Tag: Kevin Stefanski

Browns TE David Njoku raves about his relationship with Kevin Stefanski

The relationship between Njoku and Stefanski has grown

While appearing on the Up and Adams Show with Kay Adams, Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku talked about his relationship with head coach Kevin Stefanski.

He discussed how that relationship is compared to how it was when he arrived. Njoku talked about how he wanted to be traded in 2020 when Stefanski came in and that since that moment his relationship with the head coach is a complete 180.

He talked about how during their exit interview earlier this week the two joked about the trade request. Njoku continued saying the trade request wasn’t necessary but since that moment he and Stefanski have grown close the past couple of seasons.

During the interview, he also talked about how hungry the team is and that falling short makes them want success even more. Njoku broke out this season and was the king of yards after catch, if the Browns want to reach their ultimate goal the veteran tight end will need to play a big role in 2024.

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Joel Bitonio is a believer in the Browns under Kevin Stefanski, Andrew Berry

Things are changing in Cleveland

Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry have the support from the longest-tenured member of the Cleveland Browns in offensive guard Joel Bitonio.

The 2023 season was not like previous ones in Cleveland as the team had every reason to give up several times and that just didn’t happen. Though the ending was tough to watch this team overcame ridiculous amounts of adversity this year and found a way to win 11 games and go to the playoffs.

All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio on Sunday talked about how he too believes that this isn’t the same old Browns.

“I think Coach Stefanski’s built a culture here. I think Andrew Berry’s built that with the guys he’s brought in. I do think we built something and I hope it’s the star of ‘hey, this is what we do.'”

Bitonio has been around a lot of false hope in Cleveland and has seen plenty of bad cultures so this is high praise from one of the league’s best. There are still roster holes to fix and improvements to be made but the future in Cleveland is very bright despite how this year ended.

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Browns Studs and Duds: 5 duds from the season-ending loss to Texans

The Cleveland Browns duds in their season finale vs. the Houston Texans

The Cleveland Browns, led by Kevin Stefanski and Jim Schwartz, concluded a remarkable season with a humiliating playoff loss to the Houston Texans. The magical carriage finally turned back into the big, orange pumpkin that we all learned to love.

The clock didn’t strike midnight until the second half when Joe Flacco threw two pick-sixes on back-to-back drives. The first interception was a misfire when he attempted to whip the ball out of bounds before his legs, and the power they generated, were taken out. The second interception was a forced error on fourth and two.

The Browns’ offense couldn’t overcome spotting the Texans 14 points and slid further behind as they tried to catch up. Flacco had been playing very well up to that point. The team’s failures happened as a collective. There’s no singular player to blame; even the players who performed well had costly mistakes.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah played every snap on defense for the first time in his career. He made many plays around the ball. However, he failed to contain the edge on Devin Singletary’s 19-yard touchdown run that iced the game.

The team had a meltdown. In the final studs and duds, there are only “duds,” starting with the coaching staff who failed to put the players in positions to succeed.

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These are not the Same Old Browns

Not the same old Browns.

These Cleveland Browns, led by head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry, are not the “Same Old Browns.”

Ending the season on a low note, the Houston Texans defeated the Browns in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. It is not how anyone envisioned this 2023 squad ending their season after finishing the year 11-5 and as one of the hottest teams in football.

However, this team, led by this regime, showed nothing but fight, determination, and resiliency this season. Despite losing Nick Chubb, Deshaun Watson, both starting offensive tackles (then the backup right tackle who was playing well), all three of their starting safeties for a large chunk of the season, and more, this Cleveland football team fought until the end of the line week in and week out.

While the sunset on their 2023 season after a loss to the Texans, the dawn is just rising on the long-term future of this organization.

Browns Twitter reacts to the brutal end of the 2023 season vs. Texans

It was a disappointing ending to a great season

What a ride the 2023 season was for the Cleveland Browns as they overcame every piece of adversity thrown at them in the regular season despite a loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round.

They lost their top three starting tackles, franchise quarterback, and the best running back in the league but found their way to 11 wins and a playoff birth.

Joe Flacco came off the couch and for a month in a half the offense was on a run we haven’t seen in years. But it all came to an end on Saturday as the home team Texans dominated the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

The turnover bug finally bit Flacco and the Browns as he threw two pick-sixes on back-to-back drives in the second half. The defense could not get pressure on CJ Stroud who stood back there and destroyed the Browns all game long. Let’s take a look at what Browns’ Twitter had to say after the brutal loss to end the season.

Browns could get safety Grant Delpit back for Saturday’s playoff game vs. Texans

The standout safety could return from injured reserve this week

Before being placed on injured reserve fourth-year safety Grant Delpit was having an impressive year for the Cleveland Browns. Unfortunately, right after signing a contract extension Delpit suffered an injury and missed the final four regular season games.

