5 Ways Cleveland Browns can win Super Bowl 54
By Randy Gurzi
It sounds weird to say, but the Cleveland Browns finally look like contenders. Here’s how they could end up winning Super Bowl 54.
No longer the ‘Factory of Sadness‘, the Cleveland Browns are finally a team that’s being talked about as serious contenders in the AFC North. A 7-8-1 season (which included a 5-2 finish) following their 0-16 campaign the year prior is one reason for hope. Another is the work done this offseason by general manager John Dorsey.
The former GM of the Kansas City Chiefs, Dorsey continues to add talent to the Cleveland roster and in two seasons has nearly completely overhauled the team. With that comes greater expectations.
However, there’s a chance that the Browns could be playing for more than just their division title. In fact, we look here at five things they can do to get into Super Bowl LIV, and possibly get their first Lombardi Trophy in team history.
5. Kitchens proves Dorsey correct
While John Dorsey has been a well-respected front office guy for years, he had never hired a coach before this past season. Thankfully, team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam allowed him to do that this season — after a brief scare that they could insert themselves into the search.
The GM’s choice ended up being Freddie Kitchens, the interim offensive coordinator who turned the offense around the final eight games of the 2018 season. This hiring was met by elation from the fan base and criticism from the media.
Cleveland fans saw it as a sign that Dorsey picked the right guy as Kitchens went from dark horse to front runner throughout the process. They remember how well he meshed with Baker Mayfield and what the offense looked like before him — as well as once he took over.
In the media, they just were just blindsided as they had decided the Browns needed a big name coach such as Mike McCarthy or Adam Gase — neither made sense as they were both said to have had issues with players in the past, which is the last thing Cleveland needed with a locker room full of big personalities.
Still, Kitchens will be questioned until he proves he can get the job done. That means the first step in getting to the Super Bowl will be finding out Dorsey was right. The talent is there, they just need the right head coach to steer the ship.