Preseason: Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cleveland Browns 8/12/22 NFL Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns clash Friday in NFL preseason week 1 action from EverBank Field in Jacksonville. This will be Cleveland’s first preseason game of 2022; they’re coming off an 8-9 finish last year. As for the Jaguars, they’ve already played the Hall of Fame Game versus the Raiders. In that one, Jacksonville fell by 16 points. Check back all season long for free NFL picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Cleveland had another rough season in 2021, failing to match their 2020 record (11-5) with an 8-9 finish. That left the Browns in third place within the AFC North and out of the playoff picture. Cleveland started out well at 3-1 but didn’t win consecutive games the rest of the way. 

2022 will mark the third season under Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry. That duo will have some new faces to work with, as the Browns were active this offseason. Cleveland brought in such names as Amari Cooper, DeShaun Watson and Chase Winovich via the trading block alone. 

Over on the Jacksonville side, they didn’t have a great year in 2021 either. The Jaguars ultimately finished off a 20-game losing streak (third-longest in history) and went 3-14 overall for a basement finish in the AFC South. They’ve been out of the playoffs for four straight years. 

The Jaguars kicked off their 2022 campaign in the annual Hall of Fame Game versus the Raiders. In that matchup Jacksonville gave up 20 points in the first half and ended up falling 27-11. Kyle Sloter posted 127 yards and a score on 13-of-25 passing, and Luke Farrell led the receivers on 43 yards from three grabs. 

The Browns are 2-5 ATS in their last seven on grass and 8-20 ATS in their last 28 versus the AFC. Cleveland is 2-6 ATS in their last eight overall. 

Meanwhile, the Jaguars are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 at home and 1-4 ATS in their last five versus the AFC. Jacksonville is 1-7 ATS in their last eight overall. 

PICK: I suppose I’m taking Jacksonville here, but staying away. There’s not a whole lot of certainty—or much else to like at all—in this one. Neither team has been very good ATS lately, but the Jaguars do have a couple of things working their way. Despite the new coaching staff in Jacksonville does have home-field advantage here, plus a handful of returning core players. Being a preseason game however, this one’s going to come down to roster depth. It may be more fun to just coin-flip play the over/under if you’re going to mess with it.