Smoke and mirrors? Browns have beaten only one team with a +500 record [View all]
Last edited Thu Dec 3, 2020, 01:23 PM - Edit history (1)
That was Indianapolis on Oct 11.
I've been picking on my home team since the trade debacle for Odell Beckham Jr. last year. I'll always think it was a myopic move to give up two high-round draft picks for one high-priced mercurial wideout. Despite the trade, Kevin Stefanski has done a good job righting what has been a really bad football team. Stefanski's running game is explosive and QB Baker Mayfield is beginning to play up to his potential.
But just how good are the Browns for real?
Their seven other victories this year came against teams with a combined W-L record of 19-55-3 (ties). They were pounded by Baltimore 38-6 and the Steelers 38-7 in September and October. They lost to the Raiders 16-6, but the game wasn't that close -- Raiders totally shut down Mayfield and the offense.
The week 12 game against Tennessee will be tell-all. Garrett is back on defense and Chubb and Hunt are running well. Should they win, Cleveland could have a two game lead over two other wild-card contenders (Ravens and Raiders) and a one game lead over two others, Miami and Indianapolis, the latter of which they beat should both tie for a wild card.
Tennessee is playing well. If Browns lose a tight game we'll still know they're for real. Should Titans blow them away then we'll know otherwise. Following this game, Cleveland needs to play a reeling albeit always tough Baltimore team again, then the NY Giants and hapless Jets, and finish the season against ... Pittsburgh.
Do Browns finish 9-7? 10-6? 11-5? 12-4? What do you folks think?
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