The Cleveland Browns finished a disappointing 2019 season and proceeded to fire head coach Freddie Kitchens and general manager John Dorsey. Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry were brought in as their replacements. Cleveland has stockpiled young talent that has not yet lived up to expectations. Year 3 is important for quarterback Baker Mayfield.

The NFL released its regular season schedule, but it is contingent on what happens with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. No one knows how much football will be played this season, but we're operating as if each team is able to complete a full season. Here's a way-too-early week-by-week prediction for each of Cleveland's 16 regular season games on the schedule, complete with over/under win totals for every opponent courtesy of William Hill Sports Book, as well as Week 1 and Week 2 lines. The Browns' O/U is 8.5:

Week 1 at Ravens

Line: Ravens -9
Opponent win total: O/U 11.5

Prediction: The Ravens were fantastic during the 2019 regular season. Although Cleveland was able to administer one of their two losses, it is unreasonable to think that the Browns will be able to go on the road and defeat a motivated Ravens team in Week 1. The Ravens boast some of the most continuity in the league with head coach, quarterback and both coordinators all returning. Meanwhile, the Browns will be implementing new offensive and defensive schemes in Stefanski's first game as head coach.

The Browns fall in Week 1 27-20. 

Projected record: 0-1

Week 2 vs Bengals

Line: Browns -8
Opponent win total: O/U 5.5

Prediction: Cincinnati has added a lot of new faces, including No. 1 overall selection Joe Burrow. In a shortened offseason, the Bengals will take longer to acclimate and that should benefit their rival in Week 2. The Bengals were the worst team in the league last season so a loss -- especially at home -- would be devastating to the start of the Stefanski era. 

Cleveland secures its first victory, 34-17.

Projected record: 1-1

Week 3 vs. Redskins

Opponent win total: O/U 5.5

Prediction: Washington has a sensational defensive line, but Cleveland's offensive line is much improved. The remainder of the Redskins roster still needs a lot of work. With a new coaching staff and a lackluster 2019 quarterback performance, the Redskins should not be able to overcome a talented opponent on the road. 

Stefanski and the Browns move to 2-1 with a 24-10 victory. It is difficult to see Washington having much of an offense in 2020.

Projected record: 2-1

Week 4 at Cowboys

Opponent win total: O/U 9.5

Prediction: The Cowboys have a new coaching staff led by head coach Mike McCarthy. Their roster is largely intact though and that level of continuity will make it difficult for the Browns to achieve victory on the road. Cleveland's cornerbacks will be facing a stiff challenge against Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb. Dallas has fortified its defensive front with key additions of Dontari Poe and Gerald McCoy.

The winning streak comes to an end, 21-17. 

Projected record: 2-2

Week 5 vs. Colts

Opponent win total: O/U/ 9

Prediction: The learning curve for Philip Rivers in Indianapolis is much less steep than others who changed teams this offseason considering his familiarity with head coach Frank Reich and offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni. It should be a challenging game, but the home team receives a small advantage. 

Cleveland defends home field with a 27-24 victory.

Projected record: 3-2

Week 6 at Steelers

Opponent win total: O/U 9

Prediction: Historically speaking, the Browns have not fared well against Ben Roethlisberger, who should return from injury for the upcoming season. Pittsburgh did not have the most impressive draft or offseason, but head coach Mike Tomlin will have his team ready to play. Cleveland will walk into a hostile environment, even if Heinz Field contains only 10,000 fans. 

The Steelers win 10-7. 

Projected record: 3-3

Week 7 at Bengals

Opponent win total: O/U 5.5

Prediction: Week 7 marks the beginning of a potential win streak for Cleveland. The Browns desperately need to take advantage of this stretch or it will be difficult to make the playoffs. They cannot encounter another letdown like the 2019 road game against the Broncos. Cincinnati selected a key cog to its franchise for the next decade-plus, but the reality is that it will be tough to implement so many new pieces during a shortened offseason.

The Browns eclipse the .500 mark and -- spoiler alert -- will not dip back to it again during the season. Cleveland is victorious, 37-21.

Projected record: 4-3

Week 8 vs. Raiders

 Opponent win total: O/U 7.5

Prediction: Las Vegas has to travel across country to play a buzzing Browns team. The Raiders offense will always be limited with Derek Carr at quarterback. In fact, Marcus Mariota may be starting by the time this game arrives. Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock drastically improved their linebacker unit and added some dynamic pieces on offense with Henry Ruggs III, Bryan Edwards and Lynn Bowden Jr.

