If we ever officially turn the corner, we will have to jump over the biggest hurdle this team has dealt with since the return. We have to have sustained success. We have to actually be good when everyone expects us to be good. We somewhat surprised in ‘02, surprised in ‘07 and surprised in ‘18. Each one of those seasons was followed by big time disappointment.
We surprised in ‘20. We accomplished a new high of winning a playoff game. Now, people expect us to be good again. We have to rise up. We have to meet or exceed high expectations for once.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
If we ever officially turn the corner, we will have to jump over the biggest hurdle this team has dealt with since the return. We have to have sustained success. We have to actually be good when everyone expects us to be good. We somewhat surprised in ‘02, surprised in ‘07 and surprised in ‘18. Each one of those seasons was followed by big time disappointment.
We surprised in ‘20. We accomplished a new high of winning a playoff game. Now, people expect us to be good again. We have to rise up. We have to meet or exceed high expectations for once.
I agree. One and done doesn't cut it. We may not go to the playoffs every year, or challenge for the Super Bowl, but we need to remain good every year. We need to be going in to the last game or two of the season with a solid playoff shot. No more done by mid October.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
I agree. Now is the time to keep the momentum going in this direction. We can’t slip back into the other end of the NFL spectrum
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
3 AFC north teams in the top ten? Interesting.. I still think we take the division next year.
i think it all depends on two things:
1. Ben’s ability to keep his level 2. Our ability to stop Lamar from running
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
Having Pittsburgh at #6 hurts this power ranking's credibility, IMO.
Not entirely. They'd be a different team than we saw in the playoffs with a fully healthy defense. We'd still beat them, but it likely wouldn't have looked so easy.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
They have lost their C, RT, and LT from the OL. James Conner is a FA rumored to be bound for either Miami or Seattle, so as of right now their starting RB is Benny Snell. On defense, they lost Bud Dupree, DE Tyson Alualu is a FA, and they lost starting DBs Mike Hilton and Steven Nelson.
Even if they can replace all those positions, I still believe Roethlisberger is done. He may prove me wrong, but IMO, he can't make the throws anymore. So I think Pitt should be in the 10-11-12 area of the rankings.
We're a long way away from the season still. On paper we're sitting pretty, but there's still a lot of work that needs to take place to realize the potential.
It is definitely a different feeling, though. It's nice to have high expectations. Now we will get to find out how they handle them.
You mess with the "Bull," you get the horns. Fiercely Independent.
3 AFC north teams in the top ten? Interesting.. I still think we take the division next year.
i think it all depends on two things:
1. Ben’s ability to keep his level 2. Our ability to stop Lamar from running
The whole Lamar dynamic is really interesting. I know he is very evasive in his running style, but all it takes is one bad play, and he doesn't have the same frame as someone like Cam Newton. I don't wish injury on the guy, at all, but if you keep playing with fire, eventually you're going to get burned.
It seems that the Ravens realized this, too, last year. He had a lot of his success early on in his career running the ball, obviously. Last year, they tried to reframe him into more of a "pass first" guy, and it worked at the start. Then, I think coverages caught up to him. Then, when they got desperate to make the playoffs last year, they reverted back to "run first" Lamar, which worked in the short term, but again begs the question of sustainability, and potentially stunts his growth.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
I agree. It's nice to get some respect as we almost never got it in the past. I like what I see of this team and the moves Andrew Berry has made. I am cautiously optimistic. Our O should be clicking from the 1st game this year because it was really good at the end of the season and it's finally the same system 2 years in a row. Our D will take a little time to gel with all the new players and more to come but the talent will be much better and there should be much improvement. However, like many of my fellow Browns fans, I'm still feeling the effects of BBFS ( Battered Browns Fans Syndrome) and until we start winning consistently I will tread cautiously. I want us to be a perenial winner and contender and I pray that comes to fruition.
