Cleveland Browns 2023 Season Thread

posted by friendfromlowry

I know how you feel. Burrow couldn’t throw a pass over ten yards or even run but everyone was saying he was fine.

Good news? You wake up one day, the QB all of sudden looks fine and you’re putting up 34 on the Cardinals. And for another week you’re teased into thinking the season isn’t over and you might overcome a disastrous start. 

Seattle's defense should be a solid test as to whether Burrow's trend is going upward.

As far as people saying Burrow was "fine", I could tell when they played the Browns he wasn't himself. I still think the Browns secondary & pass rush would've been the difference but that wasn't Joe Burrow, like we know him, out there.

posted by friendfromlowry

I know how you feel. Burrow couldn’t throw a pass over ten yards or even run but everyone was saying he was fine.

Good news? You wake up one day, the QB all of sudden looks fine and you’re putting up 34 on the Cardinals. And for another week you’re teased into thinking the season isn’t over and you might overcome a disastrous start. 

With the added thing that the way this division has been so far, any of that could be thinking that on a week by week basis, every time one of us wins.

Cleveland lost their best offensive player, Burrow has been a question mark so far for Cincy, Pittsburgh's offense has been mostly comical and Baltimore just had an utter implosion in the second half. Look at the best moments for your team: WORLD BEATER! Look at the worst moments: Never win again...

PJ Walker shouldve played vs Baltimore. DTR was lost. PJ Walker won games for the abysmal Carolina Panthers. 

Wonder if Watson's shoulder would heal if Stefanski were let go?

BEST early birthday present EVER!

Defense is next level.

This may also be the best game that old Kev has coached as a Brown.

Also this is the first time the team has come back from a 10 or more point deficit since the 2018 Jets Beer Fridge game in Mayfield's rookie year.

And some of the SF media whining about the Browns beating the Niners with "no Deebo and no CMC." Last time I checked Watson, Chubb & Bitonio were out today.

posted by Heretic

With the added thing that the way this division has been so far, any of that could be thinking that on a week by week basis, every time one of us wins.

I think PIT is a bad team that got really lucky in 2 of their 3 wins.  Typical Mediocre Mike team.  It's pretty unbelievable how badly CLE and BAL wanted to lose those games.

Rest of the division started off slow, but they're all in the hunt and ready to start rolling.  If CIN can stay in it until Burrow gets right, they'll be really good by the end of the year.  BAL already

GO BROWNS!!!!!

Stefanski ACTUAL play calling was great today. His decision making still sucks. Lining up to go at midfield, but calling a timeout with 15 on the clock. Only to lineup to punt — and take a delay penalty on ourpose. I mean, what in the actual fuck was that sequence!?!?

posted by Laley23

Stefanski ACTUAL play calling was great today. His decision making still sucks. Lining up to go at midfield, but calling a timeout with 15 on the clock. Only to lineup to punt — and take a delay penalty on ourpose. I mean, what in the actual fuck was that sequence!?!?

Stefanski generally seems like a good coach to me.  But he shows the same simpleton devotion to the situational stats (i.e. it's almost always better to go for it than punt, etc) that I see some wonks promoting.

What it boils down to is something akin to gambler's ruin, but different.  Basically you end-up chasing what you perceive to be "+ opportunities", but the outcomes are actually very asymmetrical.  You can't just play the odds when 2 games in a 17 game season can be the difference between winning the AFCN and not even making the playoffs.

posted by Laley23

. Lining up to go at midfield, but calling a timeout with 15 on the clock. Only to lineup to punt — and take a delay penalty on ourpose. I mean, what in the actual fuck was that sequence!?!?

My thought exactly.

And, after today’s game, it’s hard for me to believe that the NFL is not fixed. 

posted by gut

Stefanski generally seems like a good coach to me.  But he shows the same simpleton devotion to the situational stats (i.e. it's almost always better to go for it than punt, etc) that I see some wonks promoting.

What it boils down to is something akin to gambler's ruin, but different.  Basically you end-up chasing what you perceive to be "+ opportunities", but the outcomes are actually very asymmetrical.  You can't just play the odds when 2 games in a 17 game season can be the difference between winning the AFCN and not even making the playoffs.

Stefanski's coaching yesterday reminded me a lot of Tomlin. They mucked it up and stayed around, letting the opponent screw up, then stole the victory.

Browns defense can get even better. If they are truly this good yardage wise, the regression for turnovers should be coming. They have been this dominant without forcing many turnovers at all. 

Players I noticed yesterday wreaking havoc were Tomlinson (the most, exploited the crap out of his matchup), Oko & JOK. 

Schwartz has gotten the most out of Delpit & JOK. 

Delpit has become a beast and I hope they find a way to resign him.

Not sure whose responsibility it was to cover Kittle yesterday but I don't remember hearing his name. Just looked at the stats and saw 1 reception for 1 yard. Tight ends used to be the bane of this franchise's existence in coverage.

Dawand Jones also owned Bosa all day. 

Jets at Browns game in December should be a brutal defensive battle.

posted by Laley23

Dawand Jones also owned Bosa all day. 

In that pregame skirmish I saw Trent Williams come over and start pushing Browns players and Juan Thornhill was like "lol, I want no part of you but I'll introduce you to my man Dawand."

As far as Jones goes, he could be their long-term solution at the position but Jed Wills is their weak point. Teller hasn't been great either and I expect them to move on from him in 2024.

Speaking of which...

.@Browns @dawandj79 had himself a great afternoon in Cleveland going toe to big toe with the DPOY. Big Test for Big Thanos. #DawgPound #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/NuSVD7Hsdg

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) October 16, 2023

posted by justincredible

Jets at Browns game in December should be a brutal defensive battle.

Yeah, that one might end up 5-3 or 3-2 final.

I'll bet the under, for sure.

Somehow, it will end up 6-1. 

Mostly, because I JUST learned you can score a single point in football, and I want it to happen so badly.