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Browns are the team to beat
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Browns are the team to beat
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Browns are the team to beat
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Reputation:88
Level:All-Star
Since:Mar 5, 2008
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While the Steelers will probably still be tough, they lost a Pro Bowl Guard and really didn't gain much else. I know they still have the draft, but I think the Browns additions will overtake them.
The Browns seriously beefed up their D-Line with Rogers and Williams, and the offense should be even better with Stallworth as the #2 receiver. Their core offensive players are young and the O-Line may be one of the best in the game with Thomas and Steinbach anchoring the left side. Consider that LeCharles Bentley may actually be healthy and that they didn't lose anything on the offensive line, they could be scary and should field a top 5 offense. If their defense is just average, they will get double digit wins.
The team that I think missed their window is the Bengals. They should have done a lot more with the talent they had over the last 3 or 4 years, and getting only 1 playoff appearance out of that is pretty weak. They lost their best defensive player in Justin Smith, and it seems like they are declining again. Chad Johnson is a tremendous distraction and Lewis can't seem to do anything with this defense. I see double digit losses on the horizon for this team.
As for the Ravens, age is finally catching up with them. They have no QB, and losing a Pro Bowl, Hall of Fame Left Tackle is not something that is easy to replace. Other than McGahee, their skill position players stink, and while there is still some talent on D with Suggs and Ed Reed, Ray Lewis is a shadow of his former self. I think they will have a season very simiilar to the one that they had a year ago.
My predictions:
Browns-10-6
Steelers-9-7
Bengals 6-10
Ravens 4-12
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Browns are the team to beat
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Browns are the team to beat
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Reputation:90
Level:All-Star
Since:Oct 17, 2006
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Dude, you're username is one of the worst quarterbacks ever. Your post and opinion are meaningless.
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Browns are the team to beat
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Browns are the team to beat
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Jul 8, 2007
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the Browns had a bottom 5 defense, and is now sposed to becomes average? plus, the browns had the second easiest strength of schedule by opponents' record last year. (fortunately the Steelers had the easiest)
they are not the team to beat.
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Browns are the team to beat
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Browns are the team to beat
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Reputation:91
Level:All-Star
Since:Jan 8, 2008
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I strongly disagree. I think last year the brown's record was a fluke. Sure they added a lot of big name players, but come on. they are still the Browns. i honestly can not see them beating the Steelers even once next year and yet again missing the playoffs.
Predictions:
Steelers 11-5
Ravens 9-7
Browns 8-8
Bengals 5-11
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Browns are the team to beat
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Browns are the team to beat
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 22, 2008
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Before anyone anoints the Browns new division champions, I think we need to realize that Derek Anderson had one year where he threw a nice amount of touchdowns, but also 19 interceptions giving him an 82.5 QB rating. In a defensive minded division (except for the Bungles) that could be a determinig factor in divisional games played. Faneca will hurt, but Pittsburgh plays a solid game of football, and I'm not ready to put Cleveland ahead of them based on a relatively unproven QB.
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Browns are the team to beat
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Browns are the team to beat
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Reputation:90
Level:All-Star
Since:Mar 23, 2008
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beat pittsburgh..then come talk to me
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Browns are the team to beat
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Browns are the team to beat
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Aug 24, 2006
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have you looked at the squeesers scheduel? there is no way they are winning 11. they will be lucky to win 9 same goes for the Browns. where the browns luck out is they get the Bills and Broncos instead of the pats and Chargers. who ever gets to 10 wins wins the division for sure but the winner may end up 9-7.
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Browns are the team to beat
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Browns are the team to beat
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 29, 2006
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The Steelers are the team to beat, period. They have been the most successful team year after year. They have won the division 4 of the last 7 years and have won a Superbowl. The Browns have not won the division since the 1980s! Football is decided on the field, not on paper. The Browns need to have some sustained success before you call them the team to beat. They have made the playoffs only once in the last decade and they lost in the first round to who? The Steelers. My point is not to beat up on the Browns because I think they have become a pretty good organization, but lets see if they can prove something on the field instead of making them paper champions. The Steelers have proven success, the browns are just hyperbole.....
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Browns are the team to beat
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Browns are the team to beat
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Aug 24, 2006
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With the Browns new d linemen they will be able to put Berger boy on his kester and not let him run for a first down on 3rd and 18. Neither are the Steelers. Last year doesn’t matter. The browns will have a different looking team on d with a new coordinator. There defense cant get much worse so they should be a little better then last year.
