What a ride it’s been if you’re a Cleveland Browns fan, huh? In just 5 years, we’ve gone from absolute laughing stock of not only the NFL, but pro sports in America, to one of the most exciting and best teams in the league today. I want this article to be a preview the Browns season ahead, as well as some question marks moving forward. With that said, it’s an absolute breath of fresh air to finally, for the first time in my life, believe that we can be Super Bowl contenders.

Sure, the past couple years have been an absolute breath of fresh air. Having an exciting team with big name players and a whole new demeanor on and off the field were a sight to behold. While yes, I did expect success, I didn’t know what that looked like. As a Browns fan, just WINNING A GAME was a reason to celebrate. When Baker subbed in for Tyrod Taylor and helped us break out winless streak, I still get chills. For a regular season game against the Jets. Now, after a huge win in the playoffs against the Steelers, I, like many of you, have had a taste of what real victory tastes like. This season, I have reason to believe we can not only get a small taste, but also hoist the Lombardi Trophy this year, and I’ll explain why.

Getting into this seasons schedule, I want to look at the very first game of the season. The first game the Cleveland Browns play this season, as I’m sure many of you are aware, is against the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium, the site of the last game the Browns played last year. I absolutely love this game, because to me, it’s a win-win situation. If the Browns are to win, it’s a great confidence boost for the whole squad. It will feel like the team has exorcised their demons, and are on their way to a great season. If they lose this game, we will have just lost to a team that will likely be in the AFC Championship game, and can get a diagnosis of what we need to work on the rest of the season to be ready for the post season.

Having this litmus test week one of the schedule is perfect in my mind, and I couldn’t be more elated to see how the season unfolds after. If we win this game I could see us going 13-4, with potential losses to the Ravens, Packers, Patriots in Gillette, and one surprise loss, as that’s how the NFL works. If they lose to the Chiefs, I can see 12-5. I truly believe that we take the AFC North this year, due to us having the best top to bottom roster in the division, maybe in the entirely of the AFC. The Ravens will be good competition, but their receiving core is still a question mark. Even with my confidence in the team, there are a couple things for us to look out for as Browns fans.

One, is the competition in the AFC. How will Josh Allen look after his massive contract extension? How will the Chiefs Offensive line hold up moving forward? Can Derrick Henry keep up his production for another year in a 17 game schedule? I think these questions are what guide the main competition in the conference. The Browns have their own question too, but it’s one that I have the most confidence in: How will Baker perform with this team? I think that the slander towards Baker stims almost entirely from his personality rather than his play on the field. He had one bad season and it was due to an unqualified coach getting a chance to call the shots when he shouldn’t have. I have full confidence that Baker will have a great year this year, and that the Browns can genuinely compete for a Super Bowl for the first time in my life.

images courtesy of:

https://brownswire.usatoday.com/2021/06/01/espns-marcus-spears-best-roster-on-paper-in-afc-belongs-to-the-cleveland-browns/

https://dawgpounddaily.com/2021/09/03/cleveland-browns-2021-predictions-roster-cut/

https://dawgpounddaily.com/2021/09/06/cleveland-browns-several-firsts/

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/09/will-the-browns-defense-be-prepared-enough-for-the-chiefs-patrick-mahomes-travis-kelce-and-tyreek-hill-hey-mary-kay.html

https://newcountry991.com/fun-facts-about-the-lombardi-trophy-like-who-makes-it-cost/