Cleveland Browns Writer Does Not Share Enthusiasm of ESPN Comrades, Predicts Historically Awful Offense
By Jason Lisk
Unless your life is reporting on the Cleveland Browns. The numbers this year are slightly down. Collectively, the team bloggers see the NFL teams going 281-231. That’s mostly because the optimism in Cleveland seems to have waned.
Just a year ago, a homeless man was giving Jimmy Haslam advice to draft Johnny Manziel. Everything was full of buzz. Now, we have the Cleveland writer, Pat McManamon, foreseeing a historically awful offense and predicting the team to go 4-12, the lowest win total projected among all the writers.
"“The Browns may answer their quarterback question by opening day, but as of today it’s a black hole that still needs filling. The lack of a potent offense in an era of offense and a difficult schedule means the Browns will take steps back this season.”"
The pick for the first game? A 9-6 loss to the Jets. Feel the excitement.
In total, McManamon projects the game scores and has the Browns scoring only 192 points on the year over the course of 16 games. That would qualify as the 11th lowest scoring season in a non-strike year since the league went to 16 games in 1978. Considering the heightened overall scoring environment in 2015, and compared to league average, it would be one of the five worst offensive performances if all of this sunshine comes pouring through in the fall.
If anything, there is some optimism, as a team projected to score only 192 points should win less than 4 games on average. Bonus points for being the first ESPN team prediction to incorporate a Sisyphus reference. You can just feel the Cleveland fighting spirit throughout the picks. Next drink on us, Mr. McManamon, since it appears you aren’t joining your comrades with any team-colored Kool-Aid.