Cleveland Browns poised to take control of AFC North

Yes, the Cleveland Browns are a good football team. Hope you were sitting down for that.

Over the last half of 2018, the Browns went 5-3 and almost knocked the Baltimore Ravens out of the playoff chase in Week 17. They fell just a few yards shy of setting up a game-winning field goal attempt. In the end, Cleveland finished 7-8-1. While the season ended without the playoffs again, there’s real hope.

If you look close, there’s reason to believe the Cleveland Browns could win the AFC North in 2019.

Want $250 to bet on NFL futures?

Cleveland finally has a franchise quarterback in Baker Mayfield. Mayfield threw for 27 touchdowns despite being nailed to the bench for the first 2.5 games of the regular season. He was sublime in his rookie season, despite having Hue Jackson as an anchor of a head coach for his first eight games. Once Freddie Kitchens became the offensive coordinator, Mayfield blew up with 19 touchdowns over that eight-game span.

Now, Kitchens is the head coach after being promoted in the offseason. There are questions as to whether that’s the correct move considering Kitchens hasn’t even been a coordinator in the NFL for a full season. However, the marriage worked a year ago. With Mayfield entering his second season at the helm, and the Browns presumably putting more talent around him in the coming months, they should be in fine position to improve.

All that said, there could be more help taking shape around them. While the Cincinnati Bengals finally decided to cut ties with former head coach Marvin Lewis, they still have significant issues. Cincinnati is tied to Andy Dalton, and Zac Taylor may prove to be a terrific head coach. Although, he’s still a 35-year-old first-time head coach trying to get his bearings.

Read: Belichick – Julian Edelman One of the Great Versatile Patriots

Additionally, the Pittsburgh Steelers finished 9-6-1 last season and might be trading Antonio Brown. While the two sides are still opening to working something out to foster a return, Brown could be shipped out after a year that saw nothing but turmoil both on and off the field. If Pittsburgh does decide to move on from Brown, it would be a major blow to an offense that is relied upon to carry the day. Last year, the 30-year-old notched 15 touchdowns.

Finally, the division champ Baltimore Ravens have issues at quarterback. Lamar Jackson is an amazing athlete who, to this point in his very young career, can’t throw the football with any consistency. Baltimore is a good team, but certainly over-takable by the Browns.

It sounds insane to say and feels weird to write, but the Cleveland Browns should be considered a serious threat to win the AFC North next season.