NFL
The Cleveland Browns have moved temporarily to the top of the AFC North after a strong win over the Steelers. The Browns are now 2-1 for this season, coming back after a close defeat to the New York Jets. While most wouldn’t have predicted a strong season for the Browns, they’re showing that they’re tough to beat, and they definitely have a chance to win the division. Currently, they’re a big outside to win the Super Bowl at odds of +3000. You can find all the best NFL odds at Betway and bet on a variety of markets.
(Photo by DJ Johnson on Unsplash)
While we’re only in week three, and there are still games to be played, the Browns have looked good and have more than enough quality to stay close to the top of the AFC North throughout the regular season. It remains to be seen whether they can go all the way and win in the playoffs, but they certainly have a team filled with talent. Their most recent success was in the 2020 season, where they achieved their first win in the playoffs, and some fans feel this could be their best season yet.
How the Browns Beat the Steelers
This week, the Browns beat the Steelers 29-17 after losing to the Jets 31-30 the previous week. Amari Cooper was once again the star of the show, with his second straight 100-yard game, and Jacoby Brissett also impressed, throwing two touchdowns.
Brissett completed 21 of 31 passes for 220 yards, connecting for scores with Amari Cooper and David Njoku. The 29-year-old, who is filling in for Deshaun Watson as he serves an 11-game suspension, produced his second straight strong performance.
In the first half, Mitch Trubisky and the Stealers’ sluggish offense showed signs of life, but they stalled out after the break, punting on their first three possessions while only gaining 54 yards. Trubisky attempted a couple of long balls but did not connect with them. After being criticized for not throwing long often enough in the previous game, he’ll once again be disappointed by his performance.
With 9:29 remaining, Chubb, who ended with 113 yards, twisted and pushed his way across the goal line on fourth-and-goal to give the Browns a 23-14 lead. With 1:48 remaining, Chris Boswell’s 34-yard field goal brought Pittsburgh within 23-17, prompting them to try an onside kick. Browns fans might have been expecting another capitulation after last week, where the New York Jets overcome a 13-point deficit in the final 1:55. However, this time, the Browns were much more alive to the danger and knocked the ball out of bounds after being helped by a recovery.
When cornerback Denzel Ward tripped over a Steelers fumble in the end zone on the final play, resulting in a pointless touchdown, Cleveland supporters could finally breathe a sigh of relief and relax.
Can the Browns Go All the Way This Season?
The Browns have never won the Super Bowl while in Cleveland, and the last time the franchise won was in 1964. In addition, the team has only ever had three winning seasons, in 2002, 2007 and, 2020. In 2017, they were so bad that they became only the second team in history to finish with a 0-16 record. In short, it’s been tough being a Browns fan. However, there’s a real sense of optimism around the team this season.
Amari Cooper looks like a real talent and can definitely help the team succeed if he keeps performing how he has been. The Super Bowl might still be a long way off for the Browns, but most fans would be happy with another performance like 2020 and, winning the AFC North shouldn’t be ruled out.
