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Cleveland Browns are suddenly and clearly at a crossroads -- Bud Shaw's Spin

The Browns next two games after a trip to Tampa bring the Steelers on the road and the explosive Chiefs at home. That makes a loss this weekend against the Buccaneers even more daunting.

CLEVELAND — We’re two weeks removed from people asking, straight-faced apparently, if an ugly as it was narrow win over Baltimore elevated the Browns to playoff contender status.

We’re now wondering if the Browns might just be on the teetering precipice of a sinkhole.

Maybe that’s just the ebb and flow of an NFL season that invites overreaction every seven days.

But it’s not just us. It’s also them. And their schedule.

After Sunday’s game in Tampa against a woeful defense but high-octane offense, the Browns play the improving and rested Steelers in Pittsburgh before returning home against the Kansas City Chiefs.

So lose Sunday in Tampa and the Browns face the prospect of being 2-5-1 at the halfway point with Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill and Travis Kielce daring them to match touchdowns.

MORE | Bud Shaw expanded coverage

I’d normally throw the Falcons into this mix and present a scenario where the Browns could go into the bye at 2-7-1, but Atlanta doesn’t deserve much respect based on what we’ve seen of it this season.

Overall, the sudden precarious nature of the Browns season reminds us why teams that win one game over two seasons should never get ahead of themselves.

The Browns still aren’t using their offensive weapons in any coherent way. And attrition is taking effect on offense and defense.

They didn’t cash early chances to win games against Pittsburgh, New Orleans and the one-win Raiders. Tampa falls into that category.

Because the games that immediately follow bring teams with more talent and better coaching, and that’s no recipe for playoff contention.

Lose to Tampa and the message you’re likely sending is that you’ll be back again to try contending in 2019, likely with a new coach.

Other than that, nothing much riding on Sunday.

  • So the Astros weren’t cheating after all, according to MLB. They just had a guy doing surveillance on the Indians and Red Sox dugouts to make sure the Indians and Red Sox weren’t cheating.

That’s a relief.

At least as much as finding out your kid was caught looking at another student’s paper and knowing he was only doing it to make sure the other kid was doing his own work.

Or knowing the guy casing your house is just making sure you’re not casing his.

  • The Astros were blown out of the ALCS by Boston.

Meaning we may have to revisit the role played by superior scouting in the Astros sweep of the Indians.

Crazy as it sounds, maybe the loss to Houston had something to do with Indians players not performing against a better team with more talent?

  • The 103-win Astros beat the 91-win Indians, then lost to the 108-win Red Sox.

This concludes the advanced analytics portion of this column.

You’re welcome.

  • Cavs owner Dan Gilbert took to Twitter to promise fans “an inspirational brand of team basketball.”

If you saw LeBron James in purple and that still makes you feel better, my guess is your name is Dan Gilbert. And that you’re still kidding yourself.

  • That's not a shot at Gilbert. He's just trying to make the best of things. Following a guy who inspired awe, teamwork is at a decided disadvantage.
  • NFL Commissioner Roger Goodall NFL fandom has never been a better experience.

“I will leave you with something that I have said to the owners many times. I don’t think there has been a better time to be an NFL fan,” Goodell said.

“The quality of the games and the enjoyment that comes with that, I hear it from the fans all the time — that is number one for them. Number two, is the access to the games and the way that fans are able to engage with the NFL.”

There hasn’t been a better time to be an NFL fan.

Unless you liked it when it was still tackle football.

  • Former Browns quarterback (now there’s a select group) Brock Osweiler, after throwing for 380 yards and three touchdowns in Miami’s win over Chicago, says that his confidence “will never waver.”

Osweiler will make his second start for the Dolphins in place of Ryan Tannehill this weekend against the Lions.

Somehow, Hue Jackson’s confidence in Osweiler wavered before last preseason even ended.

That led to DeShone Kizer as starter and a 0-16 record.

You may have heard something about that.

  • Something tells me the longer Osweiler plays the more Miami’s confidence in him will waver. But maybe that’s just because I’ve primarily been watching Browns quarterbacks since 1999 and maintaining confidence in them has been even less fleeting than a rainbow.
  • Jon Gruden insists the Raiders aren't tanking.

That would be reassuring for Oakland fans if it weren't more depressing to think they’re actually trying.

  • Gruden admits he isn’t excited about his team traveling to London to play Seattle Sunday.

Gruden’s concern is mostly because he gets claustrophobic on long flights and that vertigo was a problem for him after one trip to Belarus.

I’m not a doctor but I believe an examination would reveal Gruden’s susceptibility to getting ill on a flight to London is also because his team is the 1-4 Raiders.

  • The Raiders aren’t the only team struggling obviously. The Giants are 1-5.

Head coach Pat Shurmur (a line I didn’t think I’d write again after his Browns tenure) says “it’s in the Giants “DNA to pull this thing out.”

It may be in their DNA. It just won’t be in their future until they go through the cycle of life thing and replace Eli Manning at quarterback.

But, hey, they have a running back.

  • “I’ve seen it, I’ve studied the history of it and I like the locker room that we’ve assembled,” Shurmur told reporters. “I’m impressed with the guys we have in the locker room, and I know they’re going to fight.”

For some reason when Shurmur mentions the Giants locker room, I see Odell Beckham Jr. standing in front of the mirror.

Not soul searching.

Chastising a blow dryer for overheating.

  • Steelers running back James Conner says estranged running back Le’Veon Bell continues to send him messages of support.

Which is not the least Bell can do. But close enough.

  • The Steelers have no idea when Bell will show up.

Steelers players have tried to have fun with it. According to media reports, a helmet and cleats sat on the chair in front of Bell’s locker to give the appearance he’d reported.

Later, the prank included a cafeteria takeout container, workout shirts and number “26” flip flops.

The Steelers have a bye this weekend before facing the Browns.

Nobody ever confused a takeout container with a blue collar lunch box. In this case for good reason.

Give it a few months. That will get straightened out once he makes a name for himself in the NBA.

  • Following a 128-119 loss to Portland, James said chemistry doesn’t happen overnight.

"I always kind of compare it to like instant oatmeal,” he said. “It is not that fast. It takes a while to get to where you can close your eyes and know exactly where your guys are."

For instance the chemistry was so good in Cleveland, comparatively, that JR Smith threw soup instead.

  • It was easier for James here for another good reason. He was surrounded by shooters.

The problem for the Lakers is that when James gets to the point where he can close his guys and know where his guys are, he still won't want to throw to them behind the three-point line.

  • “You know, everything that [my younger teammates] listen to or are watching these days, my 14-year-old and my 11-year-old are watching as well,” James told USA Today. “I got very mature 14-and-11 year olds. My 14-and-11 year-olds drink wine, that’s how mature they are.”

Or very immature teammates.

  • Jimmy Butler is clearly not comfortable with his situation in Minnesota, which is why he asked for a trade. In the meantime, he showed his impatience by verbally challenging his teammates and front office during a recent practice. “That’s raw me," said Butler. "That’s me at my best.”

If he has to say so himself. And he does.

Have a good weekend:

Browns 27, Buccaneers 24.

And I haven't been wrong since last week.

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