Cleveland Browns admit they bought into offseason expectations

Despite plenty of offseason expectations, the Cleveland Browns said they had to prove it on the field. But they’re admitting they bought the expectations.

The Cleveland Browns are off to a sluggish 2-4 start after an offseason of hearing about how they are contenders in the AFC. There was even talk the Browns have the potential of winning the AFC and reaching the Super Bowl.

But with all of the expectations surrounding them, the Browns said they were going to have to prove it on the field. Expectations mean nothing if the team is unable to show that type of potential on the field.

As the Browns enter their bye week, they have been unable to live up to those expectations. And it may be because the team did not buy into their own message during the offseason. Running back Nick Chubb believes the team thought their talent was going to be enough to win.

More from Dawg Pound Daily

• How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
• Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
• 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
• Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
• 5 Free agents from Super Bowl LVII Cleveland Browns should target

Most people know it is hard for teams to rapidly add talented players and all of the talent will magically gel as soon as they hit the field together. There are going to be growing pains, so it is important for teams to avoid self-inflicted mistakes to help mask some of the growing pains. So far in 2019, the Browns have been unable to do that.

Something that is apparent in the first six games for the Browns is that once they are hit with adversity, they go into a shell. They are not showing as much fight as they did during the second half of last season, and it has ultimately hurt the team. Which goes back to what Chubb said about the team needing to have the right mentality.

The biggest concern about the Browns in 2019 was if they were going to hear the hype and buy into it. By the way they approached their preparation for the season, it seemed like that wouldn’t be the case. But it is becoming clear they heard the noise and convinced themselves they were ready to be playoff contenders.

Now that the bye week is here and the team has time for some self-reflecting, the Browns could come out of the bye week a completely different team. No longer are they viewed as playoff contenders. Instead, they are still the same old Browns. Knowing how many people are doubting them, it could light a fire under the team as they get ready for the second half of the season.

But for all of the talk from the team saying they aren’t listening to anybody on the outside before the season, it is concerning how they are now saying they had the wrong mindset entering the season. They have time to turn the season around, but they dug themselves a hole that could prove to be tough to crawl out of.