We’re almost to the finish line in the NFL preseason—only one week to go. For the Los Angeles Rams, they’re raring and ready to go. The Cleveland Browns are probably prepared for this preseason to be over.
The Browns are -8.5 favorites at home in this game on DraftKings Sportsbook. Cleveland is a -425 favorite on the Moneyline with the total set at 36.5 points. Let’s get into a preview, prediction, and pick for this Rams-Browns game.
Rams vs. Browns preview, prediction
Rams Overview
It’s been a strange quarterback situation for the Rams during this preseason. Matthew Stafford (or his clone, depending on who you believe) has been managing a back injury all offseason. Jimmy Garoppolo is evidently throwing enough hospital balls to keep Cedars-Sinai packed. And Stetson Bennett has thrown every pass through two games in the preseason, putting up significant numbers and a 2-0 record while locking up QB3 duties.
Luckily for Los Angeles, Stafford is seemingly on the mend. But he won’t be playing on Saturday, as Dresser Winn gets the start. Head coach Sean McVay evidently sees no value in his veteran quarterbacks getting preseason action.
Elsewhere on the roster, they have some spots on the offensive line and receiving group to sort out, as there are multiple newcomers projected to be starters. Their secondary and linebacking depth is still being decided. But Los Angeles’ significant additions, namely Davante Adams, don’t need any further tuning up. Expect heavy snaps from their deep depth options in this game.
Browns Overview
Well, the Browns have settled their QB competition. Neither Shedeur Sanders nor Dillon Gabriel won the job as rookies. Kenny Pickett couldn’t snag the top job after impressing as an Eagles backup. Instead, it’ll be 40-year-old Joe Flacco manning the helm for the Browns.
Fun fact: if the combined ages of LA and Cleveland’s quarterbacks were a person, that person would have been able to drink legally before a man landed on the moon—something to ponder.
It’s expected that Flacco will start this preseason finale before ceding to Dillon Gabriel, followed by Shedeur in a cleanup role. Kenny Pickett will be sidelined with a hamstring injury. That gives Cleveland a significant leg up under center over Los Angeles.
The other leg up for preseason is that the coaching staff still has some spots to settle. Plenty of snaps are up for grabs at receiver, running back, on the defensive line, and in the secondary. For what should be one of the worst teams in the NFL this year, it’s open season for jobs all over the depth chart. One team with a lot on the line and many potential starters vs. one team simply trying to get through to the regular season creates a real imbalance in this one.
Rams vs. Browns pick, best bet
It would be a genuine surprise to see any Rams player of great import on the field on Saturday. And while they do have some good depth, first and second-stringers playing against depth options is going to make things tough on the Rams. Quarterback Dresser Winn is projected to play most of the game, and had a 12-13 collegiate record at UT Martin before getting brief playing time with the Memphis Showboats of the UFL.
The massive imbalance in game plan for these two coaching staffs created the largest point spread in the Week 3 slate. I expect the Browns to cover that spread handily.
