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Cleveland Browns: How Likely Is A 0-16 Record This Season?

By Ryan Rosko

Nov 15, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Official NFL footballs sit in an equipment bag on the field before the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 30-9. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Official NFL footballs sit in an equipment bag on the field before the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 30-9. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 23, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler (middle right) talks to teammates in a huddle against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler (middle right) talks to teammates in a huddle against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Easier To Assume A Winless Season

Kris Grimes

Will the Cleveland Browns go 0-16? Well, eight weeks in, I can’t say that they won’t.

The Browns are 0-8 at the halfway point. They have played well enough to win at times; Even taking leads into the third or fourth quarters. Yet, the roster is so young, and the team is so bad, that they’ve managed to steal defeat from the hands of victory many times.

For example, last week’s game against the New York Jets was a very winnable game. The Browns were up 20-7 at halftime and were dominating the Jets on both sides of the ball.

Then something happened. Cleveland came out of the tunnel at halftime and promptly gave up 24 unanswered points. The score went from 20-7 at half, to 31-20 in what felt like a blink of an eye.

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Too often this season the Browns have had a lead going into halftime or going into the fourth quarter…only to squander the lead late and ultimately lose. I’m not sure if it’s intentional, but at times it looks like it.

As if management steps in and says great game, now let’s lose this though for that first overall draft pick next April. Maybe I’m just crazy, but with the upcoming schedule, there are not too many winnable games.

The Browns play the Cowboys, Ravens, Steelers, Giants, Bengals, Bills, Chargers and Steelers the rest of the way. Out of those games, it’s hard to favor the Browns in any of them.

Now like I said, they have been close in a lot of games this season. So there’s always a chance they could steal one. If they do though, Cleveland will have to overcome their youth, injuries, and the blunders that have cost them late game leads.

Until then, it just seems easier to assume that 0-16 is inevitable, and the team is positioning itself for that first overall pick.

Sep 22, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots outside linebacker Jamie Collins (91) and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels celebrate a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots outside linebacker Jamie Collins (91) and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels celebrate a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

Ric McElroy

Without a large infusion and of veteran talent to provide leadership the Browns seem destined for 0-16. They traded for linebacker Jamie Collins which seems like a good start. But aren’t they playing in the new money ball era with Sashi Brown and company?

Cleveland made that quite clear this past off season with the players that didn’t come back to the team. Therefore, if the New England Patriots could not have signed Collins, what are the Browns going to do? He is said to be wanting Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller-type of money.

I just can’t see the Browns signing him and wide receiver Terrelle Pryor! It just doesn’t fit what this front office has been doing. It would be super if they signed both but I’m not holding my breath.

The Browns also have played most of the teams they had a chance to beat, but didn’t. The schedule gets a bit tougher starting with Dallas on Sunday. So beyond a real turn around with Cleveland’s players and coaches (which deserves blame for the winless start too), I really don’t see a win in the future. They need too much to accomplish that!

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