Does a tie count as a win for the Browns? No... but they were closer than they have been in two years to a win against the Steelers. They come in at 0-0-1, which is just slightly better than the Saints, who gave up 48 points in a 48-40 loss to the Bucs. Expect a better defensive showing from the Saints this week... well they can only go up from giving up 48 points. Also, expect a result... because a Browns tie two weeks in a row might mean the apocalypse is coming.
How to Watch Browns vs. Saints: Week 2
Where: New Orleans, Louisiana
Start: Sunday, Sept. 16, 1:00 p.m. ET
TV Network: CBS
Stream Online: Watch live with fuboTV
Tyrod Taylor puts up numbers last week that make you think Baker Mayfield may be coming sooner rather than later. Taylor was just 15-for-40 for 197 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He ran for 77 yards and a score which helped his cause, but Taylor needs to be better in the passing game. Playing in the Superdome instead of sloppy weather in Cleveland should help his cause. Taylor also needs to look for Josh Gordon more, who had a nice TD catch, but that was his only grab of the game. It was the Jarvis Landry show, who had seven grabs for 106 yards. The Browns defense will have their work cut out for them going up against the explosive Saints offense.
Drew Brees was nearly unstoppable against the Bucs, throwing for 439 yards and a TD. It was the defense that was atrocious and the reason they lost. If they give up anywhere near 400 yards to Taylor, it could be a long season for the Saints. There will be weeks they can’t put up 40-plus points. Expect them to attack the QB all afternoon long in a game they badly need to win. Starting off 0-2 in a difficult NFC South is not easy to overcome.