The Cleveland Browns went into the 2019 season with all-time high expectations. The season did not play out the way we all had dreamed of , however. A number of factors worked against an ultra-talented roster including injuries, distraction and an ill-equipped first-year head coach.
When examining how it all unfolded, the Browns fell behind early with a brutal 2-6 start. The ’19 schedule was very much front-loaded with difficult opponents and they failed to prevail in competitive, close games against quality opponents in either the L.A. Rams or Seattle Seahawks games. Things really began to snowball when the Browns squandered an opportunity against Denver as they ran out quarterback Brandon Allen for his first start and still fell 24-19, completing their 2-6 start.
According to CBSsports.com, the Browns have the fourth easiest schedule in the NFL this season, which is a pretty useless statistic and can only really be configured after the games are played. It is worth noting that the Browns do not have to make any cross-country trips to play in the Pacific time zone.
The pivotal three-game swing
The most important stretch of games that the Browns will play in 2020 is Weeks 4-6.
Week 4 At Dallas Cowboys 1:00 PM Eastern FOX
Week 5 Indianapolis Colts 4:25 PM Eastern CBS
Week 6 At Pittsburgh Steelers 1:00 PM Eastern CBS
The first three games of the season could provide the Browns with any number of outcomes, but how they handle the next three games will carry significant weight in deciding the fate of the 2020 Browns.
Three difficult opponents, two on the road after an opener in Baltimore and the Browns could very easily come out this stretch under .500. They could be starring 2-4 in the face unless they come out of the gate playing to their potential and exhibiting the character to grind out some close games against playoff-caliber opponents.
Character is the key word here. The Browns have the talent and improved offensive line to beat any team on their schedule, the question is can new head coach Kevin Stefanski instill this team with the edge and identity they have failed to find so far?
What this stretch of games presents, besides good football teams, is that test of character. If this team falls below .500 in the first half of the season, will we see the “Here we go again” Browns? It’s an easy trap to fall into and it takes wholesale roster buy-in to overcome. They cannot go through this stretch of games, come out on the other side 2-4 and go in the tank, because everyone will be screaming “same old Browns.”
This team has to go win a big game or two in this stretch because coming out the other side at 3-3 or better and they are in good shape. Winning during this stretch avoids that familiar feeling of a bad start and keeps that doubt from creeping in. A win against any of those three opponents will go along way to self-validation in the locker room.
If they struggle through this stretch it will be on Stefanski to keep his team from mentally going right back to where they were last year. 2-4 doesn’t end the season, the wins are on the schedule. However, a newfound mental toughness and leadership will be needed to persevere.
This is the toughest three-game stretch of the season and it comes at a point where teams can be vulnerable about who they really are. For the Browns, weeks 4-6 can jettison them towards success and the character of a winning team or back into a precarious place all too familiar.