New England Patriots

5 Bold predictions for Patriots vs. Browns in Week 5

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Barkevious Mingo (51) and the Patriots will look to squash the Browns in Week 5. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Here is your weekly dose of bold predictions ahead of the New England Patriots vs. Cleveland Browns encounter in Week 5:

Patriots Week 5 Bold Prediction No. 5: Special teams touchdown for Barkevious Mingo

Up to this point, the Patriots have barely used Barkevious Mingo on settled defense. He’s only appeared in five snaps as a linebacker.

However, the Patriots have found a role for Mingo on special teams, where the No. 6 overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft has appeared in over 83 percent of snaps, according to Pro Football Reference. In Week 5, special teams is where Mingo will continue to make his presence felt as a Patriot.

Against his former team, Mingo will recover a fumble in kickoff coverage and return it for a touchdown, proving to the Browns that they were unable to find a suitable job for the talented, lanky linebacker. Mingo can often be found near the ball on kickoffs; he possesses exceptional speed for a 6-foot-4 guy.

Mingo’s scoop-and-score won’t be the only special teams touchdown for the Patriots in Week 5…

Cyrus Jones (24) will look to improve upon a rough Week 4 outing. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots Week 5 Bold Prediction No. 4: Cyrus Jones will right his wrongs

From literally the opening whistle in Week 4, Cyrus Jones was having a bad game.

The Alabama product botched the opening kickoff, accidentally taking the ball out a yard and starting to kneel before realizing he was outside the end zone and had to run it out, not even making it to the 10-yard line.

On the next return, Jones ran directly into one of his own blockers, falling hard on his back, again before the 10-yard line. It was an ugly play.

Not to be forgotten is Jones’ muffed (and luckily recovered) punt return late in the fourth quarter. While the game was long over by the point, the fact remains that Jones had a shoddy outing in his fourth NFL game.

Well, in Week 5, Jones will pick up his play by ripping off a long kick return touchdown. This time, Matthew Slater will give him the go-ahead signal and it will be off to the races for the rookie.

Think this is a bit too bold of a prediction? Well, the fact of the matter is the Browns rank dead-last in the league allowing 29.2 yards per kick return, so the odds are in the Patriots’ favor.

Jabaal Sheard (93) will look to have a big game against his former team. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots Week 5 Bold Prediction No. 3: Jabaal Sheard will have three sacks

Former Browns defensive end Jabaal Sheard will make his old teammates wish they still had him on their side on Sunday by posting a pass rusher’s hat trick.

So far, Sheard has answered the call of being the premier defensive end in the Patriots’ front seven. With Chandler Jones in Arizona and Rob Ninkovich suspended, Sheard has been up to the task, registering three sacks in four games. If Sheard keeps up that pace, he will total 12 sacks on the season.

However, Sheard will increase that pace in Week 5 by matching his current sack total in one game. With Austin Reiter out for the season with a torn ACL, the Browns’ offensive line is weakened, and that means only good things for edge rushers like Sheard.

Signing Sheard in 2015 free agency proved to be the Patriots’ best decision that offseason, and they are still reaping the rewards. We’re looking for a big game out of Sheard against his former team this week.

James White (28) of the Patriots. Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots Week 5 Bold Prediction No. 2: James White will explode for over 100 receiving yards

Although he ranks third on the team with 13 receptions, James White has been pretty quiet so far this season. He only has 102 receiving yards to go along with 47 yards on the ground.

However, the return of Tom Brady will inject like into White in Week 5. Unlike Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett, Brady knows how to best utilize pass-catching backs such as White; he’s been doing it throughout his career.

For instance, take the last time the Patriots played the Browns, back in 2013. As we noted in our review of Brady’s career history vs. the Browns, Shane Vereen went off in that game, snagging 12 of 17 targets for 153 yards. Expect a similar stat line for White this time around.

With all these weapons in the passing game at Brady’s disposal, the mediocre Cleveland pass defense will have their hands full already; covering the slippery White out of the backfield will be another tough chore, and White will take full advantage.

Isaiah Crowell (34) of the Browns. Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots Week 5 Bold Prediction No. 1: Pats will hold Isaiah Crowell under 50 yards rushing

The Browns may be 0-4, but don’t take their ground game lightly. As we noted in our scouting report of the Browns earlier this week, Cleveland boasts the NFL’s most potent ground attack in terms of total rushing yards as well as yards per carry, and Isaiah Crowell is leading the charge with 386 yards of his own, second-best only behind Ezekiel Elliot.

After getting run over by LeSean McCoy in Week 4, Matt Patricia and Bill Belichick will have schemed well enough over the past week to quell the Browns. Unlike Buffalo, the Browns aren’t very multi-dimensional on offense without a mobile quarterback, or just a dependable quarterback in general; all they really have is the ground game.

And we all know that Belichick excels at limiting the opponent’s biggest threat and forcing them to win in other ways.

Final score prediction: Patriots 31, Browns 13

Stay tuned here on Musket Fire tomorrow morning as we bring you a question-and-answer session with Dawg Pound Daily as well as a staff Roundtable discussion.