Not many teams have seen the kind of turnaround that the Cleveland Browns have over a season. Going from a 6-10 record in 2019, to an 11-5 record in 2020 is no easy feat. This improvement is what earned their coach the 2020 NFL Coach of the Year award. Head Coach Kevin Stefanski, turned a losing team into a strong AFC North contender. By bringing the Browns their first winning season since 2007, Stefanski earned a spot in the playoffs.
Keep in mind, this was the Browns’ first playoff appearance since 2002. After 18 years, Cleveland finally earned a spot to play on the big stage. They beat the winner of the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round. They advanced to the Divisional Round where their opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs waited for them. After a hard-fought game, the Browns Cinderella story came to a close. The Chiefs won 22-17, and the Browns were eliminated from the playoffs.
2021 Cleveland Browns Futures Betting Odds
Cleveland Browns Odds to win the Super Bowl: +1600
Cleveland Browns AFC Championship Odds: +750
Cleveland Browns Win Totals Odds: Over 9.5 (-150) / Under 9.5 (+120)
Cleveland Browns AFC North Champion Odds: +145
As far as promising teams are concerned, the Cleveland Browns are at the top. Cleveland has improved leaps and bounds, primarily due to coaching. They’ve made significant additions to their team, including the signing of Jadevon Clowney. That puts Clowney on the same defensive line as Myles Garrett. When thinking about defensive ends, that’s a strong duo to have along the line. What the Browns did best was lean on RB Nick Chubb, who led the team in rushing yards at 1,067.
You have to remember that the Browns like to lull you in with their running game. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, they go play-action. What you might be forgetting is that they also have Kareem Hunt at running back. We can’t fail to mention that Odell Beckham Jr. will be returning to the wide receiving group as well. This makes their passing attack just as lethal as their run game. With Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr., and Donovan Peoples-Jones we might see the best receiving group in 2021. As it stands, the Browns definitely have a chance at making a run into the playoffs this season.
2021 Cleveland Browns Offseason Grade: B-
Key Additions: (DE, Jadeveon Clowney), (LB, Tony Fields II), (T, James Hudson III)
Key Departures: (DT, Sheldon Richardson), (DE, Adrian Clayborn)
The Browns lost some players along the defensive line but they made up for it. Letting go of Sheldon Richardson is the only departure that could prove troublesome. We believe the Browns already had that plan in place though with the drafting of Tommy Togiai. Togiai will fill the hole Richardson left, although there might be some rookie bumps along the way. Aside from that, the Browns are set on the defensive line.
A breakout player to watch out for this year is Jadeveon Clowney. With Myles Garrett garnering much attention from opposing offensive lines, the time is right for Clowney. Let’s not forget that when Clowney has a superstar on the line with him, he has incredible success. This started when he joined the defensive line in Houston with J.J. Watt. We could see a similar duo this year, especially if Togiai performs his duty in between the two.
Cleveland Browns 2021 Preview
What we can expect from the Browns this year is a near takeover of the AFC North standings. They have some tough competitors in the division with them though. The team they need to beat is the Baltimore Ravens, to who they lost both games in 2020. If the Browns are able to get over the hurdle of beating Baltimore, they might claim their first AFC North title in years. This is why we believe they searched to create a strong pass rush.
Aside from the Ravens, the next closest competitor is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are in somewhat of an identity crisis. The best time for the Browns to pull out all the stops is in 2021, especially in a shuffling division. Stefanski actually comes in as a candidate to win NFL Coach of the Year in 2021.
Cleveland Browns 2021 Futures Best Bets
The best bet you could make on the Cleveland Browns is for them to win the AFC North. Their win total is also a great bet considering sportsbooks already believe they’ll go over 9.5 games. Their biggest test happens at the first game of the season when they face the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs were the team that eliminated them from the playoffs, look for the Browns to get their revenge in Week 1.
