Browns: The Broncos game will determine if people need to be fired

The Browns sit at 3-3 heading into Thursday’s game against the Broncos.

The Browns are coming into Thursday’s game against the Broncos at 3-3 and nearing a tipping point. If the Browns drop a game to the Broncos of all teams, then it’s time to make some changes. The team is in a win-now mode and dropping to 3-4 after seven weeks is unacceptable. The Browns can’t afford to fall that far behind in the playoff and division race, and to subpar teams at that.

Some will say it’s only “year two” but it’s really not. The core group has been here for four if not five years at least. Just because Andrew Berry and company are in year two, doesn’t mean squat. They had a pre-built team, all they had to do was add a piece or two and add a coherent offensive system. That’s all they had to do.

The offensive system is anything but coherent this year due to terrible playcalling in every game (not every play, just every game has examples) and a defense that has been revamped twice, and somehow got worse. Not statistically necessarily (but it’s only Week 7) but in regards to expectations and the failures that go along with it. This defense had far higher expectations than last year’s team.

Yet, here we are. Dealing with the same issues in 2021 as they had in 2020.

If the Browns lose, changes must be made

If the Browns drop to 3-4 on the season, a season many expected them to lose only three games all year and be in the AFC Championship game, then one of two men need to be fired; either it’s Joe Woods or its Andrew Berry.

This is the “chicken or the egg” argument. Is it the player’s fault (aka Berry’s) that they can’t play good defense in Woods’ system, or is it the system’s fault (Wood’s)? After Sunday, someone is going to have to lose their job assuming the Browns find their fourth loss. Heck, you could make a case that one of them should be fired if the Browns win, but give up 40 points in the process.

The defense is the issue. Not Baker Mayfield, not the injuries, not the special teams. It’s on the defense. It is, and it’s incredible that it only is, 100% on the defense. Patrick Mahomes is having a bad season. His best game? Cleveland. Davis Mills nearly led a comeback against who? The Browns. The only two games they looked good were against NFC North teams who had bad head coaches. Justin Herbert and Kyler Murray didn’t look like superstars, the Browns simply had gaping huge holes that they threw to. Mills did that. He did the same exact thing. Yet, the defense can’t stop a passing attack and Cleveland is on the verge of falling to 3-4.

Shocker.

Cleveland needs to get their act together because there are no more excuses. Jobs need to be lost if the Browns fail to stop the Broncos’ quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater.