Is 2024 Super Bowl Or Bust For The Browns?
Browns fans have been dreaming about their beloved franchise bringing a Lombardi Trophy back to Cleveland for decades. Unfortunately, since the team return to Northeast Ohio in 1999, that dream has been more based in fantasy than reality.
With the majority of a starting roster that made the playoffs a season ago set to return though, and hopes of star quarterback Deshaun Watson returning to the player he used to be, there is reason to believe the Browns aren't far off from their championship pursuits. With success comes greater expectations and while a mere playoff appearance may have been enough last season some supporters may be thinking the Super Bowl is a must, even as soon as this upcoming season.
General manager Andrew Berry doesn't necessarily see it that way though.
"I don't necessarily subscribe to the notion that if you don't win the Super Bowl the season is a failure," Berry said during an NFL Combine appearance on Cleveland Browns Daily last week. "I think that's strong. But there obviously are things you could learn from. The reality of it is, there's only one team that's happy after they play their final game. So maybe there is some disappointment, obviously. But I think to unilaterally categorize something as a failure unless you win the Super Bowl, I don't personally think that's the right measuring stick for any organization."
Berry's point is sound in that if winning the Super Bowl is the only measurement of success then 31 teams not named the Kansas City Chiefs are all failures after 2023. There are certainly other outcomes that can help define success for a team.
For example, Cleveland making the playoffs after starting five different quarterback throughout the season is a pretty remarkable feat in its own right. Additionally, the Browns collecting four different awards at the NFL Honors speaks to the team's prosperity this past season
That said, the acquisition of Watson for three first-round picks and the unprecedented $230 million, fully-guaranteed contract he signed comes with plenty of added pressure for the Browns to compete for championships right now.
Through 12 games and varying results from Watson, there are – at the very least – high expectations for Watson to finally return to his 2020 status as a top 10 QB. If he does there's no reason to believe the Browns can't quickly become a Super Bowl contender, which may be at the root of why some fans believe that is the expectation for Cleveland in 2024.
Where do you stand on the Super Bowl or bust debate?
