After Clinching Playoff Berth, Browns Look Poised For More Than Just An Appearance
The night was perfect in so many ways.
A 37-20 win over the Jets locked up a playoff berth for the Browns and sent the Cleveland faithful into a frenzy both inside the stadium and out. The fan base didn't get that back in 2020, they earned a trip to the postseason. Only a lucky 5,000 or so fans were able to experience the emotion of beating the Steelers in Week 17 accomplish the same feat.
Thursday night was 25 years in the making for this city.
The fact that the moment was even a reality is pretty astonishing. Cleveland scratched and clawed its way to 11-5 with an unrecognizable roster. More than 10 players from the initial 53 heading into Week 1 – some key starters – are on the IR. Nick Chubb, Deshaun Watson, the team's top three tackles included.
The teams played stretches without top cornerback Denzel Ward. Won games with P.J. Walker at quarterback, won others without top wideout Amari Cooper – that was the case on Thursday night.
You'd be hard pressed to find a team in NFL history that lived by the NFL's "next-man-up" cliché more than the these Browns.
Their quarterback situation alone would have been enough to sink most teams. The Browns became the first team in league history to earn a trip to the playoffs after starting four different quarterbacks during the season. Somehow, they've found stability in 38-year-old Joe Flacco.
He's been a comeback story straight off out of a Hollywood script. Six ago he was watching football on his couch and throwing passes to his kids in the backyard to stay ready. Five starts, four wins, 1,616 yards, and 13 touchdowns later, now he's a key author in telling the story of the 2023 Cleveland Browns.
And like a choose your own ending book, there's no telling where this journey goes next.
In the words of tight end David Njoku, this the Browns are "resilient as f---," a scary characteristic for any potential playoff opponents that stand in its way. They possess an overwhelming sense of belief that no matter who is out there for them, they can win. They truly fear no team that stands in their way.
Belief and resiliencey are difficult things to quantify in terms of determining there impact on winning and losing, but this team has proven it means something. It's probably the most dangerous weapon in Cleveland's arsenal heading into the playoffs.
Of course, a top ranked defense based on dozens of metrics helps. With that group, led of course by the pure dominance of Myles Garrett and a ball-hawking secondary, the Browns can confidently go on the road against any team in the postseason and feel like they have a chance to win.
There's also the potential for reinforcements on that side of the ball if safety Grant Delpit is able to return off the IR and depth edge rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo truly avoided a season-ending injury.
That's not all they'll need in January and February though when quarterback play matters more than ever. The Browns seemingly have that box checked as well with Flacco playing more like he's in the prime of his career than the limelight of it. A fourth consecutive 300-yard game is a first for the 16-year veteran.
Flacco's renaissance, like many things during this season, is simply unexplainable. It's par for the course with this franchise in 2023.
When it comes to the Browns, expect the unexpected. They're a team that just feels destined for more than just a quick postseason appearance, whether they enter as the No. 5 seed or the top seed in the conference – which is still in play.
Bet against them at your own risk.
