By STEVE KING
OK, Browns fans, would you be OK with your team finishing 12-5 and winning a division title — the AFC North — for the first time in 32 years?
Yes, of course you would. In fact, you’d be thrilled beyond belief if the Browns recorded a dozen wins and ruled the division.
That’s what one of my favorite NFL writers, Sports Illustrated’s Connor Orr has the Browns doing per a piece on the website, which is tops in my book for pro football coverage.
The Browns, who have not captured a division championship since 1989 in the North’s predecessor, the AFC Central, are predicted to finish a game ahead of the 11-6 Baltimore Ravens. The two teams tied — record-wise — for second place last year at 11-5, but Baltimore got the runner-up nod based on the first tie-breaker with its two victories over Cleveland.
Orr has the defending division champion Pittsburgh Steelers, who were 12-4 last season, finishing in third place with a record barely over .500, 9-8.
The Cincinnati Bengals, who were last in 2020 with a 4-11-1 mark, are projected to be last again with an even worse finish of 3-14, losing their final six games in the process.
As for the Browns, Orr has them defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans and Chicago Bears to start the year, followed by two straight losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Chargers. Then there’s a win over the Arizona Cardinals and a loss to the Denver Broncos, giving them three defeats in four games. The Browns get back on track with four wins in a row, over Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions.
The Browns will then lose at Baltimore, have their bye and defeat the Ravens at Cleveland. The regular season ends with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders, a loss to the Green Bay Packers and wins over the Steelers and Bengals. That would be the Browns’ first regular-season sweep of Pittsburgh since way back in 1988, which was a year they also captured a division title.
We’ll see how it all works out, but in the meantime, it’s a fun and exciting thing to ponder as the beginning of the season creeps closer and closer.
