It’s too early to write off the Cleveland Browns. They may have suffered thrashings by divisional opponents, but with some wins, a new head coach, and an injured quarterback, who is anyone to criticize?
It’s Too Early to Write Off the Cleveland Browns
Jibe all you want. Everyone knows the Browns are not elite. Not yet. But there are a number of analysts who see the playoffs in Cleveland’s future. As in, this season. Pete Smith of Sports Illustrated says things are going really well. They’re coming off a painfully disappointing season and hiring both a new head coach and general manager. It was a tumultuous offseason, but a promising one.
Already Minimalizing Their Wins This Season?
They were slammed by the Baltimore Ravens, causing everyone (even the fans) to shake their heads. Of course, they won against the Cincinnati Bengals after that. Expected. That was the start of four wins in a row. It was a hard-fought victory against the Dallas Cowboys. And a grueling one against the Indianapolis Colts. Let’s be real. The picture we see is not a dark one. There’s no need to think the worst.
You Can’t Expect Another Breakthrough
If anyone was expecting a breakthrough performance like the Browns 40-25 demolition of the Ravens in 2019, they’d be totally unrealistic. However, there’s no point in a huge win like that only to finish 6-10. It’s highly likely the Browns will have a better record this year.
Losing to the Steelers is Okay
Before the season even started, all anyone hoped to see was solid progress week to week. But when the Browns started winning, the P-word was thrown around. Playoffs. The Pittsburgh Steelers made sure that talk was reduced to a whisper. Honestly, a loss against Pittsburgh is okay. They play so strong a game that most teams can expect to be destroyed when facing them.
Don’t Lose Sight of the Original Goals
Much of the off-season was about building a foundation and learning how to stop losing. Cleveland wasn’t meant to be true contenders until 2021 and beyond. Yet here we are, with analysts confident the Browns are still one of the best units in the league and will still make the playoffs.
When the Team Is Healthy, Expect Big Things
With Nick Chubb and others out, plus Baker Mayfield, Larry Ogunjobi, Odell Beckham Jr., and Kareem Hunt all injured, it’s only expected that the team suffers. Add to that players like Joel Bitonio and Jack Conklin not playing at their usual level, and all you can do is wait for the next game and the next when everyone will hopefully bounce back.
Baker Mayfield Needs to Prove Himself
He has 10 more regular-season games to reward the faith that his coaches and teammates have in him. He played poorly for much of the first six games and doesn’t seem to be able to bounce back the way top 10 quarterbacks can. He’s left many wondering if he’s even capable of more development. However, we can be fairly sure that performance against Pittsburgh will be his worst this year.
Defense Is Good, Capable of Better
The defense has given up points, a lot of them. But they’ve gotten stops and forced punts, creating several opportunities for the offense to get some decent footing. The offense hasn’t always made the most of said opportunities, but the defensive effort hasn’t diminished. Perhaps their good performance has been due to lack of injury, but it’s clear they are resolute in their game.
Make the Playoffs, Lose and Learn
We need to remember the whole point was to get to the playoffs even if it means getting eliminated after the first round. It will just be a valuable learning experience. Play the game with a higher intensity and bigger stakes than they’re used to. Deal with the pressure on a national stage. In turn, being a true playoff contender will make Cleveland a more appealing home to free agents still looking to play their best years.
Once the team gets a taste of the post-season, they will be inspired and better equipped to return the next season with a fire in their belly. It’s too early to write them off after a few losses this season. If they go down the path we’ve expected them to travel in 2020, the situation actually looks good.
