DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Are the Browns SB Contenders?

if I'd rank the team who I think could win it:

1. Baltimore
2. San Francisco
3. Philadelphia
4. Buffalo
5. Cleveland

IMO, if we were at or near full strength (Chubb, Watson, Delpit, JWills not on IR), NOBODY could beat us. We'd put up too many points and our D would just smother the other team. The road to the SB would go through Cleveland. It's unfortunate that fate decided that we we're too strong talent wise, that it felt it was lopsided to have to play us as is and cause our injuries.

BTW, here are the scenarios for us to clinch a berth this week:

The Browns clinch a playoff berth with:
1. CLE win or tie (vs Jets) OR
2. PIT loss or tie (vs Seahawks) OR
3. BUFF loss (vs Patriots) OR
4. JAX loss or tie (vs Panthers) OR
5. HOU loss or tie (vs Titans) + IND loss or tie (vs Raiders)

I agree .. heck, if we just had Chubb I think we'd win it

The Browns can absolutely reach the Super Bowl. Any team can win on any given week amongst the contenders in the AFC.

When the news broke that Watson was out for the season I resigned myself to thinking the divisional round was about the furthest the team could go.

With the confidence the team is playing with and the way Flacco is playing, anything is now possible. They may get beat in the WC round but either way, this team has been incredibly easy and fun to root for. Much different vibe from many of the teams through the 00's, 10' and early 20's. This Browns team has that 80's Browns feel.

It's been enjoyable living in the moment.

No.

Better NFC Teams SF, Philly, Dallas and or Detroit.

Better AFC Teams Baltimore and Miami.

Browns fall into the category of Buffalo and KC. Good teams that may beat a better team on any given day.

Cleveland's defense can make a difference.

Not a bad place to be and not anticipated after the loss of Chubb and Watson.

IMO any team that makes it to the playoffs are contenders.

No, and as a Browns fan I think any talk of the Browns being a contender will instantly mean we start losing. Or we'll find a new and even more painful way to lose a vital game.

NI fact as a Browns fan I feel that, even if our chances of making the playoffs is 100%, to talk about being a SB contender will result in us Missing the playoffs.... I think we can win against any team. You won't hear me suggest we are contenders, not even to myself in the quietest most remote part of my brain.

If we make the playoffs, then we are contenders.

Here's my question: assuming we get the 5 seed, we are basically a lock to play at the AFC South champ. Which team do we prefer? At Jacksonville, At Houston, or At Indianapolis?

My answer: At Indianapolis

Assuming Flacco and Stefanski continue their current pace (the interceptions have to come down in the playoffs though), I'd put us second on this list. A dominant defense with an offense that scores points and a team that is peaking at the right time...yeah, I'd put us second.

If we win the first game who would we play next? This feels like it is shaping up to be a Joe Flacco returns to Baltimore in the playoffs scenario.

We are contenders until we're eliminated from contention.

Let's also remember players that were placed on the IR are illegible to return for the post season. Do we have some players on the IR now that will be able to come back and play in the playoff? A tackle and a safety or two could be huge help.

Yeah, that's who we'd play unless Buffalo/Miami (whoever is the 6 seed) upsets KC

all the world for a home playoff snow globe game

Absolutely. Without a doubt.

I think the term Any Given Sunday applies here. Any team who makes the playoffs has a chance. But the Browns will need at least a couple of Any given Sunday's in a row to make the SB. It can most surely happen but the odds aren't good.

Agreed. Our OT 's aren't good, although I'll give them credit for their effort, and our running game isn't the best. I would give Strong some reps to see what he can do. If we were healthy obviously our chances would be much better.

My preference on who i want us to face in round 1 is in this order. 1.Indy 2.Jax 3.Houston I also think KC will win out and Miami will lose out and the Chiefs will leap frog Miami for the 2 seed and Buffalo will grab the third spot playing Miami back to back.

YES!

I wouldn't bet on it happening. Too many injuries. But that hasn't seemed to be a problem yet. If it happens, then someone's getting a statue in Cleveland.

I don't even think you'd see the difference between Watson and Flacco. The way he's playing, he's actually better than Watson. But your point is well taken. Give us our starting Oline and Chubb and I agree, we take the whole thing. Hell, we may do it anyway.

Every team is pretty flawed right now with the exception of Baltimore. The Ravens look pretty complete. We beat them and I think we could again but I wouldn’t put a lot of money on it.

As I said in another thread.. no one wants to play a team with nothing to lose. There’s no realistic expectation that we should win given our comically ridiculous injury situation. And yet…

wouldn’t want to play us if I was any other team in the playoffs. We’re pretty unpredictable and we seem to be operating on like 50% fairy dust. Every few years some team seems to get hot held together by chewing gum, twine, and magic. Maybe this year that teams us?

If major injuries were eventually going to hold us back, it would have happened by now.

we've had about 3-4 wins that left me speechless: SF, at IND, at BAL, CHI .. maybe even JAX and PIT

Let’s clinch a playoff spot first, before we start thinking about a a SB title.
But, yeah, we are. I fear no team. We’ve already beaten the Super Bowl favourites.

I think we should be able to hang with anyone in the AFC except for Miami. While I've always thought that Lamar poses problems for our D, the numbers don't really establish that as fact. And if Flacco went into Baltimore I'd expect him to rain fire.
Miami has the kind of firepower on offense to overwhelm our D over the course of a game.
In the NFC, I wouldn't want to face SF again, and Dallas looks scary these days. Maybe add Philly to that list.

I think we have a legit shot, but it's VERY matchup dependent.

No doubt OT's are the weak line position, but they aren't playing poor....maybe marginally good.

I think that is the problem in the running game and why people think a guy like Ford lacks. No doubt Hunt is pretty much done. He has lost his burst, but at RT you need a bulldozer in the run game if you want to run wide. We just don't have that which makes it easier for a D to guard against the run.

My feeling is we need to be thinking a RT in the draft if the right guy is there. It has to fit close to BPA and all, but you can usually find solid RT candidates in the 2nd/3rd round. Conklin is good when he is out there, but it is evermore sketchy he will be out there. We need better to back up and or take over the position.

Just win today and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.

I agree with your closing sentiment. And to respond to the thread's title, we are not SB contenders yet. A team isn't a contender until it is in. So unleash the Elf, get the notch tonight, and then contend clear to the end! It is wonderful playing "meaningful football" this late in the season for playoff berths.
Go,Browns!

Agreed. Get the win tonight to put us in and then go from there. Yesterday was 59 years since our last championship. It would be fantastic to win one again!!! Surreal might be a good word!!

The one spot where I think we match up with Miami better than most is Tyreek Hill. We have JOK; the rare linebacker that can keep pace with him.

Bills - Eagles - Chiefs - Titans: All four beat Miami. I think we stack up against any of them favorably. Heck, we embarrassed the Titans. It'll be easier if the defense gets healthy, but since there is a real solid chance of facing them in the playoffs, we do have to consider it, but I think we can handle them.

The feeling about this team is very different from the past in a very positive way. A win tonight will further solidify whether it really is different or the same old same old. We are at home where our D has been dominant, a playoff berth on the line and we are playing a team that is out of it that has a poor O. We should win.