Remember where you were last night. Last night was the dawn of a new era, an era that many have been waiting for what seems like an eternity for. I don't think there is a single football fan that has not had their eyes and ears on the Cleveland Browns this season. The Browns have been the whipping boy of the NFL for so long that failure and embarrassment have just become the norm over the years. Last night, football fans tuned into Thursday Night Football and bared witness to the rebirthing of a franchise. The Cleveland Browns made a statement Thursday night, they will no longer be the brunt of everyone's jokes. It is time to take these Browns seriously!!!
The Cleveland Browns have not won a game since December 24, 2016. In football, that feels like a lifetime. The Browns and their fans have endured a winning drought unlike no other. Really, if you look a little deeper, that win almost two years ago was the only win in what was another forgettable season. Back to back seasons that went 1-15 and 0-16. The years before that weren't all that great either. The Browns have not had a winning record since 2007 when they went 10-6. This can only be described as a painfully epic run of futility for the franchise and its fans. Fans that are widely considered some of the best and most loyal in the league. Fans that I think are about to be rewarded for over a decade of basement dwelling mediocrity. The dog pound is about to be unleashed.
This offseason, ownership made some huge decisions in an effort to change the fortunes of their team. Losing was no longer going to be considered acceptable. The first decision was to bring in a new general manager, John Dorsey. That is when the overhaul of this Brown's team began and was the beginning of a new era in Cleveland. A new mentality and overall team aura would need to be embraced. It is clear from how the 2018 season has started, the message has been accepted and we are seeing a different Browns team then we are used to. A Browns team that is commanding respect and turning heads with every single game. These Cleveland Browns won't be pushed around.
This young and very talented team showed the NFL world last night that they are here to compete, putting an end to a 19 game losing streak that was hanging over the entire city like a dark cloud. To be perfectly honest, this team should have ended that streak in week 1 against the Steelers or last week against the Saints. Their defence, led by rising star Miles Garrett who already has 4 sacks over three games, is imposing its will on teams. Defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, has these guys running defensive packages that are even confusing star veterans like Drew Brees. They are truly starting to look like a top 5 defence in the league. One player that is amazing me every week is Denzel Ward. When the Browns selected him with the fourth overall pick in the draft this year I personally thought they made yet another bad decision. WOW, was I wrong!!! This kid is not only playing well he is playing at an elite level. He is someone that other teams better start being worried about very quickly.
<grammarly-btn>Baker Mayfield had a coming out party last night as well. The 1st overall pick was thrust into action when Tyrod Taylor left the game with a concussion. This would prove to be a turning point in the game. Mayfield took command of the offence as though he was a seasoned veteran. In fact, the offence was sputtering under Tayor through the first half and much of the first to games. Taylor has been playing like a quarterback who is afraid to make a mistake, afraid to lose his job. Well, that might have just happened. It will remain to be seen if Mayfield will become the new starter once the concussion issue is settled but I have to think that Hue Jackson is considering the move, even if he says he isn't.
I think that this is the first team that I have watched on "Hard Knocks" that I walked away feeling excited about. There is a lot of good going on in Cleveland and there are analysts that are even starting to consider the possibility that this team can compete for the division. I don't know if that is going to happen but I certainly think anything is possible. Can this team take their new found confidence and swagger and run with it? Last night was just the first of many wins we will witness this year and Browns fans have a lot to be excited about. An 8-7-1 record and the first non-losing season in over ten years is within their grasp. With a win in the bank, everything else is gravy at this point right? Not for this team. This group is hungry and I think they are about to do some long-awaited feeding. I have never been a Browns fan and have mocked them like everyone else but I will be watching them very closely every week as they attempt to change the past.
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