Two of the best teams in the AFC went head-to-head in the season opener, and for most of the game the Browns were in control. They moved the ball at will against the Chiefs defense and managed to get some stops against the amazing KC offense. The Browns were driving again in the third quarter with the opportunity to take a three-score lead when Nick Chubb fumbled, and then things started to fall apart.
Punter Jamie Gillan muffed a snap and then tried to run when he didn’t have to, setting up a short field for the Chiefs. Along the way Patrick Mahomes made the sort of ridiculous plays that have made him the best player in the NFL.

But apart from the turnovers, everyone know the Browns can play with the Chiefs. Of course all the talking heads will go on and on about Baker Mayfield’s interception on the last drive. And Baker certainly has more to prove. He needs to show he can make things happen late in the game when everyone knows he needs to pass to get a winning score. So the Browns have much more to prove, but the Chiefs won’t be excited to play this team again.

The Browns covered the spread and should have won outright absent the turnovers. Can they take the next step and knock off the Chiefs? Nobody knows at this point. But they have the talent and the coaching staff to pull it off.

The Baltimore Ravens started the season against the Miami Dolphins, easily one of the worst teams in NFL history. Then they played the woeful Arizona Cardinals. After easy wins, naturally many in the press jumped to the conclusion that the Ravens were one of the best teams in the NFL. Oh, and suddenly Lamar Jackson was a cut below Patrick Mahomes.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns had plenty of hype coming into the season, and many in the pressed relished watching them struggle in their opener and then suffer some horrible play calls from Freddie Kitchens last week against the Rams. Many loved mocking Baker Mayfield for his slow start.

This poll from last week summed up the silliness we’ve been hearing. Lamar Jackson is a very talented player with a unique skill set, but there’s no way you take him over Baker Mayfield.

Who would you rather build your franchise around?

— GMFB (@gmfb) September 28, 2019

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It’s always nice to see an injured player return to full strength, and Nick Chubb made a statement on Saturday that he’s back to terrorize college football defenses. Kirby Smart wasn’t shy about using him, as Chubb carried the ball 32 times for 222 yards as Georgia got past North Carolina in a pretty good football game.

Chubb instantly becomes a serious Heisman candidate with this performance, and it gives new head coach Smart a stabilizing force on offense.