While this headline is true most weeks, it’s especially painful in week five. The 0-4 Cleveland Browns are taking on the 3-1 New England Patriots. That’s bad news for any team, but it’s especially bad when you consider that this is the week that sees Tom Brady return to action.
The Cleveland Browns Are in Trouble
The Cleveland Browns have a middle of the pack passing defense. They’ve been giving up around 260 yards a game so far, and have allowed ten touchdowns through the air. These numbers aren’t terrible, but when you consider who they’ve played, it’s a little disconcerting.
Opposing Quarterbacks
The Browns have faced off against Joe Flacco, Kirk Cousins, Carson Wentz, and Ryan Tannehill so far this season. While Wentz is still a rookie, the other three men have proven to be good, but not great quarterbacks. The veterans only boast three 4,000 yard seasons in 17 combined years, and none of them have broken 30 touchdowns in a season. However, all three quarterbacks had their best game of the season against Cleveland’s defense.
Tom Brady
Now there’s a chance that Tom Brady comes out and is rusty. He wasn’t even been allowed to interact with his teammates during his suspension, and a quarter of the season is already gone. There is a chance that Tom Brady comes out and struggles. But that’s not likely.
Ticked Off Tom
The far more likely scenario is that Tom Brady comes out, as prepared as humanly possible, and takes out all of his “Deflategate” frustrations on the Browns defense. The Cleveland Browns are in trouble because Tom Brady is angry, and he’s scary when he’s angry. When Brady was coming back from a teased suspension last season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he went off for four passing touchdowns in the opener.
That wasn’t the first time Brady played after getting in trouble with the NFL. Back in 2007, coach Bill Belichick and the team got in trouble for filming the New York Jets‘ defensive signals during a game. The coach was fired and the team lost their first round pick for the following draft. How did the team respond? They won all 16 regular season games, wide receiver Randy Moss caught 23 touchdowns, and Tom Brady threw for 50 touchdowns, a then-record.
It’s also worth remembering that early in their 2014 Super Bowl campaign, Brady and the Patriots struggled. The team started 2-2, and critics questioned if Brady should be benched after the team lost 41-14 to the Kansas City Chiefs. Of course, the team would go on to win 10 of the next 12 regular games before eventually dethroning the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.
On any given Sunday, Tom Brady could turn in a historical performance. After all, he is one of the best quarterbacks of all time. But when he’s angry? There’s nothing quite like it.
The Brady Bunch
As if Tom Brady wasn’t enough of a problem, he’s bringing a bunch of weapons with him. Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett, Chris Hogan, and Danny Amendola are all potentially dangerous receivers, and that’s without mentioning the potent run game. The Patriots are averaging nearly 140 yards per game on the ground, led by veteran tailback, LeGarrette Blount.
The Patriots offense has done a decent job without their future hall of fame quarterback, but with him, the NFL is in for a rough time. When Hue Jackson’s team takes the field this Sunday, they’re in for the beating of a lifetime. Make no mistake, the Cleveland Browns are in trouble.
