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AFC North round-up: Baltimore Ravens have uneven start to 2020

By Richard Bradshaw

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 13: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after the game against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 13: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after the game against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 17: Kareem Hunt #27 of the Cleveland Browns follows the blocking of Austin Hooper #81 of the Cleveland Browns for a gain in the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 17, 2020, in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland defeated Cincinnati 35-30. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 17: Kareem Hunt #27 of the Cleveland Browns follows the blocking of Austin Hooper #81 of the Cleveland Browns for a gain in the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 17, 2020, in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland defeated Cincinnati 35-30. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

Cleveland Browns:

September record: 2-1

AFC North record: 1-1

Player of the month: Kareem Hunt – 37 carries, 203-yards, eight receptions, 42-yards, three total touchdowns

Are the Cleveland Browns FINALLY for real? Maybe… just maybe they are… finally. Cleveland did go 2-1 in September, but they did so against the teams who picked first and second overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Therefore, we should take their record with a grain of salt. Even still, props to the Browns for looking like a competitive football team!

Baker Mayfield is finally playing like an above-average quarterback. After a dreadful week one loss to the Baltimore Ravens, a game in which the whole team looked terrible, Mayfield has taken good care of the football and managed the Browns offense efficiently. Cleveland is the best rushing team in football right now and it could stay that way even without Nick Chubb (knee injury) moving forward. First-year head coach Kevin Stefanski has this team playing terrific offense.

Must Read. Baltimore Ravens stock report: Who’s Hot, Who’s Not week 4. light

On the other side of the ball, the Browns are not getting it done. Myles Garrett is the oasis in a desert of mediocrity surrounding him. Cleveland can’t stop a nosebleed and are surrendering over 400 total yards per game. Something needs to be done defensively if this Browns team wants to be taken seriously.

I don’t know if the Cleveland Browns have what it takes to win the AFC North this year, but they’ll certainly make things interesting. If this defense can find a way to be even average, the Browns could be a .500-or-better team. The rest of the AFC North should take notice and not take Cleveland lightly.

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