Daniel Gibson: My Career Has Been “One Hell of a Rollercoaster Ride”
November 15, 2010Mo and Andy Continue Rehab, Questionable for Tuesday
November 15, 2010Way back when the schedule was released everyone in Cleveland was pretty much in agreement- this was a tough slate. The Steelers through Jets block looked particularly daunting, but let’s take another look at the whole schedule.
The Browns’ PR department threw this stat out via twitter today- “Of the 11 NFL teams currently with six wins or more, Cleveland has faced seven of them.” Think about that for a second. Seven of the Nine teams the Browns have faced are in the top third of the league. The two that aren’t in the group? Cincinnati who is a train wreck, and the Kansas City Chiefs who are 5-4 and leading the AFC West.
The Browns’ opponents to date have a combined record of 52-29. That’s a .642 winning percentage. Toughest in the league.
The schedule lightens up from here out though right? Well, sure- but maybe not as dramatically as everyone thinks. The Jaguars are 5-4 and fighting for a playoff spot. They’ve been inconsistent, but have won 2 in a row. They also beat Manning and the Colts earlier this year. David Gerrard (!) has a quarterback rating of 104.9 this season. Who predicted that last spring?
The Panthers (1-8) are not a good football team. However, following that game the Browns take to the road for three straight. The Dolphins sit at 5-4, but may be in a bit of QB trouble after yesterday’s game. Still, that’s a road game against a potential playoff team. Buffalo (1-8) follows, and before we get uber-confident about that one, take a close look and see a Bills team that many football people are saying good things about. They play hard and don’t quit. Sound like anyone else we know?
After the Bills we close out the season with division games. We go to Cincinnati, which isn’t the easiest place in the world to play, before getting the Ravens and Steelers at home. I don’t even have to tell you how tough those two teams will be, especially if they are still fighting for the AFC North title, which they may very well be.
So I don’t want to hear a lot of talk about the Browns and how they should rip off 5 easy wins in a row. The schedule may be easier statistically, bit this is still the NFL, and these teams aren’t going to give the Browns anything.
14 Comments
Earlier in the season, some teams were probably looking at the Browns as an automatic win. How’d that turn out?
As long as they are mathmatically still in it, I say root for the playoffs. If that opportunity passes them by, we should still root for a winning record in the division.
As over-complicated as we want to make it some times, those are the six most important games each season.
Here’s the worst part: with Pittsburgh and Baltimore and a to a lesser degree our own success, we can expect another absolutely brutal schedule next year.
We got two really tough divisions to play against (plus our own). We knew that going in. Tampa is up, Cincy is down. I think everything else is about what we expected.
Agree with the post, one of the next steps for the Browns is consistently beating the teams they should beat and then plying the big boys tough. Latter accomplished, former is to be determined.
Yeah, #4, we haven’t faced any ‘should-beat’ teams except Maybe Tampa, and, as it turns out, Cincy. But TB is rolling and Cincy is, well, a little better than their record. Not much though.
I’d say KC is also better than anticipated.
At least in 2011, the Browns will face the NFC West. Here’s hoping that division is just as bad next year. Actually here’s hoping we even have a SEASON next year. It would be just our luck to have a team on the rise right when a lockout kicks in.
agree @ 6, since they’ve almost doubled last season’s win total.
I believe the Browns will play the AFC East(JAX, TEN, @HOU, @IND), the NFC West (SEA, SL, @SF, @AZ) and likely the 3rd place teams in the AFC East and AFC South (TBD) in addition to their 6 inter-conference games.
Sorry, I screwed it all up. The Browns will play the AFC East, AFC West, and likely the 3rd place teams in the AFC West and AFC South in addition to their 6 inter-division games. I’m stupid.
Sorry, I screwed it all up AGAIN. The Browns will play the AFC South, NFC West, and likely the 3rd place teams in the AFC West and AFC East, in addition to their 6 inter-division games. I’m really stupid.
…in 2011. I’m going to stop now.
Ok, so maybe those games wont be “locks” but I think after the last 3 weeks the browns should have the confidence of being able to take the next 4 games. The Steelers have a tough stretch coming up, there no reason to think that the Browns might be having a 2nd place game to end the year… and possibly a wild card. After winning IN NO, then dominating the pats and playing even with the jets, I think the browns could beat any team…
… as long as we stay healthy.
@Blue, BB – AFC South & NFC West. The other two (as of now) are the 3rd place teams in the AFC East/West, which currently would be Miami and San Diego. Next year isn’t much easier…
When it comes down to it, the Browns will hopefully build on this year and come in next year ready to win those games. That will be what turns this team from a solid rebuild into a contender.