Cleveland Browns Season Preview: Part III

Alright, the Bye (Day) Week is over and we head into Week 10 with the Browns sitting at 3-5. Let's see how the last half of the season looks.

Week 10 - Baltimore invades Lake Erie for a game between the old Browns and the very, very new Browns. I like the Browns to put up a much better fight in this contest then they did earlier in the season. Unfortunately, Baltimore is just too good and this is not the Browns comeback year that everyone was hoping for. This game stays close but the Ravens take the Browns down. - 3-6

Week 11 - Next, the Browns hit the road for Detroit. I wonder if we'll be facing a winless Detroit team at this time. Either way, the Browns are better than the Lions. There is no way that this Browns team loses this game. They will come out quick, just like they did in the pre-season contest, and lay the smack down on the Lions building a little confidence for the next game. - 4-6

Week 12 - Another road game in the Queen (of crap) City. A trip to "The Nasty" is anything but as the Browns put another whooping on the Bengals, sweeping the season series against the NFL's version of "The Longest Yard" prison team. Mangini has his guys conditioned to be able to play 100% the entire season, and it shows in this game. - 5-6

Week 13 - Back home we go for a game against Phillip Rivers, LaDanian Tomlinson and the rest of the San Diego Chargers. It's December 6th and the Browns aren't completely out of the playoff race but their chances are fading and will most likely be gone with a loss in this game. The Browns fight hard for every inch of field in this game but the Chargers are just too much with a great duel threat; Tomlinson's legs and Rivers' arm. No playoffs in Mangini's first year at the helm. - 5-7

Week 14 - Finally...Pittsburgh on our home turf. This is it. This is the game that turns the tide in the rivalry. Enough losing to this team. Mangini sends his team a very clear message in the locker room before the game. Everyone is out for blood and the emotions are running high. Brady Quinn is hungry for a "W" over the Squealers and he wills this team to a victory which ends with a touchdown by Brian Robiskie as the clock counts down to 00:00. FINALLY!!! We can hold our heads high around Pittsburgh fans! - 6-7

Week 15 - A trip to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs is next on the schedule. I am really torn on this game. Is Matt Cassell everything he's hyped up to be? Something is telling me "no." He played decent behind an amazing Patriots Offensive Line but his throws were often erratic and he never really gained all the composure needed to be a great quarterback. I think that somehow, someway, the Browns pull this one out. - 7-7

Week 16 - The Brownies head back home for a game against (In my best Chris Berman voice) "Da Raidas." Oakland has been rebuilding every year since their Super Bowl loss. What happened to this team? Mangini has made sure all season that the Browns beat the teams they are supposed to. That doesn't change here. The Browns contain all aspects of the Raiders game plan and take them down, guaranteeing at LEAST a .500 season. 8-7

Week 17 - The Browns finish the season off with the Jaguars at home. I want to say that the Browns will win this game and have a season that no one expected...but I just can't. No, you know what? I changed my mind. Who remembers the bottle throwing incident? In 2001 the Browns were about to end their losing streak and get right back in the playoff picture. Not so much. This time, the refs screw the Jags and the Browns win, at home, to end a season that no one saw coming. - 9-7

So there it is, no playoffs this year but a VERY successful season with a lot of surprises along the way. The Browns are back everyone, and the 2010-11 season will only get better! What do you say? How many wins will the Browns have in your opinion? Let's hear it!