Tag: Kevin Stefanski

Browns: Not a matter of if Kevin Stefanski gets contract extension, but when

Set your expectations appropriately.

The Cleveland Browns are going to give head coach Kevin Stefanski a contract extension.

The 2020 NFL Coach of the Year has seen his struggles over the past two seasons, but as he gets set to enter the last year of his contract this offseason, Stefanski has turned into something the Browns have needed him to become.

A leader.

No other head coach in nearly a decade has found a way to cater a gameplan to four different quarterbacks and find a way to win with them all in the same season. One would be hard-pressed to find another coach who could rally a team that has lost all of their starting quarterback, star running back, three offensive tackles, a veteran leader in the secondary, and more to injury this year.

Yet, despite losing 14 key players to injuries this season, Stefanski has his Browns sitting at 8-5 on the season and with a firm grip on the top wildcard spot in the AFC. This is a testament to Stefanski and the coaching staff he has put together in Cleveland.

Safety Juan Thornhill tweeted out his love to Stefanski after the win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Thornhill stated, “Despite all of our injuries this season Coach Stefanski still find a way to put us in position to win each week. Love that guy.”

Another defensive player in star pass rusher Myles Garrett has appreciation for the job Stefanski has done as well. “He’s coaching his (expletive) off,” Garrett said as the Browns have fought, clawed, and dragged good football teams through the mud this season.

The Browns sit with the most wins against teams with a winning record this season despite everything that continues to be stacked against them. And now with four games left to go, the Browns have an opportunity to continue to stack wins down the stretch.

NFL Coach of the Year betting odds are beginning to shift in Stefanski’s favor as well according to BetMGM, as they have now skyrocketed to +1200 with four weeks to go. There are just five head coaches with better odds than him at this point in the NFL season, and two of them (San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan and Indianapolis Colts’ Shane Steichen) have been defeated by Stefanski and the Browns this year.

The markets have adjusted, and so should the expectations around Northeast Ohio:

Stefanski is here to stay in Cleveland and is going to see a new contract on his desk. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.

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Kevin Stefanski goes ballistic after 4th down touchdown and Browns Twitter loved it

A coach who rarely expresses emotion on the sideline, Kevin Stefanski went ballistic after a 4th down touchdown and Browns Twitter loved it.

The Cleveland Browns sit at 8-5 on the season, and that is a direct reflection on this coaching staff as they continue to battle injury after injury. Head coach Kevin Stefanski and his staff have the Browns buying in every week, proving they will be a tough team to beat no matter who is on the field.

Sitting at 8-5 on the season, the Browns currently hold the top wildcard spot in the AFC and an 81 percent chance to make the playoffs despite starting games with four different quarterbacks. The Browns are getting the most out of 38-year-old Joe Flacco as their season of destiny continues.

And we are even starting to see Stefanski, a usually reserved person, having some fun on the sideline as his team continues their trek toward a spot in the postseason. After Flacco connected with wide receiver David Bell for a 41-yard touchdown on a gutsy fourth down play call, Stefanski was seen running down the sideline in celebration in a fashion we rarely see.

And Browns Twitter loved it. Here are the best reactions to Stefanski’s moment of triumph.

Browns star DE Myles Garrett: Kevin Stefanski is ‘coaching his (expletive) off’

More praise for the Browns head coach

Kevin Stefanski continues to prove he is the guy long-term after he won a game with his fourth different quarterback of the season. Despite countless injuries to key players, Stefanski has his team at 8-5 and in control of the AFC Wild Card race. His superstar defensive end Myles Garrett talked about the job he is doing after Sunday’s win over the Jaguars.

“He’s done a hell of a job…he’s putting us in a lot of favorable positions and he’s coaching his (expletive) off.”

He truly has been fantastic this year and continues to adapt his offense to the style of quarterback starting at the time. Stefanski has kept his time motivated and bought in despite watching player after player get injured including the teamā€™s starting quarterback and the best running back in the NFL.

You also need to look at the staff changes he made including bringing in Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator. The culture in Cleveland is finally changing after fans waited so long for these days.

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Browns, Kevin Stefanski become first team since 2015 to win with four different quarterbacks

Accomplishing a feat that has not been seen since 2015, the Browns and head coach Kevin Stefanski have won a game with 4 different QBs.

The Cleveland Browns and head coach Kevin Stefanski have accomplished something that no team has done since the Houston Texans in 2015.

Dealing with injuries and backup quarterbacks all season, the Browns are the first team in nearly a decade to win a game with four different quarterbacks in the same season. With all of Deshaun Watson, P.J. Walker, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and now Joe Flacco getting in on the action, Stefanski has found a way to cater a game plan to various arms to get his team to 8-5 on the year.

Bill O’Brien and the Texans did so with two former Cleveland quarterbacks on his roster that year. Brian Hoyer and Brandon Weeden won games for the Texans that year, in addition to contributions from Ryan Mallett and T.J. Yates. The Texans made the playoffs in 2015 as a result of finding ways to grind out wins.

And the Browns are on the same trajectory this year, currently holding the fifth seed in the AFC.

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Browns: Joe Flacco named starting QB for the rest of the season following win vs. Jaguars

It will be the veteran QB the rest of the way for the Browns

After leaving us in suspense leading up to this week’s game, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said immediately following the game that Joe Flacco will start for the remainder of the season. Flacco had the best game by a Browns quarterback this year, throwing for over 300 yards and three scores against the Jaguars to give Cleveland their eighth win of the year.

