NFL Playoffs: What Browns Can Learn from the Teams

Dec 28, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates following the game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns offense hasn’t been something people have been excited about since the one year of Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr. The idea that the NFL is a “passing league” is said all the time. Whether it is due to the quarterbacks in the league, the rules put in place or the focus on fantasy football, fans love to talk about offense.

So we will talk about the offenses of the teams in the NFL Playoffs:

[table id=7 /]

Such an interesting table. Many of you read it left to right, then read it top to bottom. It is interesting to look at how each team stacks up, yep we would pretty much choose any other team’s starting trio over the Browns. In most cases it is an easy decision, in all cases the Browns come out last when looking at all 3 players combined, especially with Josh Gordon‘s terrible season.

Yet when we look at the passing rankings we find something very interesting, like most Bell curves, a few teams up top (Steelers, Colts) and a few teams near the bottom (Seahawks and Bengals). The same with the rushing yards with a few up top (Seahawks and Cowboys) and a few near the bottom (Cardinals and Lions). What you might not have noticed is that the Browns passing offense was better than 2 teams in the playoffs and their rushing offense was better than 4 of them.

But a key component that could be missed about this chart is this: Only the Cardinals and Lions are not in the Top 10 in one of the categories. Teams in the playoffs are either really good at throwing the ball or really good at running the ball. The Browns were neither of those. My guess is we will find out that the Cardinals and Lions are really good at some things on the next slide (hint: defense).

The quarterback names kind of speak for themselves. Only Andy Dalton would not be picked by NFL GMs to start their franchise around, and even then Browns fans would likely rather have Brian Hoyer the Red (Dalton) than Johnny Manziel.

The running back and wide receiver lists are also an interesting group. The running back group consists of a group of a few high drafted players along with a bunch of low round or undrafted types. On the other hand most of the receivers were highly drafted (1st or 2nd round) but not as many are the physical prototype that Browns fans have been screaming for. Calvin Johnson, Demaryius Thomas, A.J. Green and Dez Bryant are monster receivers while Rob Gronkowski is that kind of player at the tight end position. The rest are great route runners, yard after catch guys or tight end Greg Olsen.

We now know that NFL Playoffs are full of teams who are either really good at throwing or running the ball and have top flight quarterbacks, as well as defensive minded head coaches, so does the defensive side of the ball matter all that much? Find out on the next slide:

Next: Does Defense Matter to Get to the Playoffs?