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Cleveland Browns: 3 keys to a successful 2022 season

By John Suchan

Dec 14, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) breaks through the line behind the block of offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) breaks through the line behind the block of offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cleveland Browns look to bounce back and have a successful 2022 season and these three things are key to that turnaround

The 2022 Cleveland Browns will be in the thick of the AFC race to the playoffs and that elusive Super Bowl. Over the last four seasons, they’ve only made it to the playoffs once despite having a talented roster. However, while the talent was there, for any number of reasons the team wasn’t able to execute plays and moments over these past seasons to deliver more success.

Cleveland is going into this season with a roster full of talent again. As in the past, the way the team handles adversity and works through the moments will decide the season. There are areas that the team will have to do more or less of this season. Let’s take a look at some of these keys to success.

Cleveland Browns keys to a successful season

Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Malcolm Smith (56) celebrates with the defense after intercepting a pass thrown by Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills (10) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal] /

Cleveland Browns Key No. 3: Defense needs to hold leads in games

There’s been a lot of discussion on the Browns offense last season not doing enough or sputtering out at key moments in games. While that did happen at times, when you start looking at each game individually, you find out that Cleveland actually lost leads because of their defense for much of the season.

In 12 of their 17 games, they actually took the lead to start. Sometimes the defense helped in that department too. Remember cornerback Denzel Ward picking off Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and running the interception back 99 yards for the score?

Too much blame seems to have been put on the Browns offense last season. When your team grabs the lead, the defense needs to take more advantage of those circumstances.

While the defense improved as the season went on, they didn’t play well enough to keep the lead their teammates on offense gave them.

The defense finished the year middle of the pack in most defensive categories. They were 22nd in passing yards giving up 3,962 and 24th at passing touchdowns with 31. So, these are definitely areas that have to get better this upcoming season if the team has plans on returning to the playoffs.

Giving up lots of points was also an issue a year ago. They gave up big plays and lots of scoring. They had four games where they gave up 33 points or more.

For the Browns to win and contend this year, the urgency to hold and expand on a lead need to take priority.

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