Back for a third week of Green Bay Packers bold predictions after hitting on two last week and bringing myself up to .500, why not feed that false confidence?
Last week, the defense only let me down by failing to get an interception, though they certainly did their part in every other facet to make sure they did the most important thing: win.
After two weeks against top NFC contenders, this week the Packers travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns, who always bring great defense to the table. Still, I want to put some more faith in the offense this week after relying heavily on the defense through the first two weeks. So let’s get into it with my three bold predictions for Packers vs. Browns.
Three bold predictions for Packers vs. Browns that have Green Bay building on their hype
1. Jordan Love throws three touchdown passes
Through two games, Jordan Love has thrown four touchdown passes while the Browns have allowed five. The Browns, of course, have a strong defense all around, headlined by Myles Garrett leading the pass rush. Garrett leads the league with 3.5 sacks, but Love is one of the league's least sacked quarterbacks, taking his first two sacks of the season last week.
While Cleveland’s pass defense isn’t to be overlooked, its perceived early-season success has come against its division rivals. That comfort is gone with Love coming in, looking for a statement performance.
Love hasn’t thrown for three touchdowns in a single game since Week 7 of last year. The Browns gave up four through the air last week to Lamar Jackson. Cleveland won’t be prone to over-correcting, but they’ll still face too many short fields for Love to capitalize on, just like Jackson did last week.
2. Josh Jacobs tops 75 yards on the ground, 100 all-purpose
Last week, the Browns were keyed in on Derrick Henry, and it cost them in the passing game. I think Green Bay will carry more balance against Cleveland this week, but I don’t want to discredit the Browns’ defense too much.
Jacobs hasn’t had a 100-yard game yet, and I still think he’ll fall short of that mark on the ground. However, I do think that because the Browns have such a tough run D, the Packers will look to open things up and get Jacobs involved in the passing game to get him going.
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Call it a hunch, because Jacobs only has one catch for four yards this season. They don’t call them bold predictions for nothing.
3. Edgerrin Cooper is involved in a turnover, somehow
This is the one thing Packers fans are waiting for on defense, and the Browns couldn’t offer a better opportunity. Cleveland is minus-4 in turnovers so far in the young season, and whether Joe Flacco stays in for the whole game or someone else takes over, it’s time that Edgerrin Cooper pads his stat sheet with more than just tackles.
To be the All-Pro that many expect him to become, he needs to impact the defense with more than just run fits and pass deflections. He needs to be the chaos that puts the ball back in the Packers’ possession.
Whether he tips the ball up for a pick, forces a fumble, or does it all himself, my most hopeful bold prediction this week is that Cooper wrecks the game completely by forcing a turnover by any means necessary.