The Cleveland Browns proved everybody wrong last year when they made the playoffs after losing starting quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Nick Chubb to season-ending injuries. The Browns signed veteran quarterback Joe Flacco off the street. He came in and played great football right away, helping lead the Browns to the playoffs, but a Wild Card round loss to the Houston Texans ended Cleveland’s season. They are trying to get back to the postseason again this year, but it most likely won’t happen, and here is why.
1. Cleveland Browns Deshaun Watson Will Not Live Up To Being A Top 15 Quarterback
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has not been able to figure it out the last two seasons since coming to Cleveland, and a lot of that has to do with being unable to stay on the field. In 2022, he was suspended for 11 games, and then last year, he only appeared in six games due to a season-ending shoulder injury, which required surgery.
Watson has not looked great in the 12 games he has played as a member of the Cleveland Browns, and now he is supposed to come out and play great football after a shoulder injury.
The former Clemson star will be okay this season, but nothing special. If you want to win the AFC, you will need a special quarterback, and the Browns won’t get that with Watson.
2. The Defense Will Take A Step Back
The Brown’s defense was lights out last season and was one of the best in the entire league, and if it weren’t for them, they would not have made the playoffs. The defense is returning almost every major player from last year’s team, so why would they take a step back? It’s not because they can’t be great, but usually, defenses don’t last long in the NFL, and you get a season or two of the great ones before they go downhill a little.
The defense was also great at home last year, and it had its struggles on the road, so there is a good chance that will happen again. Also, the Browns got away with playing some pretty average quarterbacks last season, like Kenny Pickett, Gardner Minshew, Ryan Tannehill, Geno Smith, Clayton Tune, Davis Mills/Case Keenum, and Trevor Siemian.
The odds are heavy against the Browns playing that many average quarterbacks again. If there are no injuries, they are scheduled to play Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow twice, Dak Prescott, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Trevor Lawrence, and Tua Tagovailoa.
3. The AFC Is Loaded
Every team in the AFC besides the New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders have a chance to make the playoffs. There are 12 teams figitng for seven playoff spots and the Browns are one of the teams in the middle of the pack.
The Browns haven’t won a division title since 1989 so history shows us they most likely won’t win one again this season making their only path to the playoffs in the wild card and they will have to fight a bunch of teams for that spot.
The Cleveland Browns will have a good season but it probably won’t be enough to get them to playing football in the middle of January.
