LONDON — The Browns are hoping a change can change their fortunes to start this season.
A change in quarterback? Going from Joe Flacco to Dillon Gabriel.
A change in locale? Going from the United States to the United Kingdom.
A change in results? That’s what will remain to be seen when Cleveland (1-3) plays the Minnesota Vikings (1-3) Oct. 5 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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So how does it play out in London? The Beacon Journal’s panel of Cleveland Browns experts take a guess at the outcome.
Browns vs. Vikings odds, money line, over/under
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, Oct. 2
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Browns vs. Vikings, picks for NFL Week 5
Chris Easterling (2-2)
Browns 17, Vikings 14: There’s a chance the quarterback change works for the Browns. There’s a chance that just getting off the North American continent helps them. There’s a chance that seeing Carson Wentz instead of the four high-quality quarterbacks they faced over the first four weeks helps. There’s a chance this pick is just a byproduct of jet lag.
Dan Kadar (2-2)
Vikings 21, Browns 17: No team in the NFL blitzes more than the Vikings at 38.9% of snaps, according to Football Reference. That’s a bad stat for a rookie quarterback making his first start behind a shoddy offensive line.
Richard Stallsmith (3-1)
Vikings 17, Browns 13: It’s been 30 years since a Browns rookie quarterback won his first NFL start. Can Dillon Gabriel duplicate what Eric Zeier was the last to accomplish in a 29-26 OT win in Cincinnati on Oct. 29, 1995? And can he do it against a Vikings defense ranked No. 7 overall and No. 3 against the pass? Probably not.
George Thomas (2-2)
Browns 13, Vikings 10: Sure, why not? That way Browns fans can get excited about yet another of the 50 billion QBs that have passed through town since the team came back. Dillon Gabriel showed skills in college, but as a fictional scoundrel once said: “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
Nate Ulrich (3-1)
Vikings 24, Browns 13: When an NFL team chooses to change its starting quarterback, the creation of a spark cannot be ruled out. However, Minnesota’s Brian Flores is not the ideal defensive coordinator for a rookie QB to encounter in his starting debut. If it’s a disaster, don’t blame Dillon Gabriel. Blame the Browns.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns vs. Vikings predictions, picks, odds. Who picked wins in NFL Week 5 game in London?
Reporting by Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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