Considering Flacco is the fourth signal caller for the team this year it is rather insane to think about. Stefanski is coaching as well as any coach has in Cleveland in my lifetime and Flacco has looked legit these past two games. He has some mistakes but it’s clear that he and Stefanski are on the same page and the improvement of the passing game shows it.

Now it is the former Super Bowl MVP the rest of the way as Cleveland is in the driver’s seat for the wildcard race. Considering all the injuries and adversity that has hit this team it is saying something they find themself in the position they do.

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Browns wrap up a huge win at home vs. Jaguars and social media exploded

The Browns beat the Jaguars, and social media ignited.

The Cleveland Browns have their head coach well into the future, and they have their quarterback to lead them the rest of the way out in 2023. After defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars behind the arm of Joe Flacco and the mind of Kevin Stefanski, it is becoming apparent the Browns are going to punch back against anyone.

And now with just four games to go, the Browns currently hold the fifth seed in the AFC, the top wildcard slot. It will not be easy the rest of the way out, and the Chicago Bears are up next, but the Browns have an opportunity to make some noise down the stretch and into the postseason.

As Flacco continues to play well, and as Stefanski solidifies himself as the man of the future in Cleveland, the Browns now sit at 8-5 on the season. Here is how social media reacted to yet another improbable Browns’ win.

Kevin Stefanskiā€™s Browns QB news about Joe Flacco means weā€™ll never escape his ā€˜eliteā€™ meme

Is Joe Flacco elite? We’re about to find out. (Again)

Once upon a time, Joe Flacco was a Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. He was a legit playoff catalyst for a championship-winning team. Mostly, though, the veteran starter/journeyman has been a mediocre signal caller at worst and a living, breathing meme about quarterback play debates at his absolute best.

After Flacco filled in admirably during the Cleveland Browns’ 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, it’s abundantly clear we may never see escape the decidedly online conversation about him. Heck, 311 passing yards and three touchdowns against a current division leader should almost speak for themselves, really.

With Cleveland pushing for an AFC playoff spot, Kevin Stefanski left no room for open interpretation: Flacco will be the Browns’ starting quarterback until the end of 2023.

There is no other reasonable reaction other than hoping Flacco can light it up and reignite his infamous “elite” meme. I want to have that discussion (in a joking manner) more than anything as we charge toward the playoffs. A closing schedule against the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, New York Jets, and Cincinnati Bengals might provide us all with such a grand opportunity.

It’s 2023, and Joe Flacco’s elite jokes are not yet dead. What more could you want?

3 bold predictions as Browns face the banged up Jaguars at home

Can the Browns continue to defend their home field?

The Browns return to Cleveland trying to shake off a two-game losing streak on the road where the defense did not look good. This week they face a Jacksonville Jaguars team that is banged up and might be without their starting quarterback and is down to their third-string left tackle.

The Browns control their destiny in the playoff race, especially after the Steelers’ loss on Thursday. This game has massive playoff implications and every game the rest of the way is a must-win. Cleveland is likely to get back some key contributors and if Denzel Ward returns to play they have no excuses not to get it done.

Kevin Stefanski declined to name a starting quarterback this week but with Joe Flacco playing well in his debut and taking all the first-team reps it seems like the veteran will get the nod. Here are my bold predictions of the week as Cleveland looks for win number eight.

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Browns WR Amari Cooper still in concussion protocol but could clear in time to play vs. Jaguars

Cooper could still clear protocol and play on Sunday

After leaving the game against the Los Angeles Rams with a concussion, wide receiver Amari Cooper returned to practice on Friday for the Cleveland Browns. Kevin Stefanski said after practice that Cooper remains in concussion protocol but he could still clear on Saturday and play against the Jaguars.

Cleveland felt the loss of their best wide receiver last week in the second half and having him back would be a big boost. This is a must-win game for the Browns after the Steelers lost to the Patriots Cleveland is sitting at the top of the wild card standings.

Though no announcement was officially made it feels like veteran Joe Flacco will start against a banged-up Jaguars team on Sunday. Marquise Goodwin seems to be ready to go giving another true deep threat and if they can pair that with a healthy Amari Cooper you like Cleveland’s chances. For now we just have to sit back and wait for the official announcement.

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Browns HC Kevin Stefanski declines to name starting QB vs. Jaguars

Head coach Kevin Stefanski has not named a Browns starter against the Jaguars as both Joe Flacco and Dorian Thompson-Robinson practice.

The Cleveland Browns got their rookie quarterback back to practice as Dorian Thompson-Robinson returned after suffering a concussion against the Denver Broncos. They also have Joe Flacco, who has taken all of the first-team reps this week after a strong debut against the Los Angeles Rams. As the Browns prepare for the Jacksonville Jaguars, however, head coach Kevin Stefanski has declined to name a starting quarterback.

Every NFL team does this when there is uncertainty at the quarterback position. They believe that it gives them the competitive advantage to have the opposing team have to prepare for both quarterbacks before one takes the field after the opening kickoff. However, this one feels pretty straight forward for the Browns.

It would be a surprise to see anyone other than Flacco take command of the Cleveland offense when the Jaguars come to town on Sunday. Their passing offense looked functional and a deep passing attack (for maybe the third time this season) existed against the Rams.

Sitting at 7-5 and in the driver’s seat toward a playoff spot, Flacco gives the Browns the best chance to win the rest of the way out.

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