseason splash of the century when they traded for Deshaun Watson. Yet with Watson’s legal situation likely to result in a lengthy suspension, Jacoby Brissett is likely to take the reigns in Week 1 and beyond.

While Brissett is no Watson, the 29-year-old veteran has proven himself as a viable backup at worst. But what’s Cleveland’s ceiling with Brissett?

Assuming Watson’s suspension is in effect for the 2022 season, how many games can the Browns win with Brissett under center?

Jacoby Brissett’s Career Numbers

Before joining Cleveland this offseason, Brissett suited up for three clubs. He began his career as a backup to Tom Brady and the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in 2016, then spent the next four years with the Indianapolis Colts. Finally, he appeared in a few games for the Miami Dolphins in 2021.

Brissett has started 37 games in his career, headlined by two 15-start campaigns with the Colts. Over his career, the former NC State star has 36 passing touchdowns to 17 interceptions with over 7700 yards. He’s also a running threat, accruing 653 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.

In his two full seasons as a starter, Brissett averaged 15.5 touchdown passes and 6.5 interceptions through the air and around 245 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. For reference, Baker Mayfield had 17 touchdowns and 13 picks in 14 starts last season.

However, Brissett’s numbers haven’t usually translated to wins. While the Colts teams he led were nowhere near the 2022 Browns in terms of roster talent, the seventh-year vet has a 14-23 record as a starting QB.

Browns 2022 Schedule Notes & Outlook

If there’s a positive about Brissett possibly starting every game this season, it’s Cleveland’s schedule. According to Sharp Football Analysis, the Browns have the eighth-easiest strength of schedule in the NFL and the easiest in the AFC North.

Brissett’s Browns tenure would begin with a road game against Mayfield and the Carolina Panthers. He would then face the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers at home, two games Cleveland should likely be favored in.

Cleveland faces just two playoff teams before its Week 9 bye: the New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals, each of which are at FirstEnergy Stadium. It’s entirely possible the Browns have a winning record at the halfway point of the season.

The Browns then have four of their next five games on the road, including tough matchups against the Buffalo Bills and Bengals. Cleveland also has dates with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints as the season progresses before ending the year with back-to-back road games against the Washington Commanders and Steelers.

How Many Wins with Brissett?

There’s a good news, bad news outlook with Brissett. The bad news is that the 29-year-old is unlikely to lead game-winning drives and single-handedly carry teams to victory like Watson. There’s a reason why Cleveland felt comfortable with Watson receiving a record contract extension upon arrival.

That said, Brissett is a solid game manager. He won’t make a ton of mistakes and commit careless turnovers. In all likelihood, he will make sure the chains move while relying on the running back tandem of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt to shoulder much of the offensive load.

The Browns will not be a laughing stock with Brissett behind center. But expecting 10+ wins may be a stretch, especially with how the schedule intensifies after the bye week. A modest expectation is 8-9 wins, which certainly places them in Wild Card contention.

With a backup QB leading the way, it’s hard to hate that number.