Every season, the NFL has a team that surprises everyone and comes out of nowhere in a positive way. It’s fair to say that the NFL has three of those teams this season, two in the AFC and one in the NFC. The Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Raiders
are a combined 6-1 to start the season, while the New York Giants are 3-1 in an NFC East that contains the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles.Out of all the teams that are 3-1, the Browns being 3-1 are the biggest surprise. The question that everyone
wants to know is whether the 3-1 start is a sign that things are changing or is it a mirage.
It wasn’t long ago Cleveland had the same 3-1 record. Just a few years ago in 2021. However, that team didn’t make the playoffs. In the 2023 season, the Browns had a surprising start and that team found a way to make the playoffs despite injuries derailing them.
Fast forward to now, Cleveland is back at 3-1. It’s fair to say after their Week 1 performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars, many people were writing the Browns off. Four weeks in, the narrative around the team has changed, but why (besides winning)?
It’s not as cut and dry, but HC Todd Monken’s group has started to slowly find their identity as a team. Identity comes at different times for teams; the earlier the better, especially with a new head coach. It’s fair to say that the Browns have discovered their identity early, and it’s starting to materialize as a physical, gritty team that will turn every game into a phone booth type of battle. Thursday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers showcased that identity. The score isn’t indicative of how the game went. The Browns physically manhandled the Steelers for the majority of the time. Cleveland looked faster, more physical, and had more energy throughout the entire game.
On the offensive side of the ball, the numbers don’t look appealing, but it’s a unit that is slowly starting to find cohesion. The offensive line appears to be much improved from a year ago, the skill position group has received a facelift, and the quarterback play has the stability game-to-game (not within each game) that the team has lacked.
Defensively, the unit doesn’t have an alpha star anymore, but they have retained their identity and principles which made them great last season.
With belief comes some doubt, and of course there are reasons to doubt if this 3-1 start by the Browns is actually legitimate, with many people waiting for the shoe to drop. It’s fair to believe no one is buying the Browns’ 3-1 start due to the opponents they played:
- Week 2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (team is unraveling, then found a victory on Thursday Night Football)
- Week 3: Carolina Panthers (team might actually be good, but injuries have been overwhelming)
- Week 4: Pittsburgh Steelers (division rival)
All three of the games that Cleveland won, they weren’t favored to win. As much as people question if the Browns are legitimate, the question can be asked for the Las Vegas Raiders as well:
- Week 1: Miami Dolphins (could be the worst team in the league)
- Week 2: Los Angeles Chargers (one of the biggest disappointments of the year)
- Week 3: New Orleans Saints (might be overrated)
- Week 4: Kansas City Chiefs (best team in division, but Raiders gave them run for their money)
It’s hard to imagine this Cleveland team falling off completely. In fact, this team could be getting better. Peaking early in the season isn’t necessarily a good thing because you tend to burn out later as the season goes on, but the Browns have yet to play a complete game.
The offense will continue to get better, the offensive line will continue to have cohesion, and the quarterback play will improve week to week. The same can be said for the defense in terms of their play. The team doesn’t have the high-end talent to make a deep playoff run, but Cleveland has the talent to give teams problems. The Browns haven’t arrived yet as a true contender, but teams shouldn’t take this team lightly.
Legit or mirage? Is Monken’s team identity established already? How do you view the 3-1 start?
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