Cleveland Browns Continue to Rock the NFL

For the first time in 20 years, the Browns are off to their best start and are tied for first in the AFC North and their NOT led by Johnny Manziel.

Let it be known here: the Cleveland Browns will win the AFC North and also let it be known that Johnny Manziel will probably not play any meaningful snaps this year.

It’s actually funny if you think about it.  The team that drafted who everyone thought was the most electrifying player in college football, is winning with their somewhat-journeyman quarterback who nobody thought could do the job.  Except all quarterback Brian Hoyer has done since being named the starter is lead this team to a now 6-3 record, the first time the Browns have been 6-3 since their rebirth in 1999.

The Browns 24-3 blowout of the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football proved that while the Browns don’t need to overpower anyone to win, all they have to do is keep consistent.

Hoyer was 15-for-23 for 198 yards through the air, continuing his trend of completing at least 60 percent of his passes and he also benefitted from a solid running game that saw three Cleveland running backs rack 169 yards against a disappointing Bengals defense.

However the Browns defense stole the spotlight in Cleveland’s nationally-televised coming out party, forcing four Bengal turnovers (three interceptions and a fumble recovery) and holding rookie Jeremy Hill to just 55 rushing yards.

It’s also worth noting that Cleveland won with four of their starters on offense Thursday night as well (Alex Mack, Josh Gordon, Jordan Cameron and Andrew Hawkins).

“For us, it’s always been about next man up,” Hoyer said after the game. 

If there’s anyone that’s followed the Browns this season, none of this has been surprising.

Cleveland has wins against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, are tied for first in an AFC North division where the last place team in the Ravens at 5-4, will finish the season with more than five wins for the first time since 2007 and could have a sleeper in the Coach of the Year in first-year head coach Mike Pettine. They are on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and could win their first division title since 1989. The best part about Cleveland’s current “star” in the NFL is the ability to win without any stars.

This team is led by Brian Hoyer, who was expected to lose his job to Manziel halfway through the season, they’re running the ball well with running backs named Terrance West, Isaiah Crowell and Ben Tate and doing it all with a defensive first-year head coach who everyone seemed to have overlooked during the offseason. The Browns defense entered Thursday night ranked 28^th in total yardage allowed, however was sixth in points allowed (172) and have 17 takeaways and a plus-10 turnover differential on the season after Thursday night’s win.  If there’s any team in the NFL that could preach a “bend but don’t break” mentality, it’s Cleveland.

With their next three games coming against Houston, Atlanta and Buffalo, the Browns have a solid chance to claim their spot in the playoffs before a big game against Indianapolis on Dec. 7 and a rematch against the Bengals the Sunday after.

When the Browns won their division in 1989, they went all the way to the conference championship game, losing to the Denver Broncos.

With the way this team is playing, if they can stay consistent enough, it’s possible that history could repeat itself, except this time with a better ending.

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