When the Cleveland Browns lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 28-24, on Sunday, they clinched just the second 0-16 season in NFL history. It was indeed a perfect season for Hue Jackson and company, and hopefully, the city of Cleveland will honor that season with a parade. People are undoubtedly celebrating this rare feat.
So, of course, the playoffs are happening and all, but the big question on everyone’s mind right now is where this perfect Browns team ranks all time. Could the 0-16 2017 Browns beat the 0-16 2008 Detroit Lions?
This is why we get into this business, folks. Debating the hard questions and talking or writing about the things that people want to hear/read. It ain’t always easy. In fact, sometimes, it’s tough talking about hypothetical scenarios that often don’t even matter so there’s really no consequences of being wrong or being accountable for anything at all.
Still, we have a job to do. So, we’re going to encourage debate today here people.
This Browns team is as bad as bad can get. Helmed by NFL 32nd-rated quarterback DeShone Kizer, a second round pick out of Notre Dame, the Browns are the 32nd best offense in the NFL. In case you have forgotten, there are precisely 32 teams in the NFL. So, that’s bad.
Their leading receiver? Well, that would be running back Duke Johnson – indeed, running back is not wide receiver. Johnson’s 693 yards are good for 48th in the league. So, yeah – with the 48th best receiver, who is actually a running back, it’s safe to say this is not exactly an explosive offense. It wasn’t even close, either. Second on the team is tight end Seth DeValve, with just 395 receiving yards (111th in the NFL). If that doesn’t make you cringe, you don’t love football.
At least they have Isaiah Crowell, whose 853 rushing yards are good for 18th in the league. Gotta feel bad for the guy, as he has elite potential if he’s playing for a better team.
On defense, they were a step better….literally….they were 31st in points allowed per game….like…one spot above 32nd. The only defense worse was the Houston Texans. So, they could not score and they could not stop people from scoring. I’m certainly no expert, but I would think that that is not a formula for winning football games.
All of this said, at least the Browns weren’t as laughably bad as those ’08 Lions. Man, that team sucked worse than any other team I’ve ever watched. Poor Rod Marinelli. The man’s actually a pretty decent football coach, but he’s always going to have that stink on his legacy. I watched the Tennessee Titans literally stomp those Lions on Thanksgiving Day that year – pretty sure five different people had 100 rushing yards.
That team made some comically bad mistakes, and off the top of my head, I don’t remember them being competitive at all. At least the Browns were competitive this season – they only lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers by three points and four points. Also, the Titans are a playoff team, and it took OT to beat the Browns 12-9. They hung around with the Packers, too. I think there’s an awful lot of raw talent in Cleveland, and for that, they beat the ’08 Lions. Now, it’s time for them to put it all together.
Thanks for joining me for this piece of important sports journalism today.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
Buy our shirt. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Listen on SoundCloud. Watch on YouTube. Shop our store on Redbubble.