Cleveland wins an ugly game, 17-13. 

Projected record: 5-3

Week 10 vs. Texans

Opponent win total: O/U 8

Prediction: Houston still has quarterback Deshaun Watson and that makes it a viable threat in any game. However, there is little else on its roster that instills fear. The running back group is defined by talented players who struggle to stay healthy. The wide receivers are riddled by a variety of concerns and the offensive line has been under construction for as long as anyone can remember. 

Houston has been a thorn in Cleveland's side in recent memory, but the Browns finally enact revenge with a 38-31 victory.

Projected record: 6-3

Week 11 vs. Eagles

Opponent win total: O/U 9.5

Prediction: Week 11 is the annual reminder that Browns chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta once said that Carson Wentz would not become a top-20 quarterback. Few could argue that Wentz is not a top-20 quarterback when healthy. Philadelphia's biggest additions have been wide receiver Jalen Reagor and cornerback Darius Slay. Those two players will dramatically improve a few of the team's biggest weaknesses. 

The outcome could go either way, considering it will take place in northeast Ohio. It jumps out as one of the more likely losses on the Browns' schedule. Philadelphia squeaks out a win, 24-20. 

Projected record: 6-4

Week 12 at Jaguars

Opponent win total: O/U 4.5

Prediction: Gardner Minshew is a spirited young signal caller, but his ceiling is lower than most starting quarterbacks. Jacksonville has undergone a significant defensive overhaul over the past two years. While its promising incumbent cast now includes ex-Brown Joe Schobert, the Jaguars do not have enough horses to knock off the Browns. Cleveland emerges victorious, 30-21.

Projected record: 7-4

Week 13 at Titans

Opponent win total: O/U 8.5

Prediction: Cleveland and Tennessee played a tightly contested opener in 2019, but the final score did not reflect it because the Browns totally capsized in the final quarter. One of the Browns' remaining question marks is the defensive tackle group, and everyone is familiar with Tennessee's inclination to run the football; and they do it well. If the Titans can get ahead early, they should be able to dictate the course of this game at home. 

The Titans topple the Browns, 17-14.

Projected record: 7-5

Week 14 vs. Ravens

Opponent win total: O/U 11.5

Prediction: Baltimore is a really good football team and it only got stronger in the offseason. Cleveland will win a few that it was not projected to win and will lose a few that it was expected to win. The NFL is the ultimate equalizer. To be reasonable, Baltimore escapes with a victory on the road, 31-34. 

Cleveland enters an important stretch to its season that will determine whether or not it plays football into January.

Projected record: 7-6

Week 15 at Giants

Opponent win total: O/U 6.5

Prediction: Odell Beckham Jr. should be motivated in his return to MetLife Stadium. The Browns' offense should be clicking at this point in the season. Although New York improved at the linebacker position, it still has some massive deficiencies with a lack of pass rush moving to the front of the line. Daniel Jones needs to show that he can better take care of the football in his second season and the pieces around him need to become more reliable. 

Cleveland moves to two games over .500 with a 24-13 win. 

Projected record: 8-6

Week 16 vs. Jets

Opponent win total: O/U 6.5

Prediction: The Jets are ripe for midseason fallout. Trade conversations regarding safety Jamal Adams have been ongoing and it is widely known that the team really has no desire to keep running back Le'Veon Bell. General manager Joe Douglas addressed the offensive line and that is a start, but the team still has pressing needs at wide receiver, cornerback and pass rusher. Cleveland, at home, has fewer questions to answer. It should be favored in a rematch of Baker Mayfield's first NFL appearance against Sam Darnold. The Browns win 27-17.  

Projected record: 9-6

Week 17 vs. Steelers

Opponent win total: O/U 9

Prediction: The final game of the season against the division rival Steelers could determine playoff seeding or even postseason presence. Cleveland shakes off its reputation and wins the regular season finale, 21-17.

The basis of this confidence is Stefanski's new offensive scheme and the belief that it ideally suits Mayfield and Chubb. The Browns also have a really favorable schedule, which is probably a lose-lose. If they take advantage of it, the media will say "well, they have not played anyone." If they fail to make the playoffs, they will hear a lot "same old Browns. They could not even beat a schedule that includes the Bengals twice and both New York teams." If the team falters, as it has done time and time again since its return in 1999, then it will be another long season for the Dawg Pound.

Projected record: 10-6