It was a tough blow for the dominant Browns defense as the versatile Delpit was impacting all over the field. With the minimum four missed games, the Browns could activate Delpit for the playoffs and head coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that it was a possibility.

This is just coach speak and it doesn’t mean he will play but the fact that he didn’t shut it down means something. Though D’Anthony Bell and Ronnie Hickman Jr. have stepped up in his absence the team could still use Delpit back on the field. This will be something to monitor as the week goes on with a trip to the Texans looming Saturday.

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The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: Previewing Week 18’s biggest NFL matchups

In this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar,” the guys preview the final week of the regular season with tape and metrics.

It’s time for Week 18 of the 2023 NFL campaign — the final week of the regular season — and Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup, and Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire and the USA Today Sports Media Group, are here to get you ready for the most important games, playoff scenarios, and interesting matchups:

Kansas City Chiefs-Los Angeles Chargers — Why the Chiefs wouldn’t even be a playoff team without Steve Spagnuolo, and how Kansas City’s defense got four sacks in five plays against the Bengals on Cincinnati’s final drive.

Philadelphia Eagles-New York Giants — The Eagles had best fix their leaky run defense before the playoffs, and the Giants could be a stern test in that regard.

Houston Texans- Indianapolis Colts — C.J. Stroud is back for the Texans, and he’ll face a Colts defense with a lot of underrated players. The winner takes the AFC South.

Los Angeles Rams-San Francisco 49ers — The 49ers have wrapped up the NFC’s one-seed, so they won’t play many of their starters, but it’s time to recognize a Rams defense defined by two rookies, and more underrated players.

Buffalo Bills-Miami Dolphins — Two up-and-down teams are fighting for control of the AFC East, and it could come down to which unit figures itself out: Buffalo’s offense, or Miami’s defense.

Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers — The Bears won’t make the playoffs, but they have a fascinating decision to make about Justin Fields’ future. Meanwhile, Packers quarterback Jordan Love has been as good as anyone at his position in the second half of the season.

You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar” right here:

You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.

Kevin Stefanski hits numerous Browns’ franchise milestones in playoff clinching win vs. Jets

After the Browns clinched a playoff berth against the Jets, Kevin Stefanski saw numerous feats hit for the first time in a long time.

The Cleveland Browns have their head coach of the future in Kevin Stefanski as he has his team in the playoffs again after a win against the New York Jets.

Not only is he now the favorite to win NFL Coach of the Year for the second time in four years, but he also matched multiple franchise milestones this season. With the Browns sitting at 11-5, they have at minimum clinched the fifth seed in the AFC as they still have a slim shot at the AFC North title.

It has been a while since a head coach has lasted three seasons in Cleveland, let alone four. While he may have come into the season with a question mark next to his name, there is no doubt about it. Stefanski is here to stay well beyond 2023.

Here is every milestone Stefanski hit Thursday night in Cleveland’s playoff-clinching win over the Jets.

WATCH: Kevin Stefanski delivers explosive locker room speech as Browns clinch a playoff spot

Kevin Stefanski was fired up in the locker room after the Browns clinched a spot in the postseason against the Jets

For the second time under Kevin Stefanski the Cleveland Browns have won 11 games and are headed to the playoffs. The team of course has a shot to grab a 12th win over the Bengals next week in Cincinnati. After the game, Stefanski addressed the team in the locker room and he was fired up and proud of what his team has accomplished.

One of the things that stood out the most in his speech was when he pointed out that they still have work to do. Stefanski and his staff have had their team buy into the simple go 1-0 philosophy without looking ahead and focusing on the task at hand each week.

For now, the Browns have a mini bye week to try and get healthy before the final game of the regular season and the post-season after that. This team feels special and when they play their brand of football they can beat anyone.

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The Cleveland Browns could win the AFC’s one-seed in the playoffs

After their Thursday night win over the Jets, the Browns actually have a chance to become the AFC’s one-seed through the playoffs.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

After their 37-20 win over the New York Jets on Thursday night, the 11-5 Cleveland Browns not only clinched their second playoff berth since 2020 (the team had not made the playoffs before that since 2002), but they have an actual shot at the AFC’s one-seed.

Which means that the AFC playoffs might go through Cleveland.

Here’s how it needs to go.

So. If the Browns beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, January 7, and the Baltimore Ravens lose to the Miami Dolphins and the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Dolphins lose to the Buffalo Bills? Yeah. The Dawg Pound will be home base.

As Chase Daniel said, this is wild. The Browns currently have a league-high 26% of their salary cap on injured reserve, they’ve turned Joe Flacco into Kurt Warner, and the guys they were without due to injury against the Jets was… well, remarkable.

If Kevin Stefanski doesn’t win Coach of the Year, there should be an immediate recount.