by As frustrating as the offseason is for football fans, at least it offers a period of time where anything can happen. The first incomplete pass has not been thrown, the first fumble has not been made, and the first last-minute field goal attempt has not been missed. It is a time that Cleveland Browns fans have come to savor over the years.
It is no secret that the Browns have not been the most competitive team in the NFL. If you are busy planning your Monday Night football bets, you have probably not considered backing Cleveland that often over the last few years. Just three trips to the postseason since the turn of the millennium speaks volumes.
But, as ever, the new season brings hope. Now a few weeks in, can Browns fans expect anything to be different? Finding ourselves in possibly the toughest division in the entire league doesn’t help matters but can Cleveland football fans expect things to get better this year? Are the Browns making the playoffs?
Pre-season Hopes
Although there have been a couple of postseason appearances in the last few years, it was understood by most fans that the organization was experiencing a period of transition. A rebuilding effort was needed and there was now the hope that the team could compete, even with a very tough division and schedule.
But Browns fans should have been careful about getting carried away. Winning 11 games last season was impressive – suggesting that more could come this year – but that may be a tough task. Just making the playoffs was probably the minimum requirement, but not one that was absolutely guaranteed.
Games on the Road
The most noticeable thing about the Browns schedule when it was released was that there were three games on the road in the first month. The opponents were not of the highest caliber but it is always difficult to play your best when you have to contend with travelling, rival fans, and unfamiliar surroundings.
Even an .500 record going into October would have been a positive and that is why the season opener loss to the Cowboys was such a disappointment. It was a chance to set the narrative for the season and it needed that win over the Jags to get back to the starting line again. If the rest of the month goes in the same direction, Cleveland can count itself in a good position.
Deshaun’s Season
One of the most contentious points ahead of the new season of football as far as the Cleveland Browns is concerned was whether Deshaun Watson would get the chance to redeem himself, get his career back on track, and repay the faith that the organization put in him when it traded for him.
Deshaun Watson at the height of his abilities is taking the Browns deep into the playoffs. Deshaun Watson repeating the form he has shown since landing in Ohio is wasting a good chunk of the salary cap and not moving the team in the direction it needs to go. A lot falls on the shoulders of this young man.
Bring in Winston?
The Browns do seem to have put their faith in Watson and have decided to stick with the young quarterback. But there is another option available. Cleveland may be stuck in a hole as far as paying Watson goes, but there is no obligation to play him. After the games against Dallas and Jacksonville, it could be argued that Jameis Winston should be brought into the team.
Winston has his own detractors, of course. But he does have a lot of experience in the NFL and would surely not be too much of a risk. The Browns have put a lot of faith in Watson but could well make Winston the starting QB sooner rather than later if the results don’t go Cleveland’s way in the opening months of the season.
Divisional Race
If you took a look at the forecast for the Browns from the experts before the season, it seems as though the team polarizes like no other. Some thought that Cleveland could win the AFC North – or at the very least make a good run at the division while easing into the playoffs. While others predicted the Browns to finish dead last.
It should be said this division is one of the hardest in the league to call. The Ravens are Super Bowl quality but can blow hot and cold. The Bengals made it all the way to the championship game a few years ago before an injury to Joe Burrows ruined any chance of a repeat. And even Pittsburgh can play on its day – and won both its opening two games.
Games with divisional rivals, therefore, will be of the utmost importance. The last five games of the season will be particularly testing, with road games against all three added to a home game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Figure 2 Fans will be hoping to be watching playoff football here this Winter
Where the Season Will Be Won (or Lost)
After an extensive road trip to begin the 2024 season, Cleveland will need to be on top form in October. If there are a few wins on the board already, all the better. But it is the second month of the season when this team needs to shine. There are two home games against divisional rivals and a tough matchup at Philly. The month kicks off with what has to be a win against Washington.
We have already talked about that tough December/January run-in to the season. But if the Browns are still in contention, it will be because they made the most of a relatively easy November. A bye week and three winnable games should keep Cleveland in the race. If the work has been done early enough, the Browns could even lose a bunch of games at the end of the season and still make the playoffs. From there, anything could happen.
