NFL Analyst Fully Believes in Browns as Legit Playoff Team This Year

The Cleveland Browns will enter Week 5 of the NFL season holding a record of 3-1 through the first four games.

It has been an excellent start for the Browns, giving this team a lot of confidence that they can build on. Cleveland has played well on both sides of the ball, with the offense taking a big step forward this year.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson has overcome much scrutiny this year, putting together a solid performance. The play of Watson has given the Browns a chance to win games, which is all the team can ask for from him.

Watson ranks in the top 10 of the NFL with a 69.6 completion percentage, coming in at sixth. The veteran has looked like his old self in some ways, and it has given this Browns team real life this season.

Due to the hot start from the Browns this year, it has many people putting faith in this team for the rest of the way. One of those is NFL analyst Ben Arthur of Fox Sports, who is all in on Cleveland being a playoff-caliber team this season.

Given where the Browns are right now and the upcoming schedule, it's hard not to take this team seriously as a potential contender. While it's still early in the season, Cleveland has taken advantage of the more favorable schedule it has played.

Over the next few weeks, the Browns will play at the New York Jets, at home against the Baltimore Ravens, at the Tennessee Titans, at the Pittsburgh Steelers, at the New Orleans Saints, and then back home against the Houston Texans. Each of the teams listed here has its issues, and Cleveland could easily win multiple more games before their bye week.

While it remains to be seen how the next few weeks will play out, one reason for the success that Cleveland has had is the play from the defense. The Browns haven't allowed more than 24 points in a game over the last few weeks, which includes keeping the top passing game in the NFL, the Carolina Panthers to 18 points.

Cleveland has had a strong defense over the last few seasons, but many wondered how it would look without star pass rusher Myles Garrett. But so far, the team hasn't skipped a beat with Garrett gone, looking as dominant as ever.

If the Browns can take down the Jets this weekend, it would only increase all the postseason noise around the franchise right now.