The Cleveland Browns are finally legitimate. They were already the real deal a few weeks back, but this far into the season, anyone who refused to believe the hype must concede.
The Cleveland Browns Are Finally Legitimate
As Jarrett Cole of USA Today aptly said, “These are not the same ole Browns that cousin, sister, auntie, or daddy might have howled for.” Indeed, these are the best Browns you’ve seen since 2007. The first winning season for the franchise in 13 years cannot be scoffed at. The Browns are 9-3. Nine and three. Imagine. Wait, you don’t have to.
Going in the Right Direction
The previously hot Tennessee Titans may have lost to the Browns by six points, but let’s remember that at halftime, Cleveland had blasted themselves to a 38-7 lead. Those 38 points were the most ever in the first half by the franchise.
Baker Mayfield earlier in the season had looked scarily like he was repeating 2019. But the fire is back. He became the first Browns quarterback to throw four touchdown passes in a first half since Otto Graham 69 years ago. “We’re trending in the right direction,” he said. Such a simple statement considering the team is putting their loyal and passionate fans out of their years-long misery.
The Right Formula
It isn’t far from anyone’s minds – 2019 was meant to be the year everything changed. Odell Beckham Jr. was the final piece of the puzzle that already had Mayfield, Myles Garrett, Nick Chubb, and Jarvis Landry in place. But their 6-10 season meant general manager John Dorsey and head coach Freddie Kitchens had to exit.
Now with general manager Andrew Berry and offensive-minded head coach Kevin Stefanski, the Browns are at long last living up to the hype that started last year.
There have been questions about the quality of their wins. 7-0 against under-.500 teams. Now they’ve beaten two teams with a winning record. Mayfield said, “We’ve been building up… we’re taking care of it inside the building.” In other words, back off and let them do their thing? Respect.
A Balanced Team Around a Matured Mayfield
He echoes Stefanski in their “one game at a time” approach. Which is exactly the right thing to do when faced with constant criticism from people who are just waiting for the Browns to trip up. Mayfield has lost his cockiness and brashness. He’s grounded now.
He finally cracked 300 yards passing this season (334) in this game. He did that with the help of possibly the best running back duo in the league right now. Chubb and Kareem Hunt may be the first set in the franchise since 1985 to both notch a 1,000-yard season.
Stefanski dug deep into the playbook for a strategy very unlike his usual run-first attack. On each of the team’s first five possessions, he called for passes over runs. On five drives, there were 22 passes and only 11 rushing attempts. A reverse pass, a faked handoff, some swift touchdown passes to Kendall Lamm and Donovan Peoples-Jones, Garrett with some pass-rush heat. Good momentum, everything worked.
The Browns hold the AFC’s top wild-card slot. Even if they don’t win every one of their last four games, they’ll likely clinch a playoff berth. The strategies they’ve been using lately have worked for the most part. They just need to make sure they keep working.
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