3 AFC north teams in the top ten? Interesting.. I still think we take the division next year.
Haven't won a division Title Since 1989 ... It's Our Time
John 3:16 Jesus said "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
I'm as excited as the next fan. As fans, I think it's OK to be fired up when you have the energy from an 11-5 season and a playoff win.
For the team to replicate last year's success will require something other than unchecked exuberance. Mentally and emotionally the team will have to get in a similar groove that Stefanski created last season. Basically, prepare to go 1-0 every week. Block out all of the outside noise and put all your focus into getting the win in front of you. Stefanski did a great job with that last year. He has proved that it works. The team leaders have buy-in. Other guys will follow.
Seahawks, Rams, could be the Raiders and or Arizona,
And No games will be played before the Draft, which will change things.
That's 11 teams, Browns belong in that mix plus I probably forgot a couple, thus, accurately I would agree with a power ranking having the Browns maybe 8th, maybe 8th in the NFL which is still pretty dang high.
It just means the Browns would get more night time national games.
Plus, I wouldn't be surprised if the Browns Open up, week #1 against Pittsburgh
especially if impure; accused of assault; steelers quarterback returns for another year in his hall of shame career.
With the complete tear down and rebuild on the defensive side of the ball, I think the Browns' win loss record is going to take a hit.
They'll probably win, 7, or 8, or 9 games this year (16 game season), and miss the playoffs.
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
Dude, that tin foil hat is screwed down way too tight.
lol
John 3:16 Jesus said "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
They have lost their C, RT, and LT from the OL. James Conner is a FA rumored to be bound for either Miami or Seattle, so as of right now their starting RB is Benny Snell. On defense, they lost Bud Dupree, DE Tyson Alualu is a FA, and they lost starting DBs Mike Hilton and Steven Nelson.
Even if they can replace all those positions, I still believe Roethlisberger is done. He may prove me wrong, but IMO, he can't make the throws anymore. So I think Pitt should be in the 10-11-12 area of the rankings.
I agree. Steelers were on life support at the end of the season, they lost a number of key players, nobody knows what Ben will have next year.. they are in the top 10 on reputation alone at this point. They may very well fix some things and be good but just looking at it on paper right now, they are highly overprojected.
Our division has 3 of the top 7 ranked teams in the NFL. Man its a tough Division that is for sure. What I hate is I remember in the past history of strong Divisions is they end up beating up on each other making it tough in the long run specifically Post Season play. The team with the lease injuries wins out.
Defense wins championships. Watson play your butt off! Go Browns! CHRIST HAS RISEN! GM Strong! & Stay safe everyone!
well, it's nice to get the respect, but I'll get on board when we have a winning record and are about to clinch a play-off spot well before Week 17.
We did fantastic last year. None of that matters now. That is in the past, doesn't count at all now, and has no bearing at all on this year... they have to go out and do it again.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
I couldn't agree more. I'll admit we are better prepared for the hype than we were before the 2019 season but that's all it is. Let's take it one game at a time please. We as Browns fans should be excited about the coming season let's not make the same mistake we made 2 years ago. Our schedule is tougher and we play a few teams we've always had trouble beating. Again, deep breath, one game at a time.
It is impossible to accurately predict how a season will play out.
Way to many factors enter the picture. The obvious is injuries. All teams try to improve each year. That does not happen. Rosters change a lot year to year.
Some improve. Some get worse.
What I will say regarding the Browns. In 1987 The Browns were on the cover of SI as the Super Bowl favorites.
This is the best team talent wise since then. Their ranking at 4th is completely justified.
If that ranking is accurate. The Cleveland Browns are Super Bowl contenders for 2021.
With consistency on the coaching staff I'm cautiously optimistic... our defense needs a serious upgrade and who knows how injuries play out... but I think we're in a solid position to make some noise in the playoffs again this year...
That's the one thing that makes this team different from all the other Browns teams over the last 20 years; continuity. We have the same coaching staff and systems in place. We just have to add players to make it better. Unprecedented for us!!
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e! Good to see ir.
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