The Cleveland Browns had a great bounce-back game against the Houston Texans with a 31-21 victory in Week 2. They were coming off of a tough loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in their season opener, 33-29. The Browns have looked strong in both games despite the split results.
Both the Browns' offense and defense played well against the Texans, showing the overall talent of the roster. They have one of the most talented teams in the NFL and a great coaching staff.
Here are three takeaways from the Brown's Week 2 win over the Texans.
3. They have the talent to be a top 10 defense
The Browns had a good defensive performance as they only allowed 21 points. Myles Garrett is the star of the defense with his elite pass-rushing ability. He is simply one of the best players in the NFL. Last season, he had 12 sacks and made the Pro Bowl for the second time. While Garrett is the anchor, the squad has talent in every facet of the defense.
The team added John Johnson III and Troy Hill, which improved the secondary. The Browns also have a solid linebacker core, which helps in both stopping the run and pass coverage.
2. They have an elite run game
The Browns have built up an excellent running back duo in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. They had a dominant performance in the run game as they rushed for 156 yards against the Texans. Chubb had 11 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown, while Hunt had 13 carries for 51 yards.
The Browns' one-two punch in the backfield is hard for any defense to stop. They are behind a great offensive line, and the threat of the passing game creates problems for defenses.
1. They are a contender
Heading into the season, the Browns were on the verge of being contenders. It came down to see if there was cohesion between the talent on both sides of the ball. They have shown great chemistry on the field so far, which has led to their outstanding play.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield was highly efficient against the Texans. He was 19-for-21 for 213 yards and a touchdown. Although he threw an interception, this was a fantastic game from Mayfield. It will be almost impossible to stop the Browns' offense if he can be an efficient passer consistently.
The Browns have everything they need to compete for a Super Bowl. It comes down if they can get through the competition in their division and the AFC. They are in a tough crowd with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and the Cincinnati Bengals. All of the teams in the AFC North have started the season 1-1. The Browns, Steelers, and Ravens all made the NFL Playoffs last season, while the Bengals are on the rise.
These divisional games will be important when it comes down to seeding in the AFC. The conference is loaded with talent this season, but the Browns' biggest threat are the Kansas City Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes has led the team to the Super Bowl the past two seasons and they have been in the AFC Championship each of the past three years. The Chiefs have already beaten the Browns this season, but Mayfield and company showed they could compete.
While the Browns have a challenging journey ahead to the Super Bowl, they have the talent to make it there.
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