Cleveland Browns Will Fare Better in the AFC North This Year

Last year, around mid-August, I wrote an article called "The AFC North: The Biggest Riddle Of All Divisions." I went into detail about how the Browns were faring in the AFC North with Mangini. I noted that Mangini went 1-0 against the Steelers. I thought it  was a good thing that Mangini had experience against them when he was coaching the Jets back in 2007. I had also had noted that his inexperience against the Bengals, and especially the Ravens, was somewhat worrisome, but thought that they would play really hard against them, and would at least split the two games.

 Looking back on it, boy how wrong I was. The Ravens dominated the Browns 34-3 in the Week Three matchup and shut out the Browns at home, 16-0. The Bengals eeked a win against the Browns in Week Four, and beat the Browns again 16-7. However, I was right about Mangini's experience against the Steelers as it would prove me right in the second matchup against the Steelers, but not the first matchup where the Steelers beat the Browns in a 27-14 victory.

The second matchup was quite a game. I was there, proudly standing in minus-five degree weather, trying to keep warm. The Browns were 1-11, had no reason to win, and the Steelers had the momentum on their side. First drive, the Steelers get the ball on their ten. The Steelers can't quite get it going so it's 3rd-and-1 and Roethlisberger takes the ball in the shotgun, and Roethlisberger can't find anyone open and gets promptly sacked by Hank Poteat.

That set the impeding tone right there. I knew when I saw that, that the Browns would be up for this one. Another memorable moment was in the fourth quarter. The Browns were winning 13-6, and it was 4th-and-7 for the Steelers with about 1:42 left. Roethlisberger takes the ball in I-formation and goes back and sits in the pocket and then scrambles and tries to throw it to Holmes, but is knocked down by David Bowens. This was electrifying, because I never saw quite as intense a game and it was unforgettable.

The Browns' record in the AFC North was 1-5 after that game, and for the 2010 season, it has to get better. With the newly revamped secondary with Brown and the LB core led by Fujita and Bowens, the leaders of the defense, and a boosted offense led by the veteran gunslinger in Jake Delhomme, this team will bring much more optimism for improving their overall record in AFC North.

And last, I think the Browns will beat the Steelers again, GO BROWNS!