Preseason expectations for the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills have turned into one of the most interesting role reverses in recent memory.
For the most part, the NFL is pretty unpredictable. The Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills are perfect examples.
Heading into the season, many expected the Baker Mayfield-led Browns to become a contenders after improving to a 7-8-1 in 2018. Mayfield broke the rookie passing touchdown record, and then general manager John Dorsey brought in superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to catch passes. The defense was predicted to be one of the best units in the league.
Everything was coming together wonderfully in BelieveLand.
Last season in western New York saw then-rookie field general Josh Allen and the Bills win six games. The offense? In a word, hideous. While defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier’s unit was stellar, Allen and Co. needed to make major strides before Buffalo could be considered a contender.
Before the season started, the outcomes for both of these teams were clear. Cleveland would rally around their star young quarterback and finish with 10-plus wins. Buffalo would figure some things out, yet still go through some additional hardships along the way. Eight games into the campaign, though, the Browns and Bills have switched roles. Things could reach a tipping point when these two teams square off in Ohio on Sunday.
Mayfield has taken a huge step back. The former Oklahoma standout is currently tied for the league lead with 12 interceptions. He’s tossed just seven touchdowns and his completion percentage of 58.7 ranks dead last among qualified starters. Beckham has underwhelmed and head coach Freddie Kitchens’ system is dysfunctional. Things aren’t working.
Additionally, the once-acclaimed defense of the “Dawg Pound” looks like puppies. Ranking 23rd in scoring and 18th in yards allowed, the immense amount of young talent the Browns possess on that side of the ball hasn’t resulted in much production. Cleveland sits at 2-6 heading into Sunday — and a loss to Buffalo could put its already-doomed season to a final rest.
Conversely, the Bills are thriving. Defensively, they’ve somehow improved from the unit that took the field a year ago. Ranking third in both points given up and total yards allowed, the phrase “defense wins championships” brings a twinkle to the eyes of Bills fans.
Although Allen hasn’t been much more than so-so this season, that’s a far cry from the dumpster fire Mayfield has been. The rocket-armed quarterback out of Wyoming has seen the following categories improve from 2018 to ’19:
- Completion percentage (52.8 to 60.9)
- Touchdown percentage (3.1 to 4.1)
- Interception percentage (3.8 to 2.9)
- Yards per attempt (6.5 to 6.8)
- Passer rating (67.9 to 82.9)
In addition to the 10 touchdown passes he’s thrown this season, Allen has also added another four rushing.
These two teams — and quarterbacks — are an encapsulation of the NFL: You never really know how things are going to turn out.
It’s pretty clear where both of these teams are headed, too. It’s not as if Cleveland has been on the wrong end of a bunch all close finishes. A few big losses (43-13 to TEN, 31-3 to SF, 27-13 to NE) indicate this team is far from a contender. While half of 6-2 Buffalo’s games have been decided by one score, a 16-10 loss to the Patriots on Sept. 29 was as close to a moral victory as possible. Head coach Sean McDermott’s squad has a chance at redemption coming up in Week 16.
The Browns’ struggles and the Bills’ successes have provided us with a few surprises thus far. How both teams finish the season with their respective sophomore quarterbacks will be worth watching, as the Browns try to salvage their season and the Bills gear up for a possible playoff run.
Who would have thought?