So, you want to know what the 2021 Cleveland Browns are made of?
The NFL didn’t waste anytime in delivering an answer to that question, but ordering up a Week 1 matchup pitting Cleveland against the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Expectations are as high as they’ve been, and things feel different this time around. We were all making Super Bowl plans in 2019, only to realize the Browns were nothing more than a paper tiger.
This squad is different, though. They’ve accomplished something. They didn’t get to the Super Bowl, but Baker Mayfield and company took major strides in changing the narrative on the Browns long, dreadful history from the past 20 years.
Accomplishments such as making the playoffs and winning a playoff game may be something some teams take for granted. But for the Browns, it’s how you turn away from what’s perceived as a losing culture plaguing the franchise.
Now, the team has to build off its victories from 2020 and Week 1 won’t be easy. A loss to the Chiefs won’t submarine the seasons, but a victory in Week 1 (something the Browns haven’t done since 2004) will go a long way in setting the tone for what should be an exciting year.
The Browns are 6.5 underdogs, according to Wynnbet, but here’s five reasons Cleveland can shock the world and beat the Chiefs.
1. Cleveland Browns: Re-vamped defense
The Browns overhauled their defense during the offseason after a nightmarish scenario in which Chad Henne beat the entire defensive line and linebacking corps to make a crucial first down in the divisional playoff round.
Cleveland addressed this problem by replacing both defensive tackles, while adding Jadeveon Clowney at defensive end.
General manager Andrew Berry shored up the secondary by drafting Greg Newsome in the first round of the draft, and then adding key free agents John Johnson III and Troy Hill via free agency.
He also came away from the draft with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, a player projected to go in the first, but fell to Cleveland late in the second.
While the defense is improved, no one is counting on them to play like the ’85 Bears. With the flick of a wrist, Patrick Mahomes can make any defense look foolish.
But if the Browns can force some timely turnovers and get off the field on 3rd down just enough, then the opportunity will be there for Kevin Stefanski’s offense to keep pace.
2. ClevelandBrowns: Chiefs lack of chemistry on O-line
A big disadvantage facing the Chiefs entering Week 1 is their overhauled offensive line. If there’s a spot you need chemistry and cohesive unit, the line’s it, and there’s just too much uncertainty there in Week 1.
Andy Reid’s squad is essentially starting three rookies in the trenches. Starting right tackle Lucas Niang was a third-round pick last season who opted out due to COVID.
Browns fans know how important an offensive line can be. It’s one thing to have a Hall of Fame player on the line (Joe Thomas), but if the rest of the unit isn’t up to snuff, quarterbacks can and will get eaten alive.
The Chiefs correctly realized that the team needed better protection for Mahomes, but it takes time for a line to work as a symbiotic unit, which is why this is something the Browns may be able to exploit.
Kansas City deployed veteran help to protect Mahomes’ blind side. Remember how Orlando Brown wanted out of Baltimore because he wanted to play left tackle so he could get paid like a left tackle? He’s getting that shot in KC. Meanwhile, veteran Pats lineman Joe Thuney is taking over at left guard.
That leaves rookie center Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith and Niang to cover center, right guard and right tackle, respectively.
The Browns need to force errors and are capable of doing so, especially with Garrett and Clowney rushing. Watch these battles carefully.
3. Cleveland Browns can exploit middle of field
The Chiefs are pretty stout up front and their secondary is expected to be better, but if there’s one area of the field that the Browns might be able to exploit, it’s the middle of the field.
Cleveland boasts a nice trio of linebackers in David Njoku, Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant, and this group might be to cause some headaches for a Chiefs’ linebacking corps that is missing Willie Gay Jr. (Injured Reserve).
With the injury to Gay, Kansas City will lean more heavily on 2021 second-round pick Nick Bolton. This isn’t to say he won’t be a good player, but the inexperience of having someone having an increased role playing his first NFL game should benefit the Browns.
From the Browns point of view, Njoku had a really nice training camp. Could this be the season he finally breaks out? Austin Hooper may be the Browns best all-around tight end, but Njoku oozes explosiveness and I wonder if Stefanski will try and utilize the 2017 first-round pick more.
Additionally, Harrison Bryant is coming off a solid rookie season. That said, he tailed off toward the end of the 2020 season.
4. Cleveland Browns offense can keep Mahomes off field
Patrick Mahomes is the preeminent playmaker in the game. The Chiefs are going to score and despite the advantages the Browns have, Cleveland must limit KC’s number of possessions.
Fortunately, the Browns have the type of offense that’s capable of keeping Mahomes on the sideline.
Under Stefanski, Browns fans have seen how the unit can be explosive, capable of putting up points against anyone, but the offense can also switch gears, sustaining long, time consuming drives.
ESPN’s Marcus Spears talked about the Browns’ style and how it might impact the Chiefs.
"“…They can bleed you with (running backs) Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, and the screen game and the quick passing game from Baker and getting the ball in these guys’ hands. The Browns are more suited to put together 12-, 13-play drives because of the way that they play football and the way (coach Kevin) Stefanski values being in third-and-short situations.”"
Don’t confuse the long drives with low scoring, though. I expect Stefanski to put his foot on the gas. He knows it: You want to be the Mahomes and the Chiefs, you better score.
Ideally, the Browns would get an early lead and then put together these time consuming drives.
5. Cleveland Browns: He’s back
I’ve been pretty critical of Odell Beckham during his time in Cleveland, basically because everyone drools over him and save for one game in Dallas last season, he hasn’t accomplished all that much wearing an orange helmet.
Now, with Beckham expected to play after spending the offseason rehabbing an ACL injury, what’s going to be different.
I”m not entirely sure, other than Beckham still posses elite traits that you need when you play a team like Kansas City.
The Browns’ virtually had no downfield game in last January’s AFC Divisional round matchup. Having Beckham on the field certainly changes the dynamic and gives Kansas City cause for concern.
Chemistry with Mayfield is a separate issue, but you’ve got to wonder how OBJ considers his place on the team after watching the Browns make the playoffs without him. Baker’s his best distributing the ball around to several receivers.
OBJ hasn’t been an elite receiver in a few year now, but his stock will trend back up with couple game changing plays in Arrowhead.