For the Browns, it’s beginning to look a lot like …
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns practice and interviews …
Greg Newsome wore a Santa Claus suit and interviewed teammates about their favorite Christmas movies.
Joe Flacco shaved off his beard and laughed about what a mess it was.
Kevin Stefanski canceled practice on a Wednesday in the thick of a playoff chase.
It’s beginning to look a lot like …
The Browns can clinch a playoff spot Sunday with a win in Houston only if five other games go their way. But even if those games don’t comply, the Browns can see the finish line with three games to go.
They are one of eight teams with nine or more wins. Fourteen teams make the playoffs. They’re this close to locking up one of the seven spots in the AFC.
“Obviously you’re human,” said linebacker Anthony Walker. “You want to be in the playoffs and you find yourself in good position and everybody here has social media and all that stuff, so we see everything.
“But that’s when you got to narrow your focus to the one-game season and one game at a time and every game matters. We understand that. We put ourselves in that position to make it where every game matters and where you play meaningful football in December and January.”
Greg Newsome was in the holiday spirit as the Browns hone in on clinching a spot in the AFC playoffs. (TheLandOnDemand)
Flacco has appeared in 15 post-season games – more than anybody on the roster. He’s won 10 of those games.
“Potentially, I think there’s some confidence that is going to be the direction, but it really just takes us being in the moment and coming in here and doing our work and all those things and then actually going out on game day and coming through,” he said.
“So I think what we’ve done so far I think can give us the confidence to feel that’s the way it should go, but it’s still up to us to kind of, like I said, stay in the moment, look at what’s important now and go do the job.”
Even Stefanski, Mr. Let’s-go-1-0, concedes the conversation with his team now includes the P-word.
“Yeah, I mean, a little bit of it is,” he said. “That’ll never change. It’ll always be a one game season for us. Now, obviously you know that you can earn more. I think everybody understands that. But in terms of how you do that, you really have to focus on this week.”
Last word on this topic goes to Santa Newsome. He was asked if he’ll deliver a playoff berth this week.
“Yeah, that’s what a couple of my teammates asked for Christmas, to go 1-0 this week. So that’s the goal,” he said.
He’s checking his list.
The thirty-somethings
At 33, receiver Marquise Goodwin is the fastest player on the Browns.
At 38, Flacco has the strongest arm of all the quarterbacks.
When they hooked up for a 57-yard connection against the Bears, it raised hopes of better things to come.
“I do [think so],” Stefanski said. “And Marquise is a guy that has been through a lot this season and continues to work really hard. Then with Joe being new, you have to rhythm up with all your new teammates, Marquise being one of them. So I think Joe’s getting a good feel for him as well.”
The year Flacco took the Ravens to the Super Bowl and beat Jim Harbaugh’s San Francisco 49ers, Flacco had a pair of speedsters, Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones, to keep defenses concerned about shot plays downfield.
“I’ve been a part of some guys that it adds a lot to the game when you have a guy that can run like that and take the top off of defenses and even if you’re not completing a ton of balls to him, I think if we can get him going, in some ways it’ll have a good effect on this offense,” Flacco said of Goodwin.
I think Goodwin – with a measly 4 catches for 67 yards on the season – is going to be a factor going forward now that the Browns have a quarterback capable of getting the ball to him.
Brownie bits
This is what Stefanski said when asked why he didn’t have a normal Wednesday practice on the field: “Yeah, late in the season. We had an early bye. We have a Thursday night game next week, so just trying to account for all those things.” …
Stefanski reiterated all injured players are “day to day,” with the possible exception of defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (pectoral). The Browns had to release an injury report even though they only held a light walk-through. Notable DNPs were left guard Joel Bitonio (back, knee), linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk (calf) and free safety Juan Thornhill (calf). Center Ethan Pocic (stinger) and linebacker Anthony Walker (knee) were listed as limited …
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud remains in concussion protocol, meaning the team is preparing to start ex-Brown Case Keenum for a second game in a row. “[Keenum] has always been a playmaker throughout his entire career, but a really good football player, a guy that we have to study this week, just like every week. Getting ready for multiple quarterbacks,” Stefanski said …
I asked Flacco how he feels about being mentioned as a candidate for comeback player-of-the year. “Who knows what constitutes a comeback?” he said with a laugh. “I’ve only played three games. I mean, it’s kind of crazy. Come back from not going to training camp and busting kids around. I mean, who knows?” How about Incredible Story-of-the-Year?
