5 reasons for Browns optimism following loss to Bengals

Process or outcome? A silly dichotomous question, especially in sports, where the real question should be about which you value more and why, and not the “either-or” way that it is normally asked. Most sports fans tend only toward outcome orientation. Did you win or did you lose? If that is you, the Cleveland Browns lost to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

The process is where the nuance lives, why sports media has exploded over the last two decades and where future understanding can develop. This isn’t about moral victories but about seeing the whole picture, not just the scoreboard at the end.

Despite the fact that the Browns will be huge underdogs to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2, with both teams sitting at 0-1, there are a lot of reasons for optimism in Cleveland. That optimism does not mean they will win a ton of games this year (although I did predict they’d double last year), but that good quality football will be seen in the orange and brown this season.

Here are my 5 reasons for optimism after Sunday’s loss:

1. The Browns controlled the game against the Bengals – It wasn’t about the score, but the game was played at Cleveland’s pace and plan. Despite not being able to run the ball much, the Browns wanted and were able to control the clock. They were also able to limit Cincinnati’s ability to make big plays that would have sped up the game.
2. As Tom covered Sunday, the draft picks that played looked really good – It is one thing to get excited about draft picks, it is another for those draft picks to look really good in their first preseason game like they did yesterday. It is a sign of good drafting and quick development from a team that hasn’t done either of those things recently.
3. Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward
4. Kevin Stefanski’s ability to get quality QB play from Joe Flacco – More on this later in the week but Flacco has been bad since 2019 except when coached by Stefanski. Not only does that give me hope for this year, but also for the development of Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
5. Effort and Resolve – Unlike last year, when the team looked flat, disinterested and annoyed with each other, starting in Week 1, the Browns roster bounced back from mistakes, lifted each other up, had a ton of energy and seemed to really believe that they could win a game that very few experts picked them to. A steady hand, at least while in Cleveland, with Flacco helps that as does the influx of young talent around the roster.

Honorable mention – Getting Quinshon Judkins back should help the run game.

Are you able to see the reasons for optimism despite the loss or is the final scoreboard the only thing that matters to you? If the former, what are some of your reasons for optimism despite the loss?...