Ryan Clark recently spoke very well of the 2020 edition of the Cleveland Browns on ESPN’s show “Get Up.”
Clark thinks that the Browns will make the postseason this upcoming season, and the Patriots will miss it:
The former NFL safety, who played mostly with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was a part of the Super Bowl XLIII champions.
Clark, a 2011 Pro Bowler, thinks that with Tom Brady leaving, the Patriots will not be as strong of a team in 2020.
Why does Clark Think the Browns will be Better?
Clark describes his reasons that the Browns will be able to make the 2020 playoffs while the Patriots will not:
“I don’t know if we have necessarily lived in a world the last two decades where you can make that statement, and I go: that’s probably right. When you look at those two teams and the difference in the trajectory of what we feel they’ll be, I believe that the Browns will be a better football team than the New England Patriots this year.”
When comparing Baker Mayfield and Jarrett Stidham, Clark believes that Mayfield will come out on top:
“I believe the Browns’ young quarterback will play better than the young quarterback in New England. And when you put all of these things together that leaves Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots on the outside of the playoff picture and Kevin Stefanski and the Cleveland Browns in.”
There are many reasons to believe in first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski and how well he can lead the Browns in 2020 and beyond:
Baker Mayfield said he likes Kevin Stefanski’s desire to establish the run, control the clock and tempo; not putting additional pressure on himself entering year 3 & feels Stefanski will put them in position to be successful. #Browns
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) May 27, 2020
How have the Browns and Patriots Fared the Last 25 Years?
The Patriots have won six Super Bowl titles, including three in the last six years.
Meanwhile, although the Browns have eight NFL championships, they have not appeared in a Super Bowl.
Since 1995, Cleveland has not finished with a better record than New England.
In that span, the Patriots have made the postseason 20 times.
The Browns have played one playoff game since 1995: a 36-33 Wild Card Round loss to the Steelers.
On January 5, 2003, the 9-7 Browns coached by Butch Davis faced off against Bill Cowher’s Steelers.
The Browns jumped out to a 14-0 lead and led by as many as 17 points in the contest.
However, Cleveland allowed 22 fourth-quarter points en route to the loss.
Why will the Browns be Better than the Patriots in 2020?
The Browns may finally be able to successfully get revenge on Bill Belichick in 2020.
With the Browns being arguably the most underhyped team this offseason, they have a chance to win their first postseason game since 1994.
Coincidentally, the Browns’ last playoff victory was in 1994 against the Patriots.
In that season, Bill Parcells was the Patriots’ head coach.
The Browns’ head coach was none other than Bill Belichick.
As we flash forward to 2020, Mayfield is ready for a bounceback season after ranking among the worst deep-ball throwers in 2019.
The Browns have made many additions, including 10th overall selection Jedrick Wills Jr. and star tight end Austin Hooper.
Cleveland is new and improved while New England has taken a step back.
For those reasons, Clark’s prediction may come true in 2020.
NEXT: Johnny Stanton: Stefanski Is A Guy Who Can Command A Room
