Let’s not hand the NFL Coach of the Year Award over to Kevin Stefanski just yet, even though he definitely deserves early props for guiding the Cleveland Browns to a 4-1 record. The Browns, thanks to the top rushing attack in the NFL, are off to their best start since 1994 when Bill Belichick coached the old Browns who were led by Vinny Testaverde. You can currently bet the Cleveland Browns to win the Super Bowl at 28/1 odds, according to the Mirage Sports Book in Las Vegas.
The Browns will finally get to see if they’re a Super Bowl contender when they face the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers (4-0) in Week 6.
“I think we have a ways to go,” said Stefanski. “We’re in this to win it. We know that. Every week we’re trying to win these games, and they’re going to be hard. But we’ll celebrate this one first.”
The Browns were the darlings of the 2019 preseason until we quickly discovered that Freddie Kitchen was a horrible coach. Ownership quickly corrected their mistake and hired Stefanski.
| 2021 SUPER BOWL ODDS |
| WEEK 1 | Â NOW (10.13.20) | |
| Cleveland Browns | 40/1 | 28/1 |
The Browns came into this season at 40/1 Super Bowl Odds. After starting out 4-1, oddsmakers bumped the Browns to 28/1 odds at both DraftKings and at Las Vegas casinos on the Strip.
Before he took over the Evil Empire in New England, Belichick led the Browns to their last postseason victory more than 25 years ago. The 1994 Browns defeated the New England Patriots in the AFC wild-card game, but were then bounced by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.
Browns 2.0 = Not Good
The old Browns are actually the Baltimore Ravens. The team moved from Cleveland to Baltimore and rebranded the team with a new name. The city of Cleveland waited three long winters of discontent without pro football between 1996 and 1998. In 1999, the new Cleveland Browns joined the NFL as an expansion team.
The new Browns, or Browns 2.0, advanced to the postseason one time over the last 20 years. In 2002, Butch Davis led the Browns to a 9-7 record and a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC wild card. Since then, the Browns haven’t participated in the postseason.
Stefanski is the 12th head coach since the reboot of the Browns in 1999. He’s attempting to turn around a franchise that Davis, Chris Palmer, Terry Robiskie, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, Pat Shurmur, Rob Chudzinski, Mike Pettine, Hue Jackson, Gregg Williams, and Freddie Kitchens all failed with.
Since 2002, the Browns posted one winning season in 2007. Crennel went 4-12 in 2006, but turned around the team in 2007 with a 10-6 record. Sadly, those 2007 Browns bubbled the postseason and missed out on a wild-card berth.
2020 Browns = Sick Rushers
The Browns lead the NFL in rushing, despite an injury to Nick Chubb. Kareem Hunt would probably start for more than 20 teams in the NFL, but has been relegated to backup duties behind Chubb.
The Browns average 188.4 yards per game on the ground. They rush for twice as many yards as three teams (Houston, Washington, and the NY Giants).
The Browns running backs, Chubb and Hunt, are both currently ranked in the Top 10 in rushing, with Hunt #8 and Chubb #10.
In the first four games on the season, Chubb rushed for 335 yards and four touchdowns. Chubb averaged 5.9 yards per carry, including back-to-back 100-yard games before his MCL injury. He also added two touchdown receptions from Baker Mayfield.
Chubb won’t miss the entire season and hopes he can return before the end of the year. The Browns are lucky to have an All-Pro back in reserve with Hunt.
In five games, including one as a starter, Hunt rushed for 347 yards with three rushing touchdowns. He’s averaging 5.0 yards per carry, and also added three touchdown receptions.
