Football fans in America, you have to apologize to the Cleveland Browns. So do the majority of sportswriters, commentators, analysts, and pretty much everybody with a television who has ever seen SportsCenter—raises hand apologetically.
The Browns are good; here’s the deal. Really, really good. Four seasons ago, Cleveland hired Kevin Stefanski, the clear favorite to earn Coach of the Year this year. Myles Garrett, the team’s top defensive player and favorite to win defensive player of the year, is leading a superb group. In quarterback Joe Flacco, the starter-turned-champion-turned-backup-turned-one-man circus tent revival, they have the most bizarre tale of the NFL season. They have persevered despite setbacks, the loss of Deshaun Watson (again), doubts, a terrible playoff record, a dismal recent postseason record, and taunts from their own fan base.
The Browns are so good, in fact, that they have reignited the NFL postseason seeding controversy once more. This occurs around this time each year. Nevertheless, there are compelling arguments to be made this year as well as other years. With 11 wins, Cleveland is tied for the second-most in the AFC with the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs. Even though they were placed number twelve against Cincinnati last Sunday, they were aware of their seeding beforehand, played Jeff Driskel, their fifth quarterback of the year, and rested other important players, like Garrett, for the games that really mattered going ahead. Their prize for being in the same division as the Baltimore Ravens, the best club in the conference, is an early-season road game versus Houston to begin the NFL playoffs on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, NBC). Houston needed a loss by the Tennessee Titans on Sunday in order to win the AFC South, and they have already defeated the Ravens once this season. However, Baltimore prevailed in the AFC North; they did not.
What’s not to like, though? Well, a good deal before the season began. Cleveland had not yet seen many returns on its investment from the transaction for Watson, despite the huge sum of money that was paid for him. They did add two defensive linemen, though: they signed defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson from Minnesota and traded for pass rusher Za’Darius Smith from the Minnesota Vikings. They also acquired Juan Thornhill, a projected starter at safety, from the Chiefs. A plethora of bodies were added to their 2023 draft, but no picks were selected before No. 74 in the third round. The defensive line of the Browns was nearly always mentioned by those who predicted them to make the playoffs. However, Jadeveon Clowney’s departure in free agency, the Watson situation, and cornerback depth all remained problems.
Cleveland simply kept winning. On September 12, offensive lineman Jack Conklin (torn MCL/ACL) was placed on injured reserve; yet, they prevailed. They prevailed after September 30, when star running back Nick Chubb suffered the same injury and landed in the same spot. They prevailed even after Watson was injured, going on IR on November 15 due to a shoulder ailment. They were shortly joined by wide receiver Michael Woods, free safety Rodney McLeod, and three linemen (Maurice Hurst on defense, Jedrick Wills Jr. on offense, and Dawand Jones on defense). Anthony Walker, a linebacker, is now headed to the same location. Still, it hasn’t mattered. Of the Browns’ six losses, only four were by double digits. The final one, against the Rams and Broncos, didn’t really matter because the players rested last Sunday, and the other two, against the Browns and the Eagles, occurred shortly after Watson was injured and Flacco needed some time to adjust.
Three NFL employees—a general manager from their conference, a scout from their division, and an evaluator from the league—were surveyed by Sports Illustrated on Monday and asked the same straightforward question: What makes the Browns so good?
The manager in charge texted, “MG.” Go on, dude. They did a great job creating depth around him and releasing him from a few double teams. He really is amazing as well. Though no one else compares to him, we wish we had one. The general manager said in a follow-up text that Garrett’s season total of 14 sacks—2.0 fewer than in 2021 and 2022—was inaccurate. The general manager stated that Garrett had his greatest season to date this year, and there were many worthy candidates.
The opposing division scout said, “Coach. Of course. Watson is gone. Tons of injuries. This season, how many quarterbacks did they play? Flacco is practically as old as I am. brought back Hunt. O-linemen are starting off off the street. The majority of Stef’s maneuvers were really good.
The assessor: “Consider others who disregarded this. However, Flacco’s style of play suggests that luck is also a factor. The same kind that any other league team would accept.
Does this imply that the Browns will defeat the Texans and move on to the divisional round in any way? Naturally, no. However, it does give them an opportunity to play until late January in a year where it appears as though at least six teams, if not more, might contend for the Lombardi Trophy in January. Despite the Browns’ away game, early betting odds had Cleveland (-1.5) as the favorite. Two months ago, no one would have asked this strange but important question: Would you rather start Flacco in that game or the incredible C.J. Stroud, who is as skilled and experienced as Flacco but younger?
In any case, who is left to argue? Cleveland has only made one trip to the playoffs since the 2002 season, and that was in their first year (20) under Stefanski. Just one! The Browns are playing in their fourth postseason since 1990. Though there’s no reason to jump forward just yet, the future is bright. Let’s say Flacco has a strong game and few turnovers. Assume the Browns are able to run the ball. Assume Cleveland’s defense performs as it has been doing. Let’s say the Chiefs are defeated by the sixth-seeded Dolphins on the road, giving the Browns a divisional round matchup that isn’t against Baltimore. Is it really so unlikely that the Ravens and Browns will face off again in the AFC championship game? No. It’s not implausible at all, especially in light of the current revival. Do they have faith in Flacco?
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