Cleveland Browns: 5 gifts received in 2020
By Sam Penix
![Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) celebrates after scoring a rushing touchdown during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, in Cleveland, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns 23](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fhttps-3A-2F-2Fdawgpounddaily-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2018-2F08-2F15330141-850x560-d1e8bdf15601c2c03fdf8cc92925b94be6297cee09628c0a8dad0a7714fb5dcc.jpg "Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) celebrates after scoring a rushing touchdown during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, in Cleveland, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns 23")
5 Cleveland Browns gifts to be thankful for this Christmas season
Christmas spirit is in the air, as is the smell of a playoff birth for the Cleveland Browns. Fans had plenty to be thankful for at Thanksgiving, and now we can count down the five best gifts the Browns received in this otherwise terrible year.
5. An easy schedule
For some reason, Cleveland was dealt unusually difficult schedules in 2016 and 2017, but that was fine since those years were the tanking season (this is the part where you make the Sign of the Cross in honor of Sashi Brown, if you’re into that sort of thing). That was made up for this season, as the Browns ranked 29th in strength of schedule to begin the campaign (somehow, the Ravens were given an easier schedule). This was due to playing the Cincinnati Bengals, the entire NFC East (which the Browns swept), the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the New York Jets.
14 games in, the team has taken care of business against inferior opponents (aside from the loss to the Las Vegas Raiders) and has beaten three (current) playoff teams, including a dominant victory over the Tennessee Titans. The schedule may have made leading the wild card race easier, but it doesn’t take away from the accomplishment of perhaps making the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
One of the complaints about Baker Mayfield‘s record-setting rookie season was that he beat up on bad teams. His performances this season should put those to rest. The schedule hasn’t hurt, but it’s not the reason for the team’s success.