Cleveland Browns 2022 Win Total Prediction, Computer Picks and Super Bowl Odds

The 2022 NFL season is firmly on the horizon and over the coming weeks the Dimers crew will break down the chances of each and every team, all vying for Super Bowl 57 glory in Glendale, Arizona come February.

Let's take a look at the key factors to consider when betting on the Cleveland Browns in 2022.

The Browns traded for superstar quarterback Deshaun Watson and then found out that he's suspended for 11 games. Do they still have a shot at making the postseason and doing big things?

Cleveland Browns Win Total Prediction, Computer Picks and Super Bowl Odds

Cleveland Browns 

• 2021 Record: 8-9, 3rd place AFC North (missed playoffs)
• 2021 ATS: 7-10
• Key off-season losses: Baker Mayfield QB, Jarvis Landry WR, Austin Hooper TE
• Key off-season additions: Deshaun Watson QB, Amari Cooper, WR, Jacoby Brissett QB, Jakeem Grant WR, Taven Bryan DT

Cleveland Browns Win Total - 8.5

Once again, the offseason spotlight was on Cleveland.

The quarterback drama that dragged on for months finally ended when newly acquired Deshaun Watson was handed an 11-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. 

It’ll be Jacoby Brissett under center for the opener at Carolina and beyond. The Panthers will counter with Baker Mayfield, making for a made-for-TV movie. Mayfield played injured last season and had 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions as the Browns flopped to a sub-.500 finish following a playoff appearance in 2020.

Brissett will need to hold the fort down until Watson’s return and keep the Browns afloat through 11 games, including match-ups with some of the AFC's best teams. The good news for Cleveland is the offense features one of the top ground attacks in football with Nick Chubb, who has averaged 5.3 yards per carry for his career, Kareem Hunt and D’Ernest Johnson. Amari Cooper takes over as the No. 1 receiver with Jarvis Landry gone to New Orleans. Brissett also happens to be a highly capable quarterback, which is part of the reason our model, the DimersBOT, isn't as low on Cleveland as you might think. 

Defensively, the Browns took a giant leap from 2020 and ranked fifth overall, led by freak pass rusher Myles Garrett. The unit could be primed to continue to rise with Jadeveon Clowney back in the fold, second-year LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and emerging S Grant Delpit.

“When you’re talking about the quarterback position, you better do what that player does best, and that’s what we want to do, ultimately,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said at the owner’s meetings in late March. “I had a lot of really good conversations with Deshaun from a football perspective, with the coaches, and I think we have a good plan moving forward.”

How Brissett performs will ultimately decide what Cleveland can be when Watson returns. If the Browns are 5-6 through 11 games, they'll feel good about their chances of stealing a playoff spot and making a run. 

DimersBOT: In our model's 10,000 simulations of the upcoming NFL season, the Browns averaged 8.37 wins per year. This is a bit down from when we had Watson in for six games, as the model had it at 8.86 wins per year at that number. With that in mind, Cleveland is probably a good Under bet on the regular season win total. But this team won't be as bad as you think it will just because Watson is out. Our model knows Brissett is capable of playing solid football. 

Cleveland Browns X-Factor - Deshaun Watson, QB

Who else? The Browns mortgaged a lot of their future and bank to bring in Watson as the missing link to the promised land. His first live game snap since 2020 won’t come until Week 11 and he’s likely to need some time to shake the rust. A passionate fanbase, including many Baker Mayfield supporters, will demand instant results.   

Cleveland Browns Super Bowl 57 Chances

Watson or not, the Browns are built to win with arguably the best backfield in the NFL, a proven OL, and a defense that’s made major strides since the 2020 run to the playoffs. The start to the season will be absolutely huge, as Cleveland really needs to find a way to win its first four games. All of them are easily there for the taking, even with Brissett. 

DimersBOT: While we like the Under on the Browns team total, it's impossible to deny the sleeper appeal of Cleveland as a futures bet. If the team can just find a way into the postseason, it has a legitimate shot to win the Super Bowl. With that said, this is certainly worth a sprinkle. 

Cleveland Browns 2022 Schedule 

• September 11, 2022 - at Carolina Panthers
• September 18, 2022 - vs New York Jets
• September 22, 2022 - vs Pittsburgh Steelers
• October 2, 2022 - at Atlanta Falcons
• October 9, 2022 - vs Los Angeles Chargers
• October 16, 2022 - vs New England Patriots
• October 23, 2022 - at Baltimore Ravens
• October 31, 2022 -  vs Cincinnati Bengals
• November 13, 2022 - at Miami Dolphins
• November 20, 2022 - at Buffalo Bills
• November 27, 2022 - vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• December 4, 2022 - at Houston Texans
• December 11, 2022 - at Cincinnati Bengals
• December 18, 2022 - vs Baltimore Ravens
• December 24, 2022 - vs New Orleans Saints
• January 1, 2023 - at Washington Commanders
• January 8, 2023 - at Pittsburgh Steelers