Opinion: The Browns are one of the Most Fun NFL Teams to Watch
If you’re a Browns fan, you’re used to losing. Long term Browns fans lost their beloved team to Baltimore, more recent Browns fans are just used to losing almost every game every season. Despite a horrendous record and the remarkable ability to perennially blow almost every lead they’ve ever had, this season the Cleveland Browns are still one of the most fun teams in all of football to cheer for.
It starts with a defense that always seems to play just well enough to give the Browns a chance to win in the fourth quarter, leaving it to the offense to drive down the field to tie or win the game. Now logically you’re probably thinking, “Okay yes but the Browns have never actually done that.” and that’s a great point, but being fun to watch isn’t just about winning football games. It’s about being down or tied late in games and making all sixty minutes of the football game engaging to watch. In the Browns case, this is caused by blowing a lead or turnovers, but it’s still fun football on both sides of the ball.
Cody Kessler continues to step up in his rookie season and play surprisingly well, making the Browns even more fun to watch. How many teams have a third string quarterback that can move the offense better than the first string quarterback? In the Titans game Kessler kept getting nailed after delivering the pass, but he stood in the pocket and threw it anyways, despite having almost no chance to win the game and playing for a team in the midst of a season that is going nowhere.
Is there a better backup quarterback than Josh McCown? If you’re thinking, “Yes, his name is Dak Prescott” you’re right, but McCown is such a great quarterback to root for. His statement about toughness and playing through injury was such a rich testament to his character and shows the kind of intensity he brings to the table. For those who don’t remember what he said:
“It think it is just not wanting to not be out there with your guys. I have a dad and an older brother who get up and go to work and sometimes they don’t feel great and they go. They go and they grind. I have two little boys that are playing football now. They get hit and they get banged up, and I am trying to teach them what toughness means. For me, it is those things and just knowing the window for me right now and understanding that I don’t want to miss snaps. I don’t want to be out there without my guys. Unless it is going to fall off, let’s try to make it work and make it go. That is my mentality.”
That’s a remarkable level of grit and dedication for backup quarterback. There are starting quarterbacks in the NFL who don’t display that kind of emotional investment (looking at you Jay Cutler). McCown may not be the best, but he plays hard and is fun to cheer for, and in that way he is a perfect representation of this Browns team.
Then there’s Terrelle Pryor, who’s playing his heart out every single game and somehow managing to be one of the most exciting players in all of football week in and week out. His competitive spirit and passion on the sidelines and in the locker room seems infectious, and the Browns are playing hard every minute of every game partly due to his leadership. Corey Coleman was even playing well before he broke his hand in practice.
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The Browns are the scrappy underdog you’d see in a poorly executed sports movie, they just haven’t had that moment where the music swells and they do something absolutely ridiculous to win the football game in the last minute. They’re fun and easy to cheer for, and this team especially keeps things positive in spite of all the losses and injuries they’re facing. The youth of the team helps as well, because despite losses you come out knowing the team is learning and growing; even if it is a 33-13 loss to the Patriots and you spend the next hour of your life listening to Baby Come Back on repeat and gently stroking a picture of Bill Belichick.
So no, the Browns are not “good”. They haven’t been “good” for years, but somethings different about the team this year. Besides, isn’t the real winner the team that has the most fun? Multiple Patriots Super Bowl victories would say otherwise, but I’m rejecting your reality and substituting my own: Go Browns.
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