Browns Super Bowl 53 Odds Much Shorter After 2-Game Winning Streak
- Browns Super Bowl 53 Odds have dropped from an average of +208300 to +34000
- Baker Mayfield has been an integral part of the turnaround
- Can the Browns actually make a playoff run?
There’s no denying the Cleveland Browns have an abundance of talent. They just needed to ditch Hue Jackson in order to unleash their potential.
Baker Mayfield in 6 games under Hue Jackson:
8 TD
6 INT
1-4 Record as StarterBaker Mayfield in 3 games without Hue Jackson:
9 TD
1 INT
2-1 Record as Starter pic.twitter.com/FBJMcHVm9a— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) November 25, 2018
Since dropping Jackson and his abysmal .088 winning percentage, the Browns have looked like an entirely different team. One that’s trying to forget Hue’s era ever happened.
Baker Mayfield when Hue Jackson tried to talk to him after the game … pic.twitter.com/wKSFXZ6MeR
— Steven R. Walker (@Steve_R_Walker) November 25, 2018
Fresh off back-to-back wins, Cleveland’s Super Bowl Odds, which peaked at +208300 on November 6th, have been drastically reduced.
Super Bowl 53 Odds
| Team | Odds to Win Super Bowl 53 |
|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints | +300 |
| Los Angeles Rams | +320 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +600 |
| New England Patriots | +600 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +1000 |
| Cleveland Browns | +15000 |
Mayfield has been Money
A big reason for the Browns turnaround has been the improved play of first-overall pick Baker Mayfield.
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 25, 2018
In three games without Jackson, Mayfield and the Browns have added a whopping 13.3 expected points on offense.
He’s fresh off his first four touchdown performance and only Drew Brees and Andrew Luck have a higher QBR since Week 9.
That’s our quarterback ?@bakermayfield‘s highlights from our win over the Bengals: pic.twitter.com/r3hnSzMggu
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 26, 2018
He’s also getting rid of the football quicker, something scouts loved about him at Oklahoma.
#Browns offense under Freddie Kitchens has looked to get the ball out early. Mayfield’s numbers/rank:
WK 3-8: 2.56 secs avg time to att. (23rd) & 88.3 passer rating when <2.5 secs (25th)
WK 9-10: 2.26 secs avg. time to att. (3rd) & 128.4 passer rating when <2.5 secs (7th)
— PFF CLE Browns (@PFF_Browns) November 21, 2018
Give Kitchens Credit
Mayfield isn’t the only one who deserves credit for Cleveland’s turnaround.
First time play caller Freddie Kitchens has done a masterful job since taking over as OC. Under Kitchens, the Browns are averaging over 400 yards of offense per game and are converting red zone opportunities at near perfect rate.
Freddie Kitchens stock ? https://t.co/La9rsinGQj
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) November 25, 2018
He’s stopped trying to force feed targets to Jarvis Landry, and he’s getting the ball to Cleveland’s two most dynamic players, Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson, at a much higher rate.
Is a Playoff run possible?
As much as the football world has enjoyed the Browns resurgence, a trip to the post-season seems unlikely.
At 4-6-1, they’d likely need to run the table to even have a shot at the playoffs, beginning this week against the scorching hot Texans.
Three of their final five games are on the road, where they’ve won once since 2015, and four of their remaining five opponents are either holding a playoff position or are right on the cusp.
The future is bright in Cleveland, but the playoffs will have to wait.
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
