{"id":96509,"date":"2020-10-20T20:43:22","date_gmt":"2020-10-21T00:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=96509"},"modified":"2020-10-20T20:43:22","modified_gmt":"2020-10-21T00:43:22","slug":"its-too-early-to-write-off-the-cleveland-browns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/10\/20\/its-too-early-to-write-off-the-cleveland-browns\/","title":{"rendered":"It’s Too Early to Write Off the Cleveland Browns"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s too early to write off the Cleveland Browns<\/a>. 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?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Too Early to Write Off the Cleveland Browns<\/h2>\n

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\u2019s future. As in, this season. Pete Smith<\/a><\/strong> of Sports Illustrated says things are going really well. They\u2019re coming off a painfully disappointing season and hiring both a new head coach and general manager. It was a tumultuous offseason<\/a>, but a promising one.<\/p>\n

Already Minimalizing Their Wins This Season?<\/h3>\n

They were slammed by the Baltimore Ravens<\/a>, causing everyone (even the fans) to shake their heads. Of course, they won against the Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> after that. Expected. That was the start of four wins in a row. It was a hard-fought victory against the Dallas Cowboys<\/a>. And a grueling one against the Indianapolis Colts<\/a>. Let\u2019s be real. The picture we see is not a dark one. There\u2019s no need to think the worst.<\/p>\n

You Can’t Expect Another Breakthrough<\/h3>\n

If anyone was expecting a breakthrough performance like the Browns 40-25 demolition of the Ravens in 2019, they\u2019d be totally unrealistic. However, there\u2019s no point in a huge win like that only to finish 6-10. It\u2019s highly likely the Browns will have a better record this year.<\/p>\n

Losing to the Steelers is Okay<\/h3>\n

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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Lose Sight of the Original Goals<\/h3>\n

Much of the off-season was about building a foundation and learning how to stop losing. Cleveland wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

When the Team Is Healthy, Expect Big Things<\/h3>\n

With Nick Chubb<\/a><\/strong> and others out, plus Baker Mayfield<\/a>, Larry Ogunjobi<\/a>, Odell Beckham<\/a> Jr.,<\/strong> and Kareem Hunt<\/a> <\/strong>all injured, it\u2019s only expected that the team suffers. Add to that players like Joel Bitonio <\/a><\/strong>and Jack Conklin <\/a><\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

Baker Mayfield Needs to Prove Himself<\/h3>\n

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\u2019t seem to be able to bounce back the way top 10 quarterbacks can. He\u2019s left many wondering if he\u2019s even capable of more development. However, we can be fairly sure that performance against Pittsburgh will be his worst this year.<\/p>\n

Defense Is Good, Capable of Better<\/h3>\n

The defense has given up points, a lot of them. But they\u2019ve gotten stops and forced punts, creating several opportunities for the offense to get some decent footing. The offense hasn\u2019t always made the most of said opportunities, but the defensive effort hasn\u2019t diminished. Perhaps their good performance has been due to lack of injury, but it\u2019s clear they are resolute in their game.<\/p>\n

Make the Playoffs, Lose and Learn<\/h3>\n

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\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s too early to write them off after a few losses this season. If they go down the path we\u2019ve expected them to travel in 2020, the situation actually looks good.<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>