I'm predicting a somewhat rocky season for the defending Super Bowl champions. A lot went right for them last season, and it's never as pleasant for a team the season after winning a title. I will be very interested to see how Eli Manning plays this year. Much maligned for the first four seasons of his career, Manning put everything together during the magical Super Bowl run. The question is can Manning continue to play at that level and become an elite quarterback, or was his performance in the playoffs an aberration? I honestly have no clue what to expect.

This will be a physical battle, but I give the edge to the Browns. They will be coming off the bye week, which should make them the fresher and healthier team. The Browns also have the offensive line to deal with the Giants' relentless pass rush. Most of all, Cleveland Browns Stadium will be absolutely electric for their first Monday night game since 2003, and I think that gives the Browns the push they need to knock off the defending champs.

FINAL SCORE: 24-20, Browns

WEEK 6: at WASHINGTON

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: How's that old saying go? Win on Monday, lose on Sunday?

In what could be football's toughest division, the Redskins are getting somewhat overlooked. They were a playoff team last season, and Jason Campbell looked impressive at times before his season ended with a dislocated kneecap. They lost no one of significance, besides of course head coach Joe Gibbs, and they added talented wide receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly in the draft. I think new head coach Jim Zorn has walked into a pretty good situation. The big question is: Can Campbell run Zorn's new West Coast offense? I really have a feeling the Redskins are going to surprise a lot of people by being a major factor in the NFC East.

As always, a key will be the Browns stopping the running game, in this case the two-headed monster of Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts. Even if they do, stopping Campbell could be a challenge. Because of the short week for Cleveland and because it is in the nation's capital, I'll go with Washington.

FINAL SCORE: 21-10, Washington

WEEK 7: at JACKSONVILLE

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Jacksonville is everyone's darling to take the next step this season, but I'm not so sure. Let's take a look at that group of wide receivers. It seems like Matt Jones is officially a bust, although on the bright side, he has found a new use for his credit cards besides purchasing things at the mall. Dennis Northcutt proved once again last season that he can't catch a big pass in the playoffs, dropping a critical pass against the Patriots. Browns fans already knew he had that problem. I don't think new acquisitions Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson are the answers either: Unless Porter grows up or Williamson has a breakout season, I just don't see a wide receiver that belongs on a championship team. Not to mention, how much longer can Fred Taylor keep it going? Is David Garrard the real deal? How will they replace Marcus Stroud? Too many question marks for me to have them getting through a tough AFC.

Regardless, this will be another tough game for Cleveland. The Browns will have to at least slow down Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, and make that group of mediocre wide receivers beat them. Offensively, the Browns need to get Jamal Lewis and the running game going against a tough Jaguars defense. They did lose Stroud, but I loved the drafting of Derrick Harvey from Florida and I believe he'll make an impact right away.

Since it's in Jacksonville, I'll go with the Jaguars. I'm not drinking the Jaguars Kool-Aid, but I think they'll be able to wear down the Browns up front in this contest.

FINAL SCORE: 17-14, Jaguars

WEEK 8: BALTIMORE

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: I'm not sure how other Browns' fans feel, but this is the team that I despise the most. Watching them win the Super Bowl five years after moving from Cleveland and Art Modell hoisting the Lombardi trophy was one of, if not the worst, moments I've had as a sports fan. So watching them struggle and lose to the Browns twice last year was a lot of fun for me.

I believe I'll be able to watch Cleveland beat them twice again this season. I broke down the Ravens in last week's blog, and just like in the Week 4 contest in Baltimore, this game will come down to how well Kyle Boller or Troy Smith plays. I still don't think Joe Flacco will be seeing the field at this point, and it will be tough for Boller or Smith to go into Cleveland and win. It would make for an interesting story if Smith did, however. The Browns win this one and even their record at 4-4.

FINAL SCORE: 28-13, Browns

Coming up next week: games 9-12.