The Browns were on their way to a typical Browns season in October when they finally pulled the plug on Hue Jackson. In another Browns-like move, offensive coordinator Todd Haley was fired on the same day Jackson was fired. Then the Browns never really competed in their next game, a loss to the Chiefs that dropped them to 2-6-1.



Over the final seven games, the Browns were a different team. First-time play-caller Freddie Kitchens and rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield led an aggressive offense that ranked in the top five in yards and passing yards over the second half of the season. Rookie running back Nick Chubb went from third string to becoming the NFL’s second leading rusher over the season’s final two months. The Browns won five of their final seven and nearly knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs in the last minutes of the season finale.



It’s a long way from 0-16 and 4-44, as the Browns were from 2015-17, to 7-8-1. Mayfield set the NFL record...