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Midway through the first game of 2007, Romeo Crennel took quarterback Charlie Frye out and put Derek Anderson in. Anderson never relinquished the starting role and the Cleveland Browns went on to their first ten win season since 1994.

But they missed the playoffs by the narrowest of margins.

AFC North Probabilities

Complete Division Forecasts

The Browns were rewarded with one of the toughest schedules in NFL this year. This year they play ten games against teams that were either .500 or better last season. They play eight games against playoff teams from 2007 including the world champion Giants, the NFC favorite Cowboys and Peyton Manning’s Colts.

The Browns had just one win against a team that ranked in the Top 15 in points allowed. They have 8 games in 2008 against teams ranked in the Top 15 in points allowed. And if Baltimore's defense returns to high levels as expected then the Browns have 10 games against above average defenses. Derek Anderson had a passer rating of just 70.7 against Top 15 defenses (90 in the other 12 games). The Browns have one of the toughest schedules and as a result are forecasted for 2 fewer points per game this year and 2 fewer wins this season.

The tough schedule is the reason that the AccuScore computer only projects the Browns to have a 14.8 percent chance of winning the AFC North. However, the computer also forecasts the Browns having a 25.4 percent chance of making the playoffs, only 1.3 percent behind the Titans for the sixth projected spot in the playoffs.

Anderson had a career year in ’07, but it looks like the tough schedule will cause a drop off for the Oregon State alum. The AccuScore computer projects Anderson to finish with 3568 yards and 26 touchdowns, that’s 211 yards and three touchdowns less than ’07. Derek Anderson completed just 56.5 percent of his passes. In order for the Browns to win 10-plus games, Anderson needs to complete 60 percent or more of his passes while not sacrificing the deep ball.

A continuing problem for the Browns will be their defense. In ’07, Cleveland had the 30th worse defense in the league, allowing 359.6 yards and 23.9 points per game. Adding Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams at defensive tackle may help them improve on their 26th ranked rushing defense, but with such offensively formidable opponents, the defense may be a big reason why AccuScore projects the Browns to finish 8-8.

For more information of the Cleveland Browns, click here to see Crennel’s team will do their first test against the NFC favorite Dallas Cowboys.