Cleveland Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Writer predictions for week 9

We’re coming at you with the Week 9 Arrowhead Addict writer roundtable of predictions for this week’s game between the Chiefs and Browns.

The Denver Broncos put up a noble fight against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8, but it wasn’t enough for the rivals to even the series. Instead, the Chiefs won their seventh game in eight contests and stand atop the entire AFC at the halfway point of the season.

Now the Chiefs hit the road to begin the second half with a trip to Cleveland. The Browns have undergone some serious coaching changes in recent days and should be a little more dysfunctional than usual.

Regardless the Browns can’t be overlooked. They are a team wanting to win with a dangerous defense and an interim coach who might spark something in an underperforming team. The Chiefs should be favored but this isn’t an automatic for K.C.

Writer Average: Chiefs 37.63, Browns 21.09

Drew Brooks
The Browns offensive line has been absolutely horrendous this year, and with contract-year Dee Ford playing the way he has been and Justin Houston possibly returning, I think the Chiefs defense will be all over rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield. In turn, the strong defensive effort will turn into a high scoring game for the Chiefs offense. Even if Tyreek Hill is unable to play with a strained groin, I believe the Chiefs will be able to light up the scoreboard and improve to 8-1. Chiefs 42, Browns 16

Matt Conner
Baker Mayfield will look solid for a rookie, but Patrick Mahomes will do what he’s been doing against superior competition and the Chiefs will put this away early. I’m also calling a Ben Niemann turnover. Chiefs 35, Browns 21

Lyle Graversen
Sometimes when a team makes a coaching change it can give the team a short-term boost. Maybe that could be the case with the Browns…..but I doubt it. I can see their defense playing tough for Gregg Williams but the bottom line here is that the Browns offense (especially after losing their offensive-minded head coach and offensive coordinator) isn’t going to be able to keep pace with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. Chiefs 33, Browns 24

Jacob Harris
The Browns are in upheaval, again. The Chiefs are going to win, again. Patrick Mahomes will throw 4+ touchdowns, again. Chiefs 42, Browns 21

Matthew Loomis
Cleveland will surprise us all as Baker Mayfield gets into a shootout with Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs start out a little too relaxed in the first quarter and find themselves in a close game at halftime. The Chiefs Offense will turn it up a notch in the second half for the win. Chiefs 37, Browns 28

Brandon Norris
For the first time this season this game has the feeling of a potential trap game. The Browns front office is in disarray and they are struggling this season. However, this isn’t the Chiefs of old and the Chiefs dominate in this matchup. On a 5 touchdown game from Patrick Mahomes the Chiefs win in a big way. Chiefs 48, Browns 19

Ellen Tolsma
This is a rematch of the 2016 Mayfield-Mahomes, Oklahoma-Texas Tech matchup, but I think this one will turn out differently. The Browns are in the midst of upheaval, so despite the fact that their defense has played well, I don’t think they will be able to stop Mahomes. Additionally, the Chiefs defense will do just enough to stop Mayfield. I see the Chiefs walking out with their 8th victory of the season. Chiefs 31, Browns 21

Grant Tuttle
Although incredibly hard to gauge how a game with the opponent that is entering their first week with their interim head coach, I expect the Chiefs to win. I think both Tyreek Hill and Kareem Hunt have big days and the Browns look just as bad as ever. Chiefs 35, Browns 21

Thomas Welte
I missed last week’s predictions (for some reason I thought it was the Chiefs bye week). By the time I realized it was Broncos week, not that there’s much difference, it was past the time of predictions. Oops. Anyways, the Browns are a mess. I know there’s fear of a team fired up by the interim coach, but Gregg Williams may only be slightly less incompetent than Hue Jackson. Chiefs 42, Browns 17

Farzin Vousoughian
Everyone should be excited to see this. Cleveland, despite its recent coaching changes, has been competitive in games this year. Expect a competitive first half, but K.C.’s running game will dominate in the second half. Chiefs 31, Browns 17

Britt Zank
The Browns are coming off a crazy week where they fired their H.C. and O.C. Mayfield has gotten slightly worse every week since his win against the Jets. John Dorsey will want revenge against the team that fired him, but it won’t happen Sunday. Chiefs 38, Browns 27