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Power rankings and record predictions

By Matt Verderame

Oct 26, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) against the Baltimore Ravens at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) against the Baltimore Ravens at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 27, 2015: Cornerback Joe Haden
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 27, 2015: Cornerback Joe Haden /

Matt Verderame reveals his initial 2016 NFL power rankings and record predictions.

The 2016 NFL season is upon us. Come Sept. 8, the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos will take the field and once the opening kickoff is in the air, the Vince Lombardi Trophy is up for grabs.

32. Cleveland Browns

This is going to be a rough year for Cleveland. The Browns are coming off an offseason in which they lost four of their most important players in Mitch Schwartz, Tashaun Gipson, Alex Mack, and Travis Benjamin to free agency.

For Cleveland, at least the Cavaliers won a championship, breaking the 52-year drought of all major sports teams in the city. The Browns are moving in a positive direction, hiring head coach Hue Jackson. Jackson, who had his first shot at head coaching with the Oakland Raiders in 2011, was a hire lauded universally in the NFL world.

His first and most important challenge will be to change the culture of a franchise rooted in turmoil. General manager Sashi Brown made the right move by cutting ties with Johnny Manziel back in March and avoiding any players with trouble backgrounds in the 2016 NFL Draft. Still, Jackson has to instill a winning mentality in a team that has not reached the playoffs since 2002 and not won a postseason game since 1994.

It’s going to be a long, slow climb for Cleveland. But if Jackson and quarterback Robert Griffin III prove to be the right moves, the Browns could be making positive strides for the first time in years.

Record prediction: 3-13

Next: No. 31 San Francisco 49ers