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From : gamblerstelevision
Added: Jun 11, 2008
From http://GamblersTelevision.com Expectations are high for the Cleveland Browns coming off their 10-6 record in 2007. They are talking playoffs in the dog pound. Oddsmakers have set their season win total at 8 ½ wins based on a brutal schedule. When you handicap season win totals you must, I mean must look at the schedule. Schedule: Last season the Browns had 4 games against the weakest division in football the NFC West as well as facing AFC doormats Oakland and Miami. This season the Browns play 4 games against the NFC East arguably the toughest and most physical division in football. They must travel to Buffalo and Tennessee which are teams that sport tough and physical defenses. And non-playoff teams don't win at Buffalo; it's about the toughest venue to play at. The Browns face Pittsburgh twice this season because they are within their division. Pittsburgh has beaten Cleveland 9 straight times. Peyton Manning and the Indy Colts are on the Browns difficult schedule and pay a visit in late November. Following the Indy game the Browns close the season playing 3 of 4 on the road. They also have 3 short weeks as they compete in 3 Monday Night Football games with 2 being on the road. Offense: The concern here is the health of Jamal Lewis. Lewis went through a 2007 injury free but has had leg issues in the past. Now that the competition will be tougher in 2008 how will his health hold up? And the Browns don't have much depth behind him. The Browns need Lewis on the field so opposing teams just don't sit back in pass coverage against Cleveland's talented receiving corps. Derek Anderson had 29 TD's last season but he also threw 19 interceptions on the year. Anderson was his worst when it counted most at Arizona and at Cincinnati when the Browns were trying to secure a playoff berth. The Browns were only 3-5 on the road. Defense: The Browns try and improve on their poor rushing defense by adding 2 free agents to the Defensive line. Defensive end Corey Williams comes over from Green Bay and will help in the run game. Shaun Rogers comes over from Detroit. I have mixed feelings about Rogers. He has size and strength but I question his stamina. We all remember when Detroit began their season free fall against Dallas and Rogers taking himself out of the game because of stamina in key moments in the 4th quarter. Teams may have run success against the Browns in the fourth quarter because of Rogers's issues with his weight and his lack of stamina. The Browns corners are a young squad and got lit up for 29 TD's last season. And now to my Selection: Anderson will now face better defenses in 2008 and Jamal Lewis will be asked to do a lot without much behind him. Lewis will have to run against the most physical teams in the league: The Cowboys, Redskins, Giants, Eagles, Steelers twice, Titans, Colts and Bills. Their defensive line might improve but Rogers has shown to wear out in games and the Browns secondary remains a concern. Play Cleveland under 8 ½ wins in 2008.
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