Cleveland Browns: From 0-16 To AFC North Champs In One Season?

The Cleveland Browns will enter the 2018 season with a huge chip on their shoulder. While the focus has been on their 0-16 campaign in 2017, the drought goes back to 2016. In the last two seasons, the Browns have won a total of one game going 1-31 under Hue Jackson. But this is not about their dismal past. The Browns have a bright future ahead of them and it all begins with winning the AFC North this season.

The expectations I have for the Browns is not off-base. What the Cleveland Browns have done this offseason has made them a team to keep an eye on. But those same watchers are expecting more of the same. Sorry, but I just don’t see that happening in 2018.  Name another team in the AFC North that has managed to change the dynamic of their team in one offseason like the Cleveland Browns have.

The Pittsburgh Steelers went 13-3 in 2017 and while they still have Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown, the Steelers are just a contract talk or bad press day away from imploding. During the offseason, the Steelers made no major upgrades on an aging roster. While the Steelers are good, no major improvements could easily lead to a decline, opening the door for the Browns.

A mention of the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals does not bring fear to any team in the AFC North whether or not a team won zero or 13 games.

The Ravens are still hitching their trailer to Joe Flacco and while he’s won his fair share of important games, the Ravens have not been able to surround him with the necessary weapons. The same goes for the Bengals. A.J. Green is one of the best receivers in the NFL but the Bengals can’t win alone with just a talented pass catcher.

With the other teams failure to upgrade, the division is ripe for the taking. Yes, I know what your thinking. There’s no way the Browns can accomplish such a lofty goal. Think again.

If you wish to go back to their winless season then look back with both eyes open. For starters, the Browns were not stable at QB or WR. What has changed this offseason? The addition of Tyrod Taylor and Baker Mayfield. No matter who starts under center, they will be far better than DeShone Kizer. Kizer was so awful that the Browns gift-wrapped him out-of-town.

What’s forgotten is the importance of Taylor. No, he’s not Aaron Rodgers but the Browns came away with a QB who threw for 8857 yards, 51 touchdowns and 18 interceptions as a full-time starter with the Buffalo Bills in three seasons. Yes, you read that correctly. Taylor has only thrown 18 interceptions in three seasons. While the Bills have not made much noise, Taylor was their driving force. Another thing to note regarding Taylor was his lack of offensive weapons while in Buffalo. He no longer has that problem in Cleveland. This is not 2017 anymore. The Browns have weapons to surround Taylor with that he’s never had before.

On the outside, Taylor will have Josh Gordon and Jarvis Landry. That’s a major upgrade from Corey Coleman, Ricardo Lewis, and Kenny Britt. Then you add in the rushing attack and the Browns have three backs who will wear any defense down. In 2017, the Browns rushed the ball 384 times for 1714 yards and 11 touchdowns but done so often against an eight-man front. With defenses not worried about their passing attack, the Browns became one-dimensional on offense. Not anymore. With Carlos Hyde, Duke Johnson, and Nick Chubb leading the way, it’s fair to say that the Browns could lead the NFL in rushing in 2018.

Can The Browns Really Win The AFC North In 2018?

Here’s another factor to consider. On the defensive side of the ball, the Browns gave up an average of 328.1 yards per game (14th) while the Steelers (306.9-5th), Ravens (325.1-12th), and Bengals (339.1-18th) didn’t fare that much better. What this shows is how awful the offense for the Browns was, and how young the defense was. With another year under their belt, the Browns’ defense will be much improved with the addition of CB Denzel Ward. While fans wanted Bradley Chubb, the Browns knew they had to shore up a secondary that surrendered 28 touchdowns through the air.

But still, with everything they have done, are the Browns legit enough to get 10-11 wins? Yes.

In all fairness, the Browns lost six games by a touchdown or less while playing against five teams that would make the playoffs. But a closer look at their 2018 schedule will show that the Browns are in a great position to turn me into a prophet. The team will take on just four opponents in 2018 who advanced to the playoffs.

While it may take a few games for the offense to get on track, there’s no reason to believe that the defense can’t hold down the fort until they do so. With the first half of games against the Steelers, Saints, Chiefs, and Falcons all before their Bye in Week 11, the Browns could very well be in a position to just do the impossible.

The Future Is Now For the Cleveland Browns

However, what people will see is 1-15 and 0-16. The moves the Cleveland Browns have made and the stagnant approach the rest of the division took is a clear sign that things are changing. This is a new year and new chances for the Browns to right the ship. The offense is much improved with Taylor, Landry, Gordon, Hyde, and Chubb. While the defense will look the same, they were not that bad to begin with. Now they have their cover corner to blanket Brown and Green.

Of course, it will take more than skills to win. The ball will need to bounce their way. They will need a few calls to go in their favor. But what the Browns can gain confidence in are the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, and the Philadelphia Eagles. Who outside of those organizations saw championship-caliber improvements in 2017?

Anything is possible in sports and if a team can go 0-16 one year, who’s to say they can’t turn the table the following?

Mark Wilson

Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.