Eagles vs. Browns predictions: Our expert picks on if Birds can add to Deshaun Watson misery

PHILADELPHIA − How would you like to be a Cleveland Browns fan?

They traded for Deshaun Watson in 2021 to be their franchise quarterback and gave him a fully guaranteed 5-year, $230 contract, only to see him go 9-8 into his third season with a QB rating of 79.4.

This season, the Browns are 1-4, and Watson has a passer rating of 74.8, better than only a handful of quarterbacks. Watson has also been sacked an NFL-high 26 times, the most by a wide margin.

But the Browns' problems extend to the once-vaunted defense. Last season, the Browns had the No. 1 defense in the NFL, and veteran quarterback Joe Flacco was signed out of semi-retirement to lead them to the playoffs by going 4-1 down the stretch.

GETTING HEALTHY: Eagles injuries: How bye helped A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith. Is another rookie starting?

MOVING ON AT LB: Why Eagles released LB Devin White, 'a really great pro' who never played a snap

The Browns kept the defense together, but they're only ranked 13th in the NFL, including 25th against the pass. Star edge rusher Myles Garrett didn't have a sack or tackle last Sunday in the Browns' 34-13 loss to the Washington Commanders.

Garrett does have 4 sacks for the season, though.

Of course, the Eagles are used to that type of outing from a highly-paid edge rusher. Bryce Huff, signed to a three-year deal worth as much as $51.1 million, has yet to record a sack. Huff isn't the only sackless defensive lineman as Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith also don't have any.

As a team, the Eagles rank 27th overall on defense. They have just 6 sacks. Only the Falcons, with 5, have fewer.

But the Eagles are coming off their bye week, giving them an extra week to figure out their problems. Plus, they're getting star players A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Lane Johnson back from injuries.

So is this the game that Watson and the Browns get it going? Or does the Eagles' defense have another Saints-like performance?

Here's how we see the game going:

Our prognosticators are Martin Frank (Eagles beat writer/columnist, Delawareonline.com), Greg Giesen (sports strategist, Delawareonline.com), Tom McGurk (sports editor, Courierpostonline.com), Tom Moore (sports columnist, Phillyburbs.com), Bob Jordan (sports editor, app.com), Bert Bainbridge (sports betting analyst & columnist, Northjersey.com), Tom Haines (Pennsylvania state planning), Brad Myers (high school sports writer, Delawareonline.com), Melissa Hanejko (high school sports content & social media, Phillyburbs.com), Kevin Tresolini, (college sports reporter, Delawareonline.com), Michelle Ganassi (audience director & die-hard Steelers fan, Delawareonline.com), Shane Brennan (New Castle County reporter, Delawareonline.com), Tom Rimback (sports writer, Courierpostonline.com), Brandon Holveck (high school sports reporter, Delawareonline.com)

Martin Frank

What could possibly go wrong? Browns' QB Deshaun Watson and the offensive line are train wrecks, and star RB Nick Chubb might not be ready to return. The Eagles have three of their offensive stars in A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Lane Johnson returning. But somehow, the Eagles will make it tougher than it should be.

The pick: Eagles 32, Browns 24

Tom Rimback

Hoping and wishing is no strategy for a successful NFL season. But that's exactly where we are with this Eagles team this year. If the Eagles return healthy from the bye, they have a chance to turn things around.

The pick: Eagles 24, Browns 12

Tom Haines

The Birds are home, rested and presumably healthier. And it's Cleveland. Sounds like a winning combination.

The pick: Eagles 30, Browns 16

Tom McGurk

It looks like a perfect get-right game for the home team, especially coming off the bye week and a healthier lineup. If the Birds don't beat the Browns this week, there will be major concerns about this squad and its head coach.

The pick: Eagles 34, Browns 14

Tom Moore

This should be one of the easiest games to pick this season, but nothing seems to be easy to figure out involving the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles .

The pick: Eagles 31, Browns 17

Brad Myers

When your Eagles picks are 0-4, like mine, there is nothing more reassuring than seeing the Browns come to town. The Birds will be well rested, and unless Cleveland suddenly stops being Cleveland, the Eagles and yours truly are going to win this one.

The pick: Eagles 27, Browns 17

Kevin Tresolini

The Eagles have numerous issues on both offense and defense to fix, and the bye week was the perfect opportunity to address and improve, as well as get healthier. And Deshaun Watson's inability to lead and execute the Browns' offense is something upon which the Eagles' defense must feast.

The pick: Eagles 31, Browns 13

Brandon Holveck

The Athletic's Jason Lloyd wrote this week that the Browns' season has ended before the Guardians'. I agree with him. Cleveland is the weakest team remaining on Philadelphia's schedule.

The pick: Eagles 28, Browns 14

Bob Jordan

The Browns this week released six players (three from the 53-man roster, three from the practice squad), but they still have Deshaun Watson at starting quarterback.

The pick: Eagles 37, Browns 13

Greg Giesen

This is going to be ugly. Don't read into this game. The Eagles will win easily, but that doesn't mean the defense has figured everything out or Jalen Hurts is back. All this game means is the cursed Browns are horrendous.

The pick: Eagles 42, Browns 0

Bert Bainbridge

This is the perfect get-right spot for the Eagles. Home, off of a bye week, and facing a Browns offense led by QB Deshaun Watson, who has been sacked a league-high 26 times and hasn't even throw for 200 yards in a game this season. The Browns have yet to put up 20 points in a game through five weeks. The Birds might start slow with the rest they've had, but they'll ultimately cruise to a two touchdown victory at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.

The pick: Eagles 31, Browns 17

Overall records

3-1: Jordan

2-2: Tresolini, Holveck

1-3: Frank, Rimback, Giesen, McGurk, Moore, Ganassi, Brennan, Haines

0-3 : Bainbridge

0-4: Myers

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl, on Threads and Instagram @martinfrank1.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles vs. Browns predictions: Our expert picks on if Birds can add to Deshaun Watson misery