- Why the Browns can beat the Chiefs, and why they’re confident they will (cleveland.com) - The Browns, coming off their convincing 48-37 wild card rout of the Steelers, believe they can storm into Arrowhead and knock off the 14-2 Chiefs on their way to the AFC Championship Game, and no one can shake their faith. While it might seem like a David and Goliath proposition, there are myriad reasons why it can happen.
- How the Browns radio crew has navigated the team’s unforgettable moments in an unprecedented season (clevelandbrowns.com) - In a year unlike any other, Jim Donovan and Doug Dieken have provided Northeast Ohio with all the sounds from a Browns’ season that will be remembered for years.
- After pain of early Browns years, Tim Couch loves what he’s seeing now (Terry Pluto) - As the Browns were beating the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend, Tim Couch kept smiling. And the former quarterback is still a Browns fan, even though his last game with the team was 17 years ago.
- Jim Nantz thinks Browns are ‘onto something’ (Beacon Journal) - Jim Nantz, the voice of CBS Sports who with analyst Tony Romo will call Sunday’s divisional playoff between the Browns and Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, cited the quarterback youth movement as the reason he sees AFC dominance on the NFL horizon.
NFL:
- Inside Carson Wentz’s turbulent season and the forces behind his regression (inquirer.com) - Howie Roseman had a life-sized poster of Carson Wentz in his office at the NovaCare Complex. It still might be there, but before COVID-19 placed restrictions on Eagles staffers’ movements, when anyone walked into the general manager’s office, there up on the wall was Wentz in action. The decal — like a Fathead a fan might plaster in his or her bedroom — became an inside joke among some staff about Roseman’s overt affection for the Eagles’ franchise quarterback. But it also became a symbol for his misdirected handling of an employee.
- How Jack Easterby held on, and why Deshaun Watson might slip away from the Texans (si.com) - After a disappointing season in Houston, those expecting change from ownership did not get it. Now, with an embattled executive fighting for his job—and winning—a frustrated quarterback threatening to leave, a staff in crisis and a fan base incensed, a franchise that finished 2020 in a state of constant chaos has invited more of the same.
- Baltimore Ravens Marcus Peters fined $15K for stomping on Tennessee logo, source says (ESPN) - For Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters, