Connect with us
Home » news » can the browns keep on rolling

News

Can the Cleveland Browns Keep on Rolling?

The Browns have the look of a playoff contender, but have to take advantage of their upcoming games

Alex Hickey

Published

on

Hope is no longer a four-letter word in Cleveland.

The strange tingly sensation that began when LeBron announced he was returning to the Cavaliers has made an unexpected transition to the gridiron. Another hometown hero, Brian Hoyer, has done something more unthinkable than ditching the glamour of South Beach for the shores of Lake Erie – he beat the Steelers.

That Pittsburgh appears increasingly shaky each week matters not. This is only the second time Cleveland has beaten Ben Roethlisberger in 20 tries, and the 31-10 victory marked the biggest margin of defeat over the Steelers since 1989. It’s also an indicator that bigger things could be on the horizon for the Browns.

Cleveland’s next three games are against Jacksonville, Oakland and Tampa Bay, who have combined their powers for one win this season. If the Browns take care of business against that terrible trio, they’ll be 6-2 and heading into the second half of the season not only gunning for their first playoff berth since 2002 but their first division title since 1989.

But can they actually finish?

These are still the Browns. Disappointment seems sure to be lurking around some corner. And boy, does it ever lurk in November and December. Atlanta (2-4) is the only team currently under .500 that the Browns face in their final eight games, and that one will be played in the Georgia Dome.

Working in Cleveland’s favor is a three-headed monster in the backfield. Rookie Terrance West is still the team’s leading rusher, and he wasn’t even activated for the Steelers game. The Browns were just fine without him as Ben Tate and Isaiah Crowell combined for 155 yards, and they sit fourth in the league in rushing as a team.

The Achilles heel is a defense that is ranked 30th against the rush and 27th against the pass. The disparity makes it hard to predict how things will pan out for this team, but does lead one to believe they will be as exciting to watch at season’s end as they have been at the start. Sunday’s game was the first this year for Cleveland that has not been decided in the game’s final seconds.

Win or lose, the Browns have unexpectedly become the most entertaining watch in the NFL this season.

Maybe LeBron won’t even mind waiting a couple extra months before taking over the spotlight.

Alex Hickey can vividly recall most significant NFL events going back to Walter Payton's final game in 1987, including the ones that didn't make him cry. Since 2008, his full-time job has been covering college football, specifically McNeese State, for the Lake Charles (La.) American Press. Free time is spent informing, amusing or annoying you for Football Insiders.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Buccaneers admit mistake, boot Aguayo

Avatar

Published

on

In the NFL, it’s always better to admit a mistake than to compound it. For the Buccaneers, the decision to burn a 2016 second-round pick on kicker Robert Aguayo has proven to be a mistake. The Buccaneers made the definitive admission of their error on Saturday, cutting Aguayo. He exits with $428,000 in fully-guaranteed salary [more]

Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading

News

Did Bucs put too much pressure on Aguayo?

Avatar

Published

on

After the Buccaneers surprised everyone by taking a kicker with the 59th overall pick in the draft, G.M. Jason Licht explained the move by heaping superlatives on the player. “I was very excited along with my staff and coaches about Roberto for a very long time,” Licht told PFT Live in May 2016. “It’s not [more]

Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading

News

Broncos holding their breath on Derek Wolfe

Avatar

Published

on

Only two days after losing Billy Winn for the year with a torn ACL, the Broncos are now sweating out another potentially serious injury along the defensive line. Via multiple reports, Broncos defensive lineman Derek Wolfe was carted off the field during practice on Saturday. It’s being described as a right ankle injury by coach [more]

Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading

The NFL On Twitter


Insiders On Facebook

Trending Now

Copyright © 2021 Insider Sports, Inc