5 Bold Predictions for Cleveland Browns' Week 1 Matchup

The Cleveland Browns open their 2015 campaign on the road on Sunday, taking on the New York Jets. This marks a chance for the Browns to start over, yet again, and try to improve upon the seven wins they tallied in 2014.

Predictions are common to make in advance of an NFL game, and this game is no different. This time, let's get bold. Here are five bold predictions for the Browns' meeting with the Jets on Sunday.

Duke Johnson Earns 100 Combined Yards

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Browns rookie running back Duke Johnson hasn't been seen much on the field. A hamstring injury kept him out of the team's first two preseason games, and a concussion suffered early in the third game had him miss the fourth.

But Johnson is back, healthy and ready to play. According to the Plain Dealer's May Kay Cabot, Browns head coach Mike Pettine said earlier in the week that there's "no reason to think Johnson won't have a significant role" in Sunday's game against the Jets. And he may not be exaggerating.

Johnson is more than a running back—he's also a prodigious pass-catcher and all-around playmaker. The Browns desperately need someone with that profile, especially against a Jets defense that looks to be stingy up front. 

Because of Johnson's do-it-all nature, Sunday could be a big day for him, to the tune of 100 combined yards rushing and receiving. He'll be the star of the Browns' show and prove why the team coveted him in the draft and selected him in Round 3.

The Browns Defense Stops the Run

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In 2014, the Browns defense was last in the league in rushing yardage allowed with 141.6 yards per game. Stopping the run has been a long-standing issue for the Browns, but this offseason the team took aggressive measures to turn things around.

Cleveland drafted defensive lineman Danny Shelton in Round 1 and then took Xavier Cooper in Round 3. The team picked up Randy Starks in free agency and has experimented with a number of front-seven combinations in order to improve its chances against the run.

The Jets will be a significant test for Cleveland's defense, given they're almost guaranteed to be a run-heavy offense, with backs Chris Ivory, Bilal Powell and even Zac Stacy factoring into the game plan. But, for once, the Browns have amassed the right types of players on their defense to rid them of this major weakness.

Cleveland's newly stingy run defense will control the Jets to the tune of holding them to less than 100 yards of total rushing offense on Sunday.

Josh McCown Will Throw the Ball Away When Pressured

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According to Pro Football Focus, Browns quarterback Josh McCown was the second-most pressured quarterback in the NFL in 2014, when he played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—43.2 percent of his dropbacks were pressured.

Of his 118 pressured passes, only 54 were completions, and just two went for touchdowns; another nine were intercepted. And though he saw pressure at a rate much higher than his NFL counterparts, he totaled only nine throwaways. Contrasted with Seattle's Russell Wilson, 2014's most-pressured quarterback, who had 38 throwaways when under pressure, it's clear that this is one area of McCown's decision-making process that is deficient.

McCown and Cleveland's offensive line will face a major test from the Jets' fierce front seven on Sunday, and the quarterback will have to prove he's finally learned the art of the throwaway. And, miraculously, he will, saving the Browns from negative yardage via sacks and turnovers from ill-advised passes while under pressure.

It may not be the most exciting thing in the world, but it would be a sign of progress for McCown and a good thing, ultimately, for the Browns offense.

Two Pick-Sixes for Cleveland's Defense

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Cleveland's secondary might be one of the best, if not the best in the league. At the very least, it is criminally underrated. Last year, the Browns defense—but mostly the secondary—combined for 21 interceptions, with two returned for a touchdown. This week, against the Jets, the defense is going to match its 2014 pick-six total in Week 1.

In his career, Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown 101 interceptions, with a season-high total of 23 in 2011. He's tapped to be a caretaker for the Jets this year, but even he will have to throw the ball. And that's where the Browns come in.

Cleveland's secondary is led by cornerbacks Joe Haden and Tramon Williams and safety Tashaun Gipson. Over the last eight years, Williams has totaled 28 interceptions. In the past five, Haden has had 16. And in the past three, Gipson has had 12. This is a ball-hawking secondary that will be keeping its eyes closely on Fitzpatrick and his intended passing targets.

Every time Fitzpatrick throws, he is exposed to being picked off by one of these three men. Expect lightning to not only strike twice when it comes to interceptions on Sunday, but expect the Browns to score on both of them, too. 

Travis Benjamin Will Score a Punt Return TD

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Travis Benjamin returned to the field for the Browns last year as both a receiver and returner but was still slowed by the knee injury he suffered in 2013. He did return 15 punts in 2014, for a total of 127 return yards, but his 8.5 yards-per-return average was far lower than expected.

This season, Benjamin is back and healthy. He's already returned one punt for a touchdown in the preseason. And he's going to do it again on Sunday against a Jets team that may just underestimate his abilities. 

In both 2012 and 2013, Benjamin notched one punt return for a touchdown. It's something he's clearly capable of doing. And if the Jets want to punt the ball his way on Sunday, he just may make them pay.