By: Andy Davies

Last season, the Cleveland Browns earned their first playoff appearance since the 2002 campaign and their first postseason win since New Year’s Day in 1995. 

As a result, they went into the 2021 season with plenty of hype. However, it hasn’t worked out like this. The team’s current record is 5-5 and they are in a division where every team has at least 5 wins. 

So, what has gone wrong for a team that many had down as AFC North division winners? Is there still a chance to win it?

Inconsistent Division

The short answer is yes, they can. The AFC North is fast becoming one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL, but no team has managed to get some sort of consistency. Baltimore Ravens fans will certainly tell you that. 

They had a 5-1 start, which included a 46-35 win over the reigning AFC Champions Kansas City Chiefs. The week after beating the Los Angeles Chargers 34-6, a team that many have as a Super Bowl dark horse, they lost 41-17 to division rivals the Cincinnati Bengals. On Thursday night, they lost 22-10 to the Miami Dolphins, who were 2-6 before the game. More worryingly for the Ravens, the Dolphins appeared to show the entire league the blueprint as to how to beat them. 

The Cincinnati Bengals were briefly top of the division just a matter of weeks ago but now sits in 3^rd place. We have seen the excitement of the Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase partnership but have equally seen the defense allow at least 34 points their last two games as they suffered defeats to the Browns and New York Jets.

There was a difficult start made by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite the surprise 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week One, they lost their next three games to go 1-3. However, they have not lost a game since and now sit 5-3-1. Head coach Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season, but they still have to face the Chargers, Ravens twice, the current AFC number one seed in the Tennessee Titans as well as Cleveland.

Cleveland themselves have to also play the Packers on Christmas Day and the rest of their AFC North rivals, but also get to play a 0-8-1 Detroit Lions and an inconsistent Las Vegas Raiders. Their schedule is fairly favourable, but they have to cut out their own erratic performances if they are to succeed.

Sorting Out Their Own Inconsistencies

The Browns have really struggled for consistency this season. They won three straight games after their opening day loss to the Chiefs but have failed to win consecutive games since. 

If a team is to win championships, then they have to win games consistently. Whilst is it more important how you play in January than how you play in October or November, but you have to make sure you play in January past the regular season.

What have the great New England Patriots sides done in the past? Gotten a consistent run of good form down the stretch. This is exactly what the Browns need to do as runs like this help build momentum and confidence in the crucial postseason games.

The Baker Conundrum

Quarterback Baker Mayfield is easily one of the more polarising players in his position. There are some that feel he is the guy. There are others that view him as nothing more than a ”˜game manager’. 

So far in 2021, he has 1,990 yards, 9 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. This has him projected to finish the campaign with just under 3,980 yards but crucially just under 18 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. This would have him at around his career best in terms of yardage but his worst season when it comes to touchdown passes.

His career so far has defined patchy. He had amazing seasons in both the 2018 and 2020 campaigns but has been poor in 2019 and 2021. He will be expecting a good season in 2022 judging by how his time as a pro has gone, but there is no guarantee he will earn his new contract. This ends after the conclusion of the 2022 season, which may see him raise his game. He has to be careful that he doesn’t suffer a further dip in form. 

Quarterbacks such as Jimmy Garoppolo and Tua Tagovailoa may be available that would fit into the game manager role and allow the excellent run game to flourish. He will have plenty of suitors due to being the number one overall pick in 2018 and the two excellent seasons he has had but he will want to succeed in Cleveland. This is clear to see. One thing that hasn’t helped is the broken-down relationship with wide receiver OBJ.

The OBJ Dilemma

Say what you want about Odell Beckham Jr, the dynamic around him and Baker’s relationship cannot have helped things in Cleveland. Throughout Beckham’s time in Ohio, the talk of a lack of chemistry between the pair has been a constant talking point.

There is substance to this, with the fact that the Browns made the playoffs last season with Odell injured. 

The loss of running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt to injury hasn’t helped, despite the best efforts of D’Ernest Johnson. The one-two punch of both backs reduced the need for Baker to throw to ball to. Instead, these injuries have meant Baker has had to throw to ball to. This can be seen by his stats, with Baker projected to throw for career highs in completed passes and his second highest total in attempted passes. 

OBJ’s dad has posted videos on social media of the amount of times Beckham has been open and not received the ball. There is clear frustration from the Odell camp. Now that he has gone, along with the return of Chubb and Hunt, will help ease the tension at the franchise. Should the struggles ease, with such a good plethora of offensive and defensive talent, this should see head coach Kevin Stefanski guide them to another playoff appearance (or two). Should things further unravel, then Baker will be vastly looking over his shoulder at Free Agency and the 2023 draft quarterback prospects.

