The Cleveland Browns Are Over .500 For The First Time Since 2014
The Cleveland Browns beat Washington 34-20 on Sunday that puts them above .500 for the first time since 2014. All they needed to turn this thing around was to play Cincinnati and Washington! Unfortunately for them they play in the AFC North and still sit in 3rd place at 2-1. Progress!
Most of us aren't Browns fans, but we are getting tired of hearing about tanking (for fill in the next first round quarterback). If you told us the 2020 Cleveland Browns were 2-1 heading into week 4, we would assume Baker Mayfield had a large part in that, but he hasn't. Cleveland currently sits 31st (narrowly ahead of the NY Jets) in passing yards and that craps on OBJ's parade.
Real tests are on the way as they prepare to play Dallas, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh that will make or break this team. This could be the moment the Cleveland front office is waiting on to determine if OBJ should stay. Who knows if Mayfield isn't on a short leash either as Trevor Lawrence approaches the draft?
Fool's gold
They're winning games they frankly should be winning, but even THAT is progress in Cleveland. If the Browns are just now for the first time above .500 since 2014, that tells us they have NEVER won games they were supposed to. At this point winning meaningless games in September is all their fan base can ask for.
One problem with winning these games now is that it might cause conflicting feelings on Mayfield and it shouldn't. No team makes a move for Odell Beckham Jr. to be 31st in passing yards and that alone should be a red flag. NFL analysts were a mixed bag after week 2's win when Mayfield didn't do anything special. I guess the expectations for the former #1 pick and this franchise are so low that 219 yards with 2 TD's and pick is deemed successful.
The Cleveland Browns remaining schedule will sink this franchise back into hoping for Trevor Lawrence or float into unprecedented heights. At least this team will know what's what as they sprint into the 2021 offseason.