The Cleveland Browns have reached the midpoint of the season. Not even the most optimistic fan thought they would be over .500 at this point in the campaign, but that doesn't mean they have to settle and just be happy with the way things are going.
If anything, the Browns are proving to be better than most people anticipated, and while they're still a couple of pieces away, their young talent is just too promising to overlook.
That's why the bar just got higher — and why Todd Monken must do better after losing to the Saints.
The Browns will host the gritty Houston Texans in Week 10 before their bye week, and this will be a pivotal game and a big step up in weight class. Considering that, let's take a look at the main questions that will likely define this game.
Browns have raised expectations enough that these questions now demand answers
Can they keep the quarterback out of harm's way?
The Browns' offensive line is a work in progress, and they've shown some teeth here and there. However, they've also given up 4.1 sacks per game this season, the most in the league by a significant margin.
While some of those sacks have been on the quarterback, failing to contain the Texans' elite pass rush could be lethal. Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. are ruthless, and things could get pretty ugly if the line doesn't hold up.
How to stop walking backward?
The Browns just can't get out of their own way. They keep walking backward with all the penalties in all three facets of the game. They drew 10 penalties for a loss of 58 yards against the Saints last week, and it's not like they can afford to lose yardage when they struggle to move the chains.
The discipline — or lack thereof — has been a big problem with this team since the Kevin Stefanski era, but it might've gotten worse with Monken at the helm. Execution and accountability matter, and this is getting maddening.
Will the running game finally take off?
This team can't run the ball to save its life right now. Some of it has been by design, some is on the offensive line, and the running backs also deserve some blame. Regardless, they're about to face a run defense that gives up just 98 rushing yards per game, the 11th-fewest in the league.
This probably isn't the best team to run the football on, but the Browns need to establish some sort of offensive balance once and for all. Their 97.3 rushing yards per game ranks 25th in the league after nine weeks.
Add us as a preferred source on Google