The post Looking at the Browns Inconsistent 2021 Season appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Michael Welsh

The Cleveland Browns arguably have the most talented backfield in the NFL, and going into 2021 it could be even more dangerous than it was in 2020. Nick Chubb, fresh off signing a contract extension, is fully healthy and ready to go. Kareem Hunt has been looking great in training camp, and rookie RB/WR hybrid Demetric Felton has been very impressive.

Even though Felton has looked good, there is a chance that he makes the team as a wide receiver and the Browns bring back D’earnest Johnson to be the third-string running back. Many believe that Johnson won’t make the team, though. For arguments sake, we will move forward with the idea that the third-string running back in Felton. Let’s take a look at the stat line predictions for the Browns backfield.

Nick Chubb

The Browns have an absolute stud in Nick Chubb, who is entering his fourth NFL season. An argument can be made that he is the best running back in football, especially as a pure runner. He is vital to Cleveland’s offense and he should have another great season since the elite offensive line had no turnover. Chubb missed four games with an MCL sprain in 2020, but barring no setbacks in 2021, he should play “every single game”. He has averaged over five yards per carry in every year since he arrived in the NFL.

1,255 yards, 5.3 YPC, 10 touchdowns

22 receptions, 190 yards, 2 touchdowns

Kareem Hunt

There are several teams in the NFL that could use Kareem Hunt as their number one running back. The Browns are very fortunate to have two rushing-title-capable-backs on the same roster, and Kevin Stefanski knows how to use them both well. There is a good chance that Hunt and Chubb can both have 1,000+ yards, which is very rare in today’s pass heavy league.

1,022 yards, 4.4 YPC, 7 touchdowns

44 receptions, 380 yards, 4 touchdowns

Demetric Felton

There is a solid chance that Demetric Felton gets minimal touches out of the backfield this year, but if he does it will likely be catching the ball. The Browns are reportedly testing him out at kick/punt returner as well, so there could be more opportunities there for him. In the event of a blowout, Kevin Stefanski might put him in at running back to give Hunt and Chubb some rest. Overall, don’t expect big numbers out of him this season

122 yards rushing, 4.2 YPC, 1 touchdown

11 receptions, 133 yards, 1 touchdown

The post Projecting the stat lines of the Browns RBs appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jeremy Trottier

The Cleveland Browns have had one of the more prominent off seasons in terms of the draft value and a few signings.  However, these moves were primarily on the defensive side of the ball, rather than the offensive side.  In this article though, I will be going over three reasons as to why the Browns running game will be more effective in 2021 compared to before, and why those factors contribute to the running game.

Improved deep passing attack

The deep passing attack for Cleveland will be a huge asset in aiding the run game.  Being able to air the ball out down the field keeps the defense honest and forces them to play in a cover scheme just to prevent it.  The return of Odell Beckham Jr. will greatly increase their deep passing attack, as his ability to get open in the intermediate/long range is very impressive.  

With Donovan Peoples-Jones coming into his own during Odell’s absence, he should also be used in the deep passing attack or in the slot to open up secondaries.  This will allow Nick Chubb to have less pressure on him at the line and in the front 7 as they may back off with the linebackers, giving him some working room.

Addition of Demetric Felton

This draft pick cannot be understated, despite being a day three pick.  Demetric Felton is a RB/WR hybrid who was extremely good at breaking off plays in the receiving game.  Having Nick Chubb for the in between the tackles running, Kareem Hunt for the outside/sideline running, and Felton for the receiving threat.

This trio of running backs will definitely make for an interesting group come the 2021 season.  Felton will add a dynamic that the Browns have not really had in recent memory, and will take pressure off of Hunt to be a dual purpose back all the time.  Felton averaged 9.7 yards per reception in college, and 7.2 in the season he was listed at running back.  Being able to get over seven yards per reception out of the backfield primarily is extremely impressive, and honestly could be a huge addition to Cleveland’s offense.

Overall, be on the watch out for Demetric in the 2021 season.  If he performs at the level he did in college, or even improves while learning from two premier backs, he could be a force to be reckoned with.

Extreme upgrades to defense 

Finally, we have the upgrades they made to their defense, which sounds rather counter-intuitive, but let me explain.  The Browns defense has added a huge deal of defensive players this offseason, all of which will bring some new level of competition to Cleveland.  Just as a short list, here are some of them:

• John Johnson III (FS)
• Jeramiah Owusu-Koramoah (LB)
• Greg Newsome II (CB)
• Jadeveon Clowney (DE)
• Grant Delpit (S: Missed all of 2020 rookie season due to injury)
• Takkarist McKinley (DE)
• Tommy Togiai (IDL)

As you can see, the Browns made an absolute overhaul of their defensive unit in the offseason.  The reason this will improve their running game is that this new defense will create more turnovers, allowing the ball to be with the offense significantly more often.  Whether the turnovers come by way of fumbles, interceptions, or just holding the opposing offense to a punt, this will give the ball to the Browns RB group at a higher rate. 