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Browns are the team to beat
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Browns are the team to beat
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 21, 2007
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The Browns are definitely the team to beat, but the thing is I would be worried about how well Jamal Lewis will hold up if I was a Browns fan. The Steelers will draft good this year like they always do, but I don't think Tomlin is as good of a coach as Cowher was. Tomlin is pretty good though and suprised me on how far he made the steelers go last year, but The Browns are going to be the team to beat. I think the biggest factor will be that now Clevland hasn't got to play 51-45 games with teams like Cinicinnati. I think they have filled alot of holes in their defense. When your team doesn't have to play catch up every game then it is easier to win.The Browns look as solid this year as almost any team. Last year's pick up Joe Thomas was a god send. Then they have Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow. Derek Anderson was able to do great because of the supporting cast around him. Jamal Lewis done good because this was the first time he had a potent offense around him in awhile, but the thing is. Does he keep up that level of play. Usually, when Running Backs get his age. They start declining. I bet Tim Couch wished he had this kind of talent around him. Then he might have not been labeled a first round bust.
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Browns are the team to beat
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Browns are the team to beat
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Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Apr 24, 2007
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Don't put too much stock into free agency.
The Steelers lost Faneca, which admittedly does hurt, but that's about it. Parker was leading the NFL in rushing before he got hurt. Roethlisberger had his best year last year even with bad pass protection. The offense might take a step back with a slightly worse O-line, but keep in mind that they had the #1 defense in the NFL last year. They should do just fine next year.
I have mixed feelings about the Browns off season so far. Shaun Rogers is hardly consistent, but I think we can all agree he will be an upgrade. Stallworth was a nice addition as well. I've heard some people complain about his injury history, but let's be honest, his presence will do nothing but help the team even if it's only for 10 games. The big concern in my mind, though, is losing Leigh Bodden. Does their defensive secondary have anyone else to make plays?
The Browns are a good team, and could do even better next year. I just don't see them supplanting the Steelers.
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Browns are the team to beat
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Browns are the team to beat
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Dec 19, 2006
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When was the last time the Browns even beat the Steelers? To be the champs you have to beat the champs. At first I thought the Steelers will really miss Alan Faneca, but I'm starting to think differently. Its a big loss, no question, but dont think the Steelers are going to turn belly up. Our tackle play was suspect, but Marvel Smith was injured most of the year, but Max Starks showed that he can play there. The Steelers need to resign him, and probably give him his starting RT job back. Willie Colon didn't impress me much last year. I think we need to draft a center, Sean Mahan sucked, and Jeff Hartwick is old, plus he's new. Keomuato will get the job done, but i just not as well as Faneca did. Another loss that I think will hurt big time, at least in the short run, is Clark Haggans, who joined the western Steelers out in Arizona. He did his job well, and LaMarr Woodley has a lot to prove. He did well against the pass, but didnt get much time against the run. The Browns spent money in free agency again, but when has that helped them? They are relying on a one hit wonder in Derrek Anderson, while Jamal Lewis adds another year of hits on his shoulders. If Chad Johnson really leaves the Bengals, they wont be winning the division, and the Ravens just keep adding to their age. Their defense is still good, but it is no longer dominant. And they still have no offense.
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Browns are the team to beat
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Browns are the team to beat
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 21, 2006
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Here are the teams Cleveland beat in '07: Bengals, Ravens (twice), Dolphins, Rams, Seahawks, Texans, Jets, Bills, 49ers. That's not exactly murderer's row.
The list of Steeler victories looks eerily similar, with the obvious exception that they beat the Browns twice.
Now, here are the non-divisional teams PIT and CLE will face in '08: Colts, Jaguars, Titans, Texans, Giants, Cowboys, Redskins and Eagles. Because of where they finished in the standings, PIT gets NE and SD, while CLE gets BUF and DEN.
In short, can we possibly know what to expect from either team in '08? The schedules are brutal, and the result of each team's personnel moves is by no means certain. The Browns made some additions, but as an up-close Lions observer I can assure everyone that Shaun Rogers is no difference-maker to a weak defense. Plus, whoever pointed out the loss of Leigh Bodden as a potentially crippling subtraction was right on the money. Likewise, the Steelers appear not to have learned from the Seahawks (S. Hutchinson) and Bengals (E. Steinbach--an excellent Browns pickup in '07) that elite offensive guards matter a great deal, and that they aren't easily replaced.
On the whole, based on track records I'd place a good deal more faith in the Steelers than the Browns, and I find it comical that anyone would call the Browns the "team to beat." Still, both teams face tremendous challenges if they hope to win the North in '08.
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Browns are the team to beat
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Browns are the team to beat
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Reputation:91
Level:All-Star
Since:Jan 8, 2008
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Outhouse... dont be angry because your team simply can NOT beat the Steelers, and don't be angry that our quarterback is a quarterback... not a one-hit-wonder who gets a ton of success throwing against horrible defenses. Mark my word, both the steelers and the Ravens will have a better season than the Browns.
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Browns are the team to beat
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Browns are the team to beat</ | |
