At what point are we allowed to be disappointed in the Browns, especially after a 45–7 blowout loss to a supposedly inferior opponent like the game we saw Sunday against the Patriots?
It’s a fair question, given that this kind of relative competence—five wins at the midpoint of the season—would have warranted a statue a few years ago. A highly drafted quarterback who started more than a handful of games would have been deified. A pass rusher drafted first overall, who actually leads the league in sacks with some regularity, would have been a stunning proposition.