The post Why the Browns running game can be better in 2021 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Michael Welsh

The 2020 Cleveland Browns were a team that fans had been waiting on for way too many years. It was their first time making the playoffs since 2002 and their first playoff win since 1994. The team was very fun to watch and only got better as the year went on. Baker Mayfield played at a high level to finish out the season, but the running game was one of the best in the NFL, finishing fourth at 145.2 yards per game.

There isn’t another team in all of the football that has two true number one running backs on their roster. Kareem Hunt won the rushing title in his 2017 rookie year and Nick Chubb finished second in the NFL in rushing in 2019 after he lost the title to Derrick Henry in week 17. We got a taste of what they would look like on the field in the final few games of the 2019 season when Hunt came off his suspension, and in 2020 the dynamic duo proved to be game-changing week in and week out. It also helped to have Kareem Hunt when Nick Chubb went down with an MCL Sprain in week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys. Let’s take a look at their overall rushing stats and grades in the 2020 season.

Nick Chubb – 1,067 yards, 12 TDs 5.6 YPC – Pro Football Focus Grade – 87.2

Kareem Hunt – 841 yards, 6 TDs 4.2 YPC – Pro Football Focus Grade – 74.0

The beauty of having both of them is that their running styles compliment each other well. Nick Chubb can be bruising, but he is shifty and has elite breakaway speed. Kareem Hunt runs hard and mad, often carrying defenders down the field for extra yards.

Another thing to note is that they’re actually really good friends and both very unselfish players. Nick Chubb is probably the most humble and quietest player in the league. All he cares about is winning. There was a prime example of that when the Browns played the Texans in week 10 and Chubb ran out of bounds at the 1 yard line to end the game instead of scoring and forcing the defense to go back on the field. He’s a different breed. Kareem Hunt knows he could be a starter on any other team, but he loves Cleveland. He’s from Ohio after all and grew up a Browns fan. His friendship with Chubb and overall desire to win makes it an easy decision to stay on the team.

Kareem Hunt signed a contract extension in 2020 with the Browns through the 2022 season. Nick Chubb is still on his rookie deal, but will likely get a big contract soon. This is where things get tricky with their outlook on the team. What it comes down to is, how long can this last? General Manager Andrew Berry and Chief Strategy Office Paul DePodesta make up a very analytical front office and they will not want a lot of money tied up in the running back position. Fans would love to have Chubb and Hunt in the brown and orange for years to come, but realistically it will be very hard to keep both of them long term.

It is worth noting too that Hunt Played modestly while Chubb was hurt, rushing for 254 yards in four starts, but he never broke 100 yards in those games and averaged roughly 4.0 yards per carry. It was clear that the Browns were not as effective without Chubb, who is a much better and pure runner than Hunt. The stats with and without chubb are eye opening as well.

In 5 games with Chubb, the Browns scored 9 Rush TD while averaging 209.8 Rush YPG and 5.8 yards per rush.

In the 4 games without Chubb, the Browns scored 0 Rush TD while averaging 95.5 Rush YPG and 3.9 yards per rush.

Cleveland has a lot of players to pay in the near future, so it will be very interesting to see what happens with in the running back room. Nick Chubb seems like the type of player that would take less money on a contract if it meant helping the team, so that is a positive possibility to think about.

The Browns also don’t have to pay him just yet either if they decide to pick up his 5th-year option. The Browns have a 2-3 year Super Bowl window that they have to capitalize on before players get let go and tough decisions are made.

Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt will likely be the great RB duo we witnessed in 2020 for at most two more seasons. After that, Andrew Berry will most likely let Hunt walk in free agency and sign Chubb to a long term deal.

The reality is, Hunt is good but Chubb is elite and more dynamic. Chubb was also running as a man possessed down the stretch, rushing for 732 yards and 8 TDs to finish the season after coming back from injury.

The good thing is, they’re both young and in their prime and there’s no doubt that Kevin Stefanski will continue to utilize them in the right ways. There is a real shot that they could both be 1,000-yard rushers next season, which rarely happens in the modern NFL. But when it comes time to part ways, the Browns will be just fine with Nick Chubb.

The post The Outlook of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt appeared first on Pro Football Mania.