5 Cleveland Browns whose stock is down after mini-bye as Steelers await

If there were a mini-Bye in the NFL, this would be it, with the Cleveland Browns getting 10 days off until their next matchup, following a 17-14 win over the Broncos on Thursday Night Football.

The extra time of couldn’t have come at a better time for the Browns, as the team’s injury report dominated the headlines leading up to the Denver contest.

Alas, the Browns staved off the Broncos and head into a crucial part of the schedule at home against Pittsburgh and then on the road against the surprising Cincinnati Bengals.

These two contests mark the first division games the Browns will play–and both are winnable. With the Ravens and Cincinnati sitting at 5-2, the 4-3 Browns aren’t fall behind and in a position to strike.

Despite posting four wins in 2021, only one of those victories was a “quality” win, and I”m talking about the Vikings. The other victories came against the Texans, Bears and then Denver. I think we can all agree those teams are terrible and that Case Keenum would beat Houston and Chicago, as well.

Reflecting at the mini-Bye, the loss the Chiefs hurts even more considering how the Chiefs have struggled (3-4).

While not everything’s gone according to plan, everything is still on the table for the Browns as they hunt down a playoff berth. They’ll be in a lot better shape if these players, whose stocks are down at the mini-Bye, can get things turned around.