It is hard to muster any confidence in the Cleveland Browns after watching their dismal performance in a season-opening loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The betting odds for the Week 2 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would agree, as the Browns are again 8.5-point underdogs playing their second straight road game to open the campaign.
This one has the added element of former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield on the other side. With his expressed desire for revenge on the team that let him go, the score could wind up being even more lopsided than Cleveland’s 34-10 Week 1 defeat.
With that in mind, insider Tony Grossi is making a disappointing prediction about the Browns-Bucs game, giving Cleveland absolutely no chance to spring an upset.
“Zero. I’ve gotta see it before I have faith and confidence. I do think the Baker factor is gonna be strong. I think he’s really looking to pile on the Browns if there’s a chance to do that,” Grossi said.
Grossi also doesn’t believe the Browns can cover the spread, as he predicted they would do against the Jaguars. He is rightfully concerned about Mayfield’s desire to run up the score, which could lead to some interesting postgame comments.
However, Mayfield’s emotions could get the best of him, which could provide an advantage for the Browns. But based on the way they performed on both offense and defense against the Jaguars, they are going to need much more than that to keep this game close.
Deshaun Watson, the quarterback Cleveland decided to acquire and keep instead of Mayfield, no longer looks like a functioning NFL quarterback, if he ever did during his time with the Browns. Meanwhile, their defense, which was among the NFL’s best under coordinator Jim Schwartz, looked lost and passive under his replacement, Mike Rutenberg.
Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence threw four touchdown passes in just three quarters before he was taken out of the blowout. The Browns should expect no such mercy from Mayfield and the Buccaneers, who are looking to rebound in their home opener after a season-opening loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
There is a narrow path for the Browns to author a surprising victory, but the smart money is likely going to be placed on the Buccaneers in this one.
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