Factory Of Sadness
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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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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 3: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns drops back to pass during a game against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 3, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Browns 24-19. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 3: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns drops back to pass during a game against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 3, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Browns 24-19. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Week 7 – Broncos (Home)

It’s sad to see what John Elway has done to the Denver Broncos. At one point, the best team in the NFL hands down, now, the team is an easy out for any team on the radar. The Broncos were in the top 12 for worst defenses in 2020, and in the bottom 10 for worst offenses. When you can’t score points and constantly allow them, you’re doomed.

The Broncos have some stars still, like Nick Chubb’s outside linebacking cousin Bradley, and safety Justin Simmons, but defensively they aren’t what they used to be. Von Miller is still on the team but dealing with a major off-season injury and legal trouble really does seem to spell the end of the Miller-Era in Denver. Even if he’s not moved, the odds he’ll be a Defensive Player of the Year Contender isn’t exactly likely.

The offense let go of Phillip Lindsay, a peculiar sign to put their best bet for a productive offense in the hands of Melvin Gordon III, a player on the wrong side of his career.

Of course, it wasn’t all about what they lost. They drafted key defensive player Patrick Surtain II and traded for Teddy Bridgwater from the Panthers. For Surtain, he’s following in his father’s footsteps but the problem with that is that the son either exceeds the father or can’t duplicate what the father did. It’s a sad reality but the number of father/son Hall of Fame combos are rare, if not non-existent. Surtain has huge shoes to fill, as his old man was a two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler at their shared position.

For Bridgewater, he’s now on his fourth team and hasn’t caught on yet. The Vikings didn’t think he was the guy, nor did New Orleans and Carolina saw he wasn’t first-hand. Now Elway is getting another castoff quarterback and if history is any indicator, Bridgewater is going to fail. First, it was Peyton Manning, who worked out admittedly, then it was, Case Keenum then, Joe Flacco, and now it’s Bridgewater.

Expectations: The Broncos are not going to get better until either John Elway is removed from the front office or they bring in a GM who’s given carte blanche over the roster and chooses to rebuild. The Broncos don’t appear to be going anywhere, and the Browns should have an easy win.

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