Las Vegas Raiders 2020 Opponent Review: Cleveland Browns
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders will head East to take on the Cleveland Browns in Week 8, and we take a look at the Browns offseason, and how the Raiders can win.
In late September of the 2018 NFL season, the then-Oakland Raiders played host to the Cleveland Browns and rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield. What ensued was a classic battle between the two teams, one that saw them combine for 87 points, and the Raiders coming away with the victory in overtime.
In 2020, these two franchises will mix it up again, but this time in Cleveland, as the Raiders head to FirstEnergy Stadium in Week 8. The Browns went into last season with high expectations, as second-year quarterback Baker Mayfield was coming off a record-breaking rookie campaign, but new head coach Freddie Kitchens appeared to be in way over his head.
Cleveland ended up with another losing season, their 12th in a row, and it ended up costing Kitchens’ his job. After a 3-1 preseason, and Mayfield appearing in tons of commercials, the Browns got off to a 2-6 start through the first half of the season, and it was clear there was turmoil in the organization.
The Browns did go 4-4 to close out the year, but that included a three-game losing streak to end the season. In 2020, there will be expectations again, as they look to stop their league-high 17-year playoff drought.