The Playoffs Are Here!!!!

November 7, 1999, a date that certainly does not live in infamy. The Baltimore Ravens made their first ever trip to play in the hostile confines of Cleveland Browns Stadium. It’s hard to believe that that game wasn’t a primetime nationally televised contest, who wouldn’t want to watch a 1-7 team take on a 2-5 opponent. Must see TV for sure. The Browns came into the game red-hot (sarcasm intended), coming off their first win of the season against the Saints by a score of 21-16 one a last second touchdown pass from Tim Couch to Kevin Johnson. Having finally gotten off the schneid, the Browns were prepared to vanquish those poetic bastards from Baltimore. However, three hours laters, Baltimore delivered a 41-9 beatdown and the chance for an actual win streak went up in smoke. Like 14 other times that season Cleveland Sports Radio erupted on a Monday morning about all the things wrong with the Cleveland Browns. Alas, the Browns would have to wait another year to try and beat the Baltimore Ravens. (Actually they had to wait 2 more years.)

Anyway, it is the year 2021, and for all intents and purposes (or intensive purposes, or in tents with porpoises) the Cleveland Browns are in the playoffs right now. Granted, it would be better to play win-or-go-home games in January rather than week 14. But the Browns very squarely have their collective backs against the wall. Really, the only route to the playoffs is to win the division, and they have to win today in order to do so. Although they’d never admit it, I think the team and coaches are pleased to be completely and singularly focused on just this game. The list of things to be concerned with just got a lot shorter, and it is as simple as one play at a time, do your job, all that cliched football stuff. The entire organization (including the peanut vendor in section 236) are aware of the importance of this game. So much hangs in the balance; the possibility of the real playoffs this season, Baker Mayfield’s status with the team, and the mental health of all of Northern Ohio.

I wrote last week about how Browns-Ravens in week 12 wasn’t the disaster that many would describe afterward. Yes the offense was terrible, and we were the first team ever to get 4 interceptions and lose. But, despite all that, we were in a position to win that game, and with one tiny piece of luck the outcome could have easily gone the other way. So in a way, the Browns can carry some confidence into this game. The defense was great, right now Baltimore is reeling and seems to have no answer for a strong pass rush. (our strong suit) Also, the Browns finally had a bye week, and I’m sure Stefanski and his crew went back to the drawing board to design some offense that will actually function. Hopefully that means we see some sets with Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb on the field together, it seems like that unpredictability could pay dividends. The Browns don’t need to score 35 points to win today, really 20 points might do it considering the way the defense has been playing. So it is really a question of figuring out how to get enough going in the passing game so that the Browns can lean on their running game. Last week, Baltimore loaded up against the run, and effectively shut it down. With no downfield passing game from Cleveland, the Ravens could afford to put 8-9 guys on the line of scrimmage and bottle it up. (And they did that very effectively, the Browns averaged only 24 yards per carry)

I’m not sure what to expect from Stefanski and offensive play calling today. My confidence in him has wavered in recent weeks, but what I am sure of is that he will roll out something different today, things that Baltimore hasn’t seen us do this season. I’ve been critical of his conservative nature this season, but I’m sure with the week off, he will work in some creative plays and make the Ravens respect the passing game a bit. Also during the bye week, presumably some of Baker’s 17 different injuries improved. I expect that today Kareem Hunt will be a lot more involved, and I think he’ll catch 6-7 passes. There are some problems at tight end for the Browns today (Njoku and Bryant are both out) so that will be a challenge for the Browns as well as trying to bolster the offensive line now that Jack Conklin is out for the season.

Despite the problems facing the Browns, I believe the Browns are going to come out like a house on fire and overwhelm the Ravens early. They just watched the Steelers sack Lamar Jackson last week 7 times, and they are confident they can disrupt that Raven offense. I hope the Browns win the coin toss, and take the ball first to try to score right away and set the tone. Whatever happens today, I hope the Browns come out and do something unexpected, whether it’s a fake punt, some direct snap stuff, whatever. The sense of urgency is at an all-time high for this team, particularly for Stefanski and Baker, and I think that will translate to a high energy performance today. I would love to make a prediction that the Browns win by double digits, but it feels like it’s going to be a close game in the fourth quarter. I like the Browns to win something like 23-20, and keep the dream alive of winning the AFC north.


Go Browns.