Fansided

Browns out to prove the ample hype isn’t misplaced

By Randy Gurzi

Fantasy football: BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 30, 2018: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns high-fives wide receiver Jarvis Landry #80 after a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter of a game against the Baltimore Ravens on December 30, 2018 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore won 26-24. (Photo by: 2018 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
Fantasy football: BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 30, 2018: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns high-fives wide receiver Jarvis Landry #80 after a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter of a game against the Baltimore Ravens on December 30, 2018 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore won 26-24. (Photo by: 2018 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Browns haven’t won a division crown since 1989. This year might be different behind a loaded roster.

Best-case scenario

Following a 5-2 stretch to end the 2018 season, the hype around the Browns is at an all-time high. While they’re a much better team now than they have been in years, they still need to learn how to succeed.

This season, their best-case scenario is to win the AFC North and then notch a playoff victory. Doing so gives them their first winning season since 2007, ends the longest playoff drought in team history, and would also be their first postseason win since returning to the NFL in 1999. That wouldn’t be bad at all, and would give them a lot to build on going forward.

Worst-case scenario

Struggling to find an identity with a rookie head coach in Freddie Kitchens.

Tasked with managing some big personalities such as Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham, Jr. — as well as some problem children in Antonio Callaway and Kareem Hunt — there’s a chance that this team could become their own worst enemy. If so, they could miss the playoffs all together and once again be picking up the pieces of a losing season.

Confidence level (Low, medium or high)

High.

The talent is there, no question. They also looked sharp in the preseason.

However, there are still questions about the head coach. Freddie Kitchens proved to be a great play caller, but it takes more than that to succeed. In addition to the fact that they have an unproven coach, the Browns have already seen injuries sideline OBJ and Jarvis Landry in practice. That brings up another concern, which is their depth. Having said all that, it would be a shock if they didn’t finish the season with a winning record.

X-Factor

The big names get the love, that’s just how it goes. We all know Myles Garrett, Baker Mayfield, OBJ, and Jarvis Landry. However, the X-Factor is Olivier Vernon. The Browns sacrificed a lot to bring him in as they gave up starting right guard Kevin Zeitler. General manager John Dorsey knows how important Zeitler was, but he also understands that their defense simply wasn’t good enough in 2018. The best way to improve is by getting after the quarterback and Vernon can do exactly that. Last season, this responsibility fell squarely on the shoulders of Garrett and having a secondary pass-rusher could make the entire defense better.

Turning point

Week 11 vs. Pittsburgh.

It also kicks off a stretch of five divisional games over the final seven weeks of the season. For the first time in a long time, Cleveland is considered a contender for the North. No matter what happens in the first 10 weeks, this is the stretch that will make or break the Browns’ season as they can either make a run for their divisional crown, or watch that opportunity slip away.

Best moment in team history

The Browns were a dominant team when they first entered the NFL and won four championships in the 1950s and 1960s. An argument could be made for any one of those title winning seasons, but it’s hard to pick anything other than their return to the NFL in 1999.

When Art Modell took the franchise to Baltimore, it crushed the fans who are some of the most passionate in all of sports. Understanding this, the league did right by the people of Cleveland by leaving the history behind. It’s taken a long time to become a good team again, but this city deserves to have a football team, which makes this their best moment.