Are the Cleveland Browns Built For A Deep Playoff Run?
Dec 24, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throws a towel to fans after the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
This holiday weekend was a bountiful one for NFL fans, with games on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, but there was one present missing from beneath the tree in Cleveland: the Browns’ hope for a division title appears to be slipping away.
The Browns still have some control over their destiny, with a win-and-in opportunity this Thursday night against the New York Jets, but the Baltimore Ravens’ massive victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Christmas night has solidified their spot atop the AFC North, and they’re the likely to be No. 1 overall in the AFC headed into the playoffs.
If the Ravens lose their next two games against the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers, which is plausible if unlikely, the Browns could win the AFC North. But I wouldn’t keep your fingers crossed that this particular package just got lost in the mail and is en route; you’re far more likely to get a year’s subscription to the Jelly of the Month Club.
Kevin Stefanski has once again brought this team to a 10-win season with two games remaining. The Browns have only registered 10 wins three times since their return in 1999, and Stefanski has been a part of two of those seasons. So perhaps he is the gift that keeps on giving.
Expect the Browns to clinch this Thursday night as they host the Jets. A home game in primetime against a foundering team holding their nose while they try to pick between Zach Wilson and Trevor Siemian is hardly a steep hill to climb.
Even though the Browns last matched up against a Houston Texans team depleted by injuries, Cleveland dominated the game from start to finish and turned in a convincing performance. Had kicker Dustin Hopkins not been injured in that game, I suspect the starters would have been out before the beginning of the fourth quarter.
At the risk of getting cocky, it seems like a safe bet Cleveland will find their way into the postseason. But how are they built in each phase of the game to for sustained playoff success?
Special Teams
Before this week, my answer would have been that the Browns’ special teams are absolutely built for the playoffs. Yet in the blink of an eye they gave up a kickoff return touchdown and a failed onside kick recovery, and both the kicker and punter got banged up.
Hopkins is the biggest concern at the moment. The Browns signed Riley Patterson, who will likely kick this Thursday, but he is by no means a one-to-one replacement for Hopkins, who has been an All-Pro-level player this season. Patterson has the accuracy necessary for an NFL kicker but has struggled with distance — exactly the sort of thing that could come back to haunt you in a big moment.
We haven’t heard much about Corey Bojorquez, who did punt the entire game on Sunday but was dinged up. He has been great all season at pinning teams inside the 20, so losing him would not be ideal.
Bubba Ventrone has been a great upgrade as special teams coordinator overall, but he certainly had a rough week in Houston with the return yards and inability to recover an onside kick.
Perhaps it’s for the best that it all happened in a week where the Browns dominated on both offense and defense. Now the team can put a focus on that in practice and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Offense
Joe Flacco has this offense humming on all cylinders. Amari Cooper broke a franchise record last week with over 240 receiving yards, and the Browns once again scored at will. However, once we hit the playoffs, I do have a few concerns.
The biggest issue right now is the offensive line. They are completely banged up at tackle, and teams with an elite pass rush have given James Hudson major issues. I’ve been disappointed that Stefanski hasn’t schemed up more help to the right tackle at this point, but it could end up costing a game.
Flacco has never been known as an athletic quarterback, but he is extremely elusive and made some huge plays on the run last week. While it was fun to watch, there is no doubt that he is far more productive in a clean pocket with time to read a defense.
With a banged-up offensive line and a season-ending injury to Nick Chubb, the Browns’ running game has also been non-existent in the last six weeks, which is also concerning. In playoff football, you need to be able to squeak out one or two first downs on the ground to close out a game.
The last time the Browns had a 10-win season and made the playoffs, they milked the clock throughout the fourth quarter, with Chubb completely wearing down defenses. It’s been a lot of fun watching Flacco sling the ball around, but I’m not sure how sustainable it is against elite defenses in do-or-die mode.
Defense
Right now, the Browns’ defense is the most complete part of this team. They have playmakers at all three levels and have proven they can stop even the best offenses in the league.
The two concerns I have with the defense are their depth and ability to stop the run. On a team riddled with injuries, the Browns’ defense has been hit especially hard, with losses at all three levels. The hardest-hit position is safety.
Considering what they have in place, I still think they can play at a high level, but they are one injury away at any position from big trouble. We have seen Myles Garrett’s production slow down with a nagging shoulder injury, and we saw this secondary really struggle when Denzel Ward was forced to miss a few games as well.
Even though this defense is sound at all three levels, they have been susceptible to the run all season, especially against quick backs who can change direction quickly on them. If they get in a situation where they need to force a punt quickly at the end of the game, I worry an opponent could just run it three times and get a first down to end the game.
It’s easy to pick at this team, but when you look at the list of injuries you have just to be thrilled. Remember, they are on starting quarterback No. four, offensive tackles No. 5 and 6, and safeties No. 5 and 6 as well. Yet they have a great shot at making the playoffs and have already won 10 games. For the better part of a decade, that would have been a dream scenario in Cleveland.
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