The 2-1 Cleveland Browns are taking on the 1-2 Dallas Cowboys.
Despite having a losing record, Dallas, the home team, is favored.
If Cleveland pulls off the upset, what does it mean?
A Browns Win Means…
1. The team is capable of a big road game win.
Despite not having a Super Bowl win in this last quarter century, Dallas is still considered “America’s Team.”
The publicity and fanfare surrounding the Cowboys adds to the pressure of playing and beating them.
If the Browns win, it means they can win on the road against a high profile opponent.
The pressure isn’t too much for them.
They can play within themselves.
And play a clean game.
The Browns don’t have a good road record.
In fact, the Browns are 0-7 in their last 7 road games.
And they haven’t won a road game against an NFC team since November 2014.
Beating the Cowboys will help shed this town of the loser mentality. This game is so important just to give the city of Cleveland confidence #Browns
— Browns Country (@TheFanDomeShow) October 3, 2020
2. Their record will go to 3-1.
And that has not happened for a long time.
Care to guess how long?
2001 is the last time the Browns were 3-1 after Week 4.
Remember the Butch Davis era?
So to say it is a big deal for the Browns to be 3-1 with a win tomorrow is not an understatement.
https://twitter.com/MikeKilli/status/1312379982501609473
3. Offseason coaching and player personnel changes are working.
The offseason was one of the most aggressive in the franchise’s history.
Between draft picks and free agents, GM Andrew Berry worked extra hard to assemble the puzzle piece-by-piece.
And it looks to be paying dividends early.
That’s not to say that things can’t go south after Week 4; Browns fans know that all too well.
But it appears the changes are working.
And in a small way, a 3-1 Browns team affirms that a lot of 2019’s failures are on Freddie Kitchens.
https://twitter.com/samg44667/status/1310310448525344769
4. They can’t rest on their laurels.
A win against the Cowboys would be huge for the organization, but there are tough teams coming up in the weeks ahead.
The Indianapolis Colts and the Pittsburgh Steelers are the team’s weeks 5 and 6 opponents respectively.
A victory over Dallas would be a confidence booster for a team that admittedly started out very shaky against Baltimore but has improved each week.
5. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt had a big game.
The key for the Browns against the Cowboys is long, methodical, clock-consuming possessions using Chubb and Hunt to move the ball.
This also keeps Ezekiel Elliot off the field because he will be a challenge for the Browns defense to contain.
6. Baker Mayfield gets a reprieve.
Well, maybe, he does.
Baker has played well enough to lead his team to two consecutive wins.
He has thrown the ball when necessary and made big plays.
Beating Dallas will require the same type of management of the game.
NEXT: 3 Under The Radar Browns Who Could Have A Big Game Against Dallas
