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Browns: Evaluating the opponents for the 2021 NFL Season

By Chad Porto

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 17: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns drops back to pass against the defense of the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 17, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 17: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns drops back to pass against the defense of the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 17, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OHIO – OCTOBER 25: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns looks to pass the ball in the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 25, 2020, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO – OCTOBER 25: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns looks to pass the ball in the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 25, 2020, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Week’s 9 & 18 – Bengals (Away/Home)

If we’re being honest, The Browns and Bengals could very well be the number one and two teams in the AFC North. The gang in Cinncinati have done a great job, on paper, building around Joe Burrows. They’ve built a nice corp in the 2020 NFL DRaft with Burrows, Tee Higgins, and Logan Wilson. Then they added to it with Ja’Marr Chase, and a few linemen in the draft with Jackson Carman, D’Ante Smith, and Trey Hill.

The Bengals are hoping to look like the 1999-2001 Greatest Show on Turf Rams squad. They have Chase, Higgins, and Tyler Boyd ready to run and gun with the younger superstar-in-waiting quarterback. Their big issue offensively is Joe Mixon, who isn’t the reliable running back NFL pundits keep proclaiming him to be. He’s mostly been a below-average runner in his career, posting a yar-per-carry of 4.1 or lower in three of his four years. Maybe he bounces back with a better offensive line, but unlikely.

The Bengals have gone all out to improve the defense as well, signing former Browns player Larry Ogunjobi, and former Giants/Saints/Panthers cornerback Eli Apple to help out. They also drafted Joseph Ossai and Cameron Sample to improve their defensive line. They’re not going to be the early ’00s Steelers or Ravens right off the bat but they’re going to be productive.

They also helped themselves by hurting the Steelers when they signed cornerback Mike Hilton. The defense should be much improved. It’s going to come down to how fast and how many of the rookies from the last two seasons improve, develop and turn into impactful contributors.

Expectations: The expectations for the Browns in 2021 are high. They’re behind high. For a bit of spoiler, the Browns should win four, if not five wins in the division alone. The big question mark is going to be the Bengals. The Steelers and Ravens are both going through some big identity issues, and the course of their franchises will be changed forever during and after the 2021 season. Fans and experts know what they are, what their strengths are, and what their weaknesses are. The Bengals are an unknown commodity. They could be one of the teams that sneak a win over the Browns during the 2021 season.

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