The Cleveland Browns are 5-5 this season after coming in with sky-high expectations. They have lost to quality opponents throughout the year while mostly beating up on inferior ones.
In Week 11, the Browns must win the game but find themselves in a no-win situation. If Cleveland runs the Detroit Lions out of the building, they are expected to do that. The Lions have yet to win a game this season and came into the year with low expectations as they turned over the franchise, once again.
If the Browns beat the Lions but do not do so convincingly, the questions raised over the start of the season will only be heightened.
A loss Sunday would lead to an apocalyptic type response from both the media and fans alike.
The best-case scenario for Cleveland is continuing the narrative that they can out talent bad teams. The worst-case scenario is losing to winless Detroit before facing off with the Baltimore Ravens twice on each side of the Browns bye week.
Week 11 is a no-win situation for Cleveland in every way except the scoreboard. Nothing they can do about that besides channeling the late Al Davis and “Just win baby.”