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Sunday’s loss to the Steelers left plenty to mull over, and I will take the more positive, optimistic route in doing so.  Most notably, the Browns went toe to toe with a top tier NFL team in a game that could have went either way.  At this point it’s best to move on and push forward into a favorable remaining schedule and a possible playoff birth.  There is one more thing – which Browns fans can already attest to - that is definitely worth taking from Sunday’s loss in Pittsburgh:  Josh Cribbs is an absolute beast!

The Browns are making great strides in becoming a legitimate contender in the NFL.  The two main humps they have yet to get over thus far are their inability to close out games, and the inability to beat the Steelers (both were apparent on Sunday).  The problems that the Browns are facing in their growth are minimal in comparison to the positive the team has taken.

The remaining schedule is laid out for the Browns to make a serious push for the playoffs.  The past struggles they have had with conference teams has narrowed itself down to a struggle with one team (there is no need to mention who that team is again).  The Ravens and the Bengals no longer pose the problems they had before, as the Browns proved already this season.  The non-conference opponents who remain from both the AFC East and the NFC West are not the teams they were expected to be.  The Browns’ opportunity to make the playoffs is in the palm of their hands.     

It is amazing how expectations for the Browns have gone from the simple want for the team to be competitive and linger around an 8-8 record to the legitimate ability to make their way into the playoffs.  Yet, it is important to remember the lesser expectations for the team.  As it stands, the Browns have already made strides in a manner that nobody expected.

Tags: cleveland browns