Playoff Teams the 2019 Browns Might Look Like

I'm watching the Colts (so far) handling the Texans (up by 21 and with the ball at :33 left in the first half).

This is the first time I've watched the Colts, and now realize that the 2019 Browns will look more like the 2018 Colts than the 2018 Texans.

1: Mayfield is as decisive and accurate as Luck.  (Get the height crap out of your head).  Watson is more like Dak Prescott; he's not as decisive or accurate.  These are just measurable facts: deal with them.

1a: Same as Mayfield, Luck's favorite receiver is the open receiver.  He spreads the ball around too, and is no doubt grateful that T Y Hilton isn't...Antonio Brown.

2: The Browns' defense looks more like the Colts' talent-wise.  There's no Clowney opposite Garrett yet--Genard Avery is a very different player.

3: The Colts interior offensive line is exceptional, and this Marlon Mack guy is trampling the Texans D so far.  The Texans offense (despite an excellent RB in Miller) is not as balanced; they don't have those inside road-graders (like the Colts/Browns do).

4: (see 1a) the tight end actually catches passes for the Colts, much moreso than the Texans.

I'm not bashing anybody here.  As I cited several weeks ago, the Texans are possibly the most talented defense in the NFL, but have some soft spots on offense...nevermind.

The Browns differ from both these teams in several ways, starting with the fact that Kitchens uses "jumbo" personnel on offense more than both.

Two (or three) tight ends, two (or yes occasionally three--semi-Wishbone) running backs.  Both these offenses are more conventional than Kitchens' Browns.

Here is the cool part of this game: Time is running out on DeShaun Watson, and he's pulling out the stops, running, and relying on his instincts more.

He's great under the lights/in the clutch.  Watson barely lost to Alabama in one National Championship, and then beat Saban and co in the rematch.

...but he'll lose this one, because Andrew Luck and that offensive line is there to answer him.

Marlon Mack is a stud! The Colts Front Office did at least as well as Dorsey did in the 2018 draft/offseason.  I knew about the two offensive linemen they drafted in the first and second rounds, but never thought Marlon Mack was this good, or saw these other defenders and skill-players coming.

Is the Colts' Defensive Coordinator a Head Coach candidate (as long as we've decided to kick Gregg Williams to the curb no matter what anyway?)

UPDATE: Eberflus has been interviewed by the Browns.

But of course, THE most important part of this is the quarterback.  Andrew Luck doesn't need his receiver to be "open", like Watson or Prescott do.

Like Brees, Wilson, Rodgers, or MAYFIELD, Luck can hit a flea at 30 yards, and a fly at 40.

The Colts won this one.  Next up is the Seahawks vs Cowboys.  Hard to pick a winner between those two teams (in Dallas btw).

I predict a Seahawk victory, because Russell Wilson is better than Dak Prescott.

Is any of this sinking in yet?  ACCURACY and decisiveness are more important than arm-strength, mobility or (give me a break) height.

Anyway, every surviving playoff team should be afraid of Luck and the Colts.

If my prediction is right, they should also fear Wilson and the Seahawks.

The guys on NFL Radio describe the Ravens as a team to fear, but they're the outlier.  That's a historically-good defense (better than the Bearss IMO), and Jackson at quarterback.

Harbaugh is doing a great job.  The Ravens lead the NFL in rushing, partly because Lamar Jackson accounts for 30% or so of that.

HE is also using two and three tight-end sets...I was hoping the Ravens would fire Harbaugh so...but nevermind I digress:

Anyway, Lamar Jackson isn't in any other playoff quarterback's league yet as a "quarterback", but he's still a freakmonster who...

Well Chargers' Head Coach Anthony Linn said it:

You can't match up with them.  It's a "hat on a hat", except if you hold a safety deep, they (the Ravens) have somebody uncovered.

Linn, who lost (badly) to the Ravens a couple weeks ago, and faces them again next week, says that all you can do is win personal matchups and keep gap-discipline vs the Jackson-led Ravens' defense.

UPDATE: Chargers avenged themselves.