Big things are expected of the 2019 Cleveland Browns. To get to those big accomplishments, the team must conquer a few smaller, long-running demons that loom over the success, or lack thereof, for the proud franchise.
Last season was a great first step. Myles Garrett became the first Browns pass rusher since Paul Kruger to top 10 sacks in a season. The team finished above last place in the AFC North for the first time since 2010, and the offense did not finish in the bottom 10 in scoring for the first time since 2007.
Here are four more frustrating foibles that will fall in 2019.
Throwing for twice as many TDs as INTs
No Browns team has thrown for double the touchdowns to interceptions since returning to the field in 1999. In fact, the team has had five seasons since 2009 where they threw more INTs than TDs.
This feat nearly came true last season. Baker Mayfield threw 27 TDs against 14 INTs in his 13 games as a starter and one in relief of Tyrod Taylor, who threw 2 of each. With Odell Beckham Jr. now available as a receiver and more experience from Mayfield, this one should fall.
It will help if the Browns can avoid the oddball INTs, such as Dontrell Hilliard’s ill-advised interception on a halfback option intended for Mayfield.
Winning the AFC North division title
The Browns have never won the AFC North. The last time the team captured a division crown was in 1989 as a member of the old AFC Central. At 9-6-1, Bud Carson’s Browns edged out the Houston Oilers and Pittsburgh Steelers, both of whom finished 9-7. Interestingly, all three teams made the playoffs.
The Oilers are now the Tennessee Titans, replaced in the North by the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore captured the division title last season at 10-6, clinching by beating the Browns in Week 17. That was last year.
Cleveland is the odds-on favorite to win the division in 2019. Finishing strong at 5-2 and sweeping the division rival Bengals in the final two months of 2018 should be the positive groundwork for this team to build upon.
It helps that the Ravens and Steelers both suffered net losses in talent in the offseason, while the Bengals remain a study in enigmatic mediocrity, albeit one with a shiny new head coach.
One player rushing for 1,000 yards or more
This one has not happened since Peyton Hillis’ glory year in 2010. Trent Richardson and Isaiah Crowell both topped 950 in a season once, but neither hit the mark.
Nick Chubb briefly accomplished this feat last season, but a loss of five yards on his final carry in the finale cost him his mark. Chubb finished with 996 rushing yards on 192 attempts.
Given more carries in 2019, Chubb has the potential to blast past the 1,000-yard mark. Remember, he got just 16 carries in the first six games of his rookie campaign. Even with the Brown adding Kareem Hunt — the NFL rushing champion as a rookie in 2017 — there are plenty of carries available for Chubb to shatter 1,000 rushing yards.
Browns receiver catching 90 or more passes
Believe it or not, no Cleveland Browns player has ever caught 90 passes in a single season. The team record is 89 receptions, accomplished twice by Ozzie Newsome (1983-84) and matched by Kellen Winslow in 2006.
The most receptions by a wide receiver are Josh Gordon’s 87 in 2013. Jarvis Landry hauled in 81 in 2018, the third-most by a Browns wideout. Yet Landry is not the guy most likely to break the 90-catch barrier.
Odell Beckham Jr. topped the 90-catch mark in each of his first three seasons with the New York Giants. He was on pace to do it again in 2018, with 77 catches in 12 games before injuries ended his campaign.
Now in Cleveland and with the likes of Landry and David Njoku preventing defenses from giving too much coverage help his way, Beckham should break the team record for receptions. He could conceivably hit 100 catches if he plays all 16 games.
