5 NFL teams with most to prove this season

Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws as he is hit by Atlanta Falcons middle linebacker Deion Jones (45) during the first quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 20, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) and Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler (6) during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns finished the 2016 season with a dismal 1-15 record. If it is possible, the team’s actual performance was even worse than their record indicates. The team had only 77 third-down conversions on 201 attempts, 29 touchdowns, and an average of 16.5 points per game. Their defense allowed 28.2 points per game and gave up an average of 142.7 rushing yards. Every aspect of the Browns game was terrible.

Last year was not an anomaly. The Browns are terrible every season despite eight first-round picks between 2012 and 2016. In 2017, the Browns had three first-round picks, investing in Myles Garrett, Jabrill Peppers, and David Njoku.

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Mediocre quarterback Brock Osweiler will be entrusted with the team’s offense, the fifteenth quarterback to start a Cleveland Browns game since 2009. That list includes such forgettable names as Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson, Colt McCoy, Seneca Wallace, Brandon Weeden, Thad Lewis, Jason Campbell, Brian Hoyer, Johnny Manziel, Connor Shaw, Austin Davis, Josh McCown, Cody Kessler, and Robert Griffin III.

Only the most delusional fan would think that the 2017 picks will be enough to turn a 1-15 team into a division champion. A reasonable expectation would be for the team to break out of their nosedive spiral and function as something other than the laughingstock of the NFL.

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