Cleveland Browns 2025-2026 Season Prediction!

The Cleveland Browns have been one of the worst teams in the NFL for the past several seasons. This franchise has seen many chapters in its quest to reclaim its former glory. What does this chapter have in store? It should be a changing of the guard from a veteran quarterback in an attempt to achieve stability in the most crucial position in the game. However, this season’s schedule will be an uphill battle. FanDuel has their win total at 4.5. Will the Browns surpass the four-win mark and take a step in the right direction? Let’s dive into their schedule!

Browns Opening Month

Week 1: vs Cincinnati Bengals L
Week 2: @ Baltimore Ravens L
Week 3: vs Green Bay Packers L
Week 4: @ Detroit Lions L

David Njoku, Cleveland Browns, NFL — Cleveland Browns Tight End David Njoku – Mikasa_Bets / via X

I’m keeping the Browns’ first month of the season short and sweet. Typically, the Bengals struggle to get off to a fast start, but not this year. I expect the Bengals to pull out a narrow win in Cleveland. Having Joe Flacco start the season will keep the Dawg Pound in these early games, but it won’t be enough. Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase connect for a late go-ahead touchdown, and the Bengals get a timely stop as Cleveland loses their home opener.

Week 2 will be one of the worst defeats any team suffers all season long. Going into Baltimore to take on the Ravens will be a lopsided affair. Baltimore is one of the best teams in the league, while the Browns are one of the worst. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry dominate the game and cruise to a comfortable win.

Much like week one, this game will be closer than many expect. Trading for Micah Parsons fills a much-needed void for the Green Bay Packers in their pass rush. This will be one of the games where Parsons takes over the game, and Josh Jacobs kills the Browns one paper cut at a time. Cheeseheads storm into Cleveland and leave with a W.

Speaking of mismatches, this is another slobberknocker. Unless Myles Garrett destroys one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, the Detroit Lions will dominate the Browns at home. I’m not sure if the schedule makers anticipated front-loading Cleveland’s schedule this early, but the tough stretch of their schedule has just begun.

Cleveland’s Struggles Continue

Week 5: vs Minnesota Vikings L (London)
Week 6: @ Pittsburgh Steelers L
Week 7: vs Miami Dolphins L
Week 8: @ New England Patriots L
Week 9: BYE Week

Just when we thought the Browns’ schedule might loosen up, it doesn’t. After being beaten by the Lions, they must travel overseas to play the Minnesota Vikings in London. Around this point in the season, the reins may be passed from Flacco to one of the rookie QBs, Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders. Regardless of who starts, the Vikings have one of the best defenses in the NFL and are likely to dominate this game. Minnesota forces multiple turnovers as the Browns continue to struggle.

Moving on to take on the Steelers on the road, the Browns’ season doesn’t get any easier. The ghosts of their past success against this team will give the Dawg Pound hope. Sadly, they are outmatched as Pittsburgh defends home field. Competitive games have been challenging to come by at this point in the season.

After a tough six-week stretch to open the season, they host the Miami Dolphins. The speed between Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle can spread the Browns’ defense wide enough for Tua Tagovailoa to complete short passes. This game will be too high scoring for an offense that doesn’t have the talent to keep up. Dolphins win 31-10.

Travelling to another team on the rise, the Browns take on the New England Patriots. Outside of Garrett, the Pats are arguably better at every position. They made massive jumps in free agency by acquiring talent, and I am a believer in Drake Maye. By this point in the season, Maye will have offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ offense down. Cleveland loses its eighth in a row.

Dawg Pound’s Woeful Season Continues?

Week 10: @ New York Jets L
Week 11: vs Baltimore Ravens L
Week 12: @ Las Vegas Raiders L
Week 13: vs San Francisco 49ers L

The Browns start to resemble the team that went 0-16 back in 2016. Fans begin to show up wearing paper bags and chanting Shedeur Sanders’ name if he’s not starting by this point in the season. Many of the games between Cleveland and the “lower tier” teams could go either way. In this one, I have Justin Fields and the Jets coming away with the win. Are they miles apart? No. However, I am rolling with the more talented team and quarterback.

I don’t really need to say much for this game against Baltimore. The Orange and Brown don’t have much to play for, considering the talent disparity. This is where the potential “tank for Arch Manning” narrative, depending on how the media, fans, and evaluators perceive him, begins.

Heading to Vegas, the Raiders host the Browns. This game is expected to be a narrow and low-scoring affair. One of the keys to most of these games is the coach-QB combo. I will ride with Geno Smith and Pete Carroll, then whoever is starting under center for Cleveland and Kevin Stefanski. Lastly, who’s going to cover Brock Bowers?

This has “TRAP GAME” written all over it. We just saw this exact game play out two seasons ago when the Browns upset the 5-0 49ers 19-17. However, this Cleveland team is no longer as talented as it once was. Two years ago, they had arguably the best defense in the league. Will the 49ers return to their former glory? No, but they are the better team while the Browns have nothing to play for.

NFL, Cleveland Browns, Shedeur Sanders — Browns’ QB Shedeur Sanders – NFL_DovKleiman / via X

0-17 Incoming??

Week 14: vs Tennessee Titans W
Week 15: @ Chicago Bears L
Week 16: vs Buffalo Bills L
Week 17: vs Pittsburgh Steelers L
Week 18: @ Cincinnati Bengals L

For all the potential 0-17 jokes, the Cleveland Browns get their first win of the season in Week 14 against the Tennessee Titans. The media will hype this game depending on who the quarterback for the Browns is. I can see it now: “Shedeur Sanders vs Number One Pick Cam Ward.” Ward’s gunslinger mentality will be the reason the Titans lose this game.

Travelling to Chicago for Week 15 will be difficult. By then, Caleb Williams will have Ben Johnson’s offense down, and the Bears will be a well-oiled machine. Their defense is still littered with talent that will give whoever’s running Cleveland’s offense trouble. The Bears defend their home field and get a nice win.

Just as the Ravens’ games were one-sided affairs, this will be much of the same. The Buffalo Bills will beat the brakes off the Browns. Short, sweet, and to the point. Unless Garrett turns into Lawrence Taylor, Cleveland has zero chance. They have as much chance as a snowball has in hell.

To round out both divisional games, the Browns, by this point in the season, will have nothing to play for, while the Steelers and Bengals will be competing for postseason seeding and a spot in the playoffs. I don’t see much positivity coming from Cleveland this season, except for a top five pick.

Final Thoughts

In terms of being a competitive football team this year, there isn’t much hope for the Cleveland Browns. Mason Graham will be in the defensive rookie of the year race for the majority of the season, and they will celebrate with a top-five pick in next year’s NFL Draft! They may find their quarterback of the future or another blue-chip player that will help them contend in the AFC North.

As always, thank you so much for checking out my prediction for the Cleveland Browns’ season! Be sure to check out our other amazing content here at New Leaf News! We hope you’re enjoying your day, and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.