The 2021 NFL Season is officially underway with pre-season games starting on August 12. Teams are preparing for a long season with the hopes of holding the Lombardy Trophy in the end. Every year there are teams that are on everyone’s radar to make a deep playoff run and this year the Cleveland Browns should be that team.
Last season the Cleveland Browns made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2002, where they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. After beating the Steelers last postseason in the wild card and only losing to the Chiefs by less than a touchdown, Brown’s fans can’t wait to see what the team has in store for them for the 2021 season.
After the loss to the Chiefs, the team had the opposite approach to the podium that you would expect. They were proud of themselves for turning the season around and winning a playoff game for the first since 1994. Most importantly the Browns were ready for the off-season to expand on their games for the upcoming season.
We still have yet to see how they have improved individually or as a team, but the Brown’s off-season moves along with the team’s returning players make this team look like a playoff threat!
Key offensives players to watch
Quarterback Baker Mayfield is coming off a career year finishing the season with an 11-5 record. He thew a career-low eight interceptions, had a career-high QBR of 72.2, and a career-high passer rating of 95.9. Mayfield lead the Browns to the playoff for the first time in 19 years, and its first playoff win in 27 years!
Wider receiver Odell Beckham Jr.(OBJ) season was cut short in week 7 due to an ACL injury. In 7 games Beckham had 319 total receiving yards, averaging nearly 14 yards per catch. With the Browns looking to make a deep playoff run this year all eyes are on OBJ.
Teammate Jarvis Landry said, ”Man, he[Beckham] looked amazing,” Landry told reporters. “I can’t wait for you guys to see him. I can’t wait for him to get back out there. He’s in fantastic shape and he’s ready to go. He’s only what, 6½ months [beyond surgery], and he’s already doing some things that will blow your mind away. ESPN staff writer Jake trotter said, “Watching Beckham in individual and passing drills, you wouldn’t know he was coming off an ACL tear.”
Mayfield and OBJ have had difficulty finding chemistry between the two, and many sports analysts including Fox Sports Analyst Collin Cowherd even think that Mayfield performs better when OBJ is not on the field.
Key Defensive players to watch
Former number one overall pick and Right Defensive End Myles Garrett is coming off an amazing season, ranking fourth in Edge Defenders according to Pro Football Focus. Garrett also was 18 in solo tackles, third in sacks, and forced fumbles for the 2020 season. He will enter the 2021 season with another former number one overall pick across from him on the defensive line.
Jadeveon Clowney signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns this past April. Clowney, 28, still can’t seem to satisfy the charging of being the number one pick in the 2014 NFL draft. However, the ability and potential for Clowney to be a distinction creator off the edge still remains.
Teammates and coaches have all raved about Clowney and the potential problem that he can cause for offenses. Brown’s defensive coordinator Joe Woods even gave his thoughts saying “Offenses, they are going to have to make a choice of who they are going to chip and where they are going to slide the protection to. [Clowney] will be a great compliment [to Garrett], and we’ll also be able to move those guys around just to try to create some favorable matchups.”
On paper, this team has the makings of something special. On the offensive side of the ball, you have two running back in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt who combined for nearly 2,000 yards together last season. A young Quarterback who is getting better every game. An offensive line that is ranked number one going into the 2021 season according to pro football focus, and two wide receivers that are a threat total 1,000 yards apiece.
On the defensive side, you have two former number overall defensive ends that are nightmares for defensive coordinators when not paired up. A Defense that had 11 interceptions, 10 fumble recoveries, and 38 sacks last season with half the firepower on the line that will be present this year.
If these key players can play together as they should, the Cleveland Browns are going the shock the world.
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