Slow Starts, Playoffs, AFC North

This great article on the Bleacher Report did a great job breaking down several probable reasons for slow starts by Brian Hoyer and the defense.  The article is so good, I can't add much to it.

Another article asserts that the Browns could make the playoffs as a wild card. I agreed with that last week, but now?

The Browns can win this Division.

Ya know, I can already hear you: Don't put the cart before the horse.  Let's not get too excited.  Who do you think you're talking to? In my last article, I called the Bengals the bull of the AFC North woods, but upon further review I've got to throw the challenge flag on my ruling.

The Bengals don't have a better offensive line. In point of fact I believe the Browns have the better quarterback, running backs, and tight end. Upon Josh Gordon's return, even the wide receivers match up.

I respect the Bengals defense, but think the Browns' defense is better.

Marvin Lewis is overrated.  I'm sorry.  If he were white, nobody would blink at that.  He's solid, and that's it.

As for the Ravens, they have the quarterback, and certainly other talent scattered around, but the Browns outgun them in general.  They have a great coach too, but at this point I can't give any opposing coaches a big edge over ours.

Inexperience is a consideration, but the Browns may have gone past the "thinking" stage after five games, and should now improve rapidly. Especially with the next three opponents as preliminaries to the tougher fights.

I do worry about Hoyer starting out slow again, but thanks to the article I opened up with, I may understand it better and feel better about it.  If this writer is correct, he's simply unwilling to take any risks until he has "felt them out".

The next three games are games they should win, and just as importantly, they're "reps" for the new players. By the time they meet the tough guys again, they should be clicking.

Remember this: The Browns by game 9 should be noticeably better than the team that just gave the Steelers a swirly, stuffed them in a locker, and took their lunch money.

If they sweep the Bengals, they can win the Division.

And yes, they can.

Late note on Mack:  Rich Gannon, for one, made the loss of Kevin Mack sound disastrous.  Here again, Rich isn't interested enough in the Browns to do more than superficial research on them.

John Greco isn't as athletic as Mack, and no center has a quicker right hand.  But Greco is a good player with experience at center.

McQuistan isn't as powerful as Greco, but is more athletic, and in this scheme will do well at right guard.

Sans Mack, the Browns' offensive line might not be the best in the NFL.  They might only be the fourth or fifth best.  Oh.  The humanity.