Fansided

NFL: 10 teams that are better (or worse) than their records indicate

By Luke Dahlgren

Oct 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs against the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Falcons 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs against the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Falcons 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 11
Next
Sep 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /

BETTER: Cleveland Browns (2-4)

Lake Erie is composed of about 7% water, 33% toxic algae and 60% tears of Cleveland sports fans.

The Cleveland Browns entered 2015 seemingly set to continue the tradition of sports suffering in Northern Ohio – their quarterback competition was a race to the bottom between derelict career backup Josh McCown and sophomore embarrassment Johnny Manziel, their most promising skill position players were Andrew Hawkins, Isaiah Crowell and Gary Barnidge, and they had tried to get their fans excited by changing the orange shade in their helmets two hues over from La Calabaza to La Naranja.

And yet as the season began, a miracle seemingly happened: the Browns were not the worst team in the league. The defense was still a mess, allowing 407.3 yards and 26.3 points per game. But the combination of McCown and Manziel have shown stretches of brilliance within the Browns offense (the Browns are 10th with 272.3 passing yards per game), while Travis Benjamin has emerged as a competent number one (or at worst a number two) receiver through six games.

The Browns have only experienced a -17 point differential on the season, an average of 2.83 points per game. One of their losses came on a field goal in overtime to the Broncos. The team is playing up to their competition, which through six has been fierce.

Final record: 7-9

The Browns schedule has some rough patches – the upcoming St. Louis-Arizona-Cincinnati stretch might sink them to 2-7 – but the team has shown the ability to keep pace with the league’s best offenses and push through it’s premier defenses. Late season games against teams like the 49ers, Chiefs and Ravens could see the Browns finally finish in close games.

Next: Buffalo Bills

Home/NFL