Browns' Win-Loss Predictions for 2022 NFL Season

One of the hardest things to predict early in NFL training camp was how the Cleveland Browns would fare during the 2022 season. That's because there was so much uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position.

There's now clarity, though. Deshaun Watson will miss the first 11 games of the year while serving a suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. He'll be eligible to return in Week 13. And until then, Jacoby Brissett is set to serve as Cleveland's QB.

Regardless of who's under center at any point, the Browns are looking to get back to the playoffs. They reached the postseason in their first season under head coach Kevin Stefanski in 2020 when they went 11-5. But they took a step backward in 2021, going 8-9 and missing the playoffs.

The Browns wrap up their preseason slate with Saturday's home game against the Chicago Bears before opening the regular season with a Sept. 11 road matchup against the Carolina Panthers.

How will Cleveland fare this year? Here's a look at the Browns' full schedule, analysis regarding the team's outlook and predictions for the upcoming season.

Week 1: at Carolina Panthers, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 2: vs. New York Jets, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 3: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Sept. 22 at 8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video

Week 4: at Atlanta Falcons, Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 5: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Oct. 9 at 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 6: vs. New England Patriots, Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 7: at Baltimore Ravens, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 8: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Oct. 31 at 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

Week 9: Bye

Week 10: at Miami Dolphins, Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 11: at Buffalo Bills, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 12: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Nov. 27 at 1 p.m. ET, Fox

Week 13: at Houston Texans, Dec. 4 at 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 14: at Cincinnati Bengals, Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 15: vs. Baltimore Ravens, Dec. 18 at TBD

Week 16: vs. New Orleans Saints, Dec. 24 at 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 17: at Washington Commanders, Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. ET, Fox

Week 18: at Pittsburgh Steelers, Jan. 8 at TBD

The Browns invested a lot in Watson as their franchise quarterback. Not only did they trade a package of six draft picks (including three first-rounders) to the Houston Texans to acquire him, but they then also signed him to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal.

The 26-year-old hasn't played in an NFL game since the 2020 season. So even once he's eligible to play, it's unknown how he'll perform. In the meantime, Brissett will look to have more success than he's had for much of his six-year NFL career.

Cleveland has some talented players. It possesses one of the best two-headed rushing attacks in the NFL (Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt), a formidable pass-rushing duo (Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney) and plenty of other young players with potential.

However, it could be tough for the Browns to win the AFC North title this year. The Cincinnati Bengals won the division crown last season, the Baltimore Ravens should have a bounce-back showing and the Pittsburgh Steelers could be a sleeper team if they get strong quarterback play.

Although Cleveland probably has a better chance than Pittsburgh to win the division and/or make the playoffs, Cincinnati and Baltimore will pose big challenges. And the Browns will need players other than their top stars to step up and fill sizable roles adequately.

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the over/under for Cleveland's win total is at 8.5. And it could easily end up on either side of that, depending on a number of factors as the season unfolds.

The first four weeks of the Browns' schedule don't look tough on paper. During that stretch, they'll take on the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons.

So, if Cleveland gets rolling, it could build some momentum as it heads toward tougher matchups.

However, it's far from a sure thing that the Browns will do that. Offensively, they're going to need to rely on their running game a lot, and opponents will know that. Brissett isn't a top-tier QB, and although Amari Cooper is now part of their receiving corps, there's not much proven talent behind him on the depth chart.

The Browns have solid players all over their defense, so that could be a strength. But if the offense isn't putting up many points, that may not matter.

Even if Watson returns and immediately plays as well as he did earlier in his career, it could be too late to turn around the season. At that point, the best-case scenario for the Browns could be getting back to .500, because there will likely be early struggles, even in those lighter matchups.

Perhaps the Watson move will pay off in the long run, but his missed time this year is going to be costly.

In the end, Cleveland will end up exactly where it ended last season: just below .500 and out of the playoffs once again.

Prediction: Browns will finish 8-9

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