If the Browns are really as bad as they looked against Dallas this Sunday, we are all in for a world of hurt. The Browns will struggle to go 6-11. Whoever is in charge to pick up the pieces will decide to go into salary cap hell a year early and trade or cut most of the big salaries. Many fans will hope that the Browns play bad enough to draft a top quarterback. And we will start over almost from scratch.
Fortunately, none of this will happen. During the next two or three weeks starters will get the reps that they should have received during pre-season and begin to look like their mid-season selves. The offensive tackles will get healthy, and the offensive line will again look like a top-ten unit. With better blocking, Watson will settle down in the pocket and command a quick, crisp passing attack. (Alternately, he will continue to struggle and be replaced by Winston, who is plenty good enough to lead a top defensive team with a good offensive line and a really solid running game (if paced by Chubb) deep into the playoffs.) Chubb will return and look enough like his old self to lead a top-ten rushing attack. And the wealth of talent at receiver will shine as the Browns best unit this century. Finally, on defense, talent will tell. Even if things have to be simplified to allow players to see, run and hit without pausing to think, the defense will again look like a top unit, as they began to during the second half of the Dallas game.
The NFL season is long. There is time to look bad but then recover. It is way too early to panic, as we should see over the next four weeks.