Why the Cleveland Browns 2018 season is already a success

With two weeks remaining in the 2018 NFL regular season, many teams around the league are in panic and disarray. However, that is not the situation in Cleveland. For the first time in over a decade, the Cleveland Browns are still playing meaningful football in the month of December.

In this article, you will see why this season can already be considered a success, despite there being two weeks remaining in the season.

First, we’ll state the obvious. It is currently Week 16 and the Cleveland Browns are still in the playoff hunt. While the odds are slim they will end up making it, as it would require multiple teams to lose this week then an improbable tie in Week 17 between Indianapolis and Tennessee, it is impressive considering all this team has gone through this season.

Second, the Browns rid themselves of historically-bad head coach Hue Jackson. Over the past two-and-a-half years, the Browns were 3-36-1 under Jackson. Following his firing, Cleveland is 4-2. It is clear that Jackson was the one holding them back from success, not themselves.

Third, they broke both their winless streak overall, which dated back to December 24, 2016. They also broke their divisional winless streak, which dated back to October 11, 2015. These two streaks were two of many broke this year due to their surge of success including a 25-game road game losing streak and then won a game on a Sunday for the first time in thirty-six games. They also won back-to-back games for the first time since November 2014.

Fourth, it is likely the Browns will not finish last in the AFC North. Also, they are in a good position to sweep a division opponent for the first time in many years. Cleveland has games left against the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens, two teams they have already beat in 2018.

Overall, the Browns are in position to succeed for years to come. They will head into the offseason with somewhere around $90 million in cap space, the second most in the NFL. Also, they hold an abundance of draft picks which will be used to acquire talent to fill the holes in their roster. Most importantly, they have their franchise quarterback in Baker Mayfield.

All in all, the Cleveland Browns will head into 2019 expecting to make the playoffs as well as looking to compete for a division title for the first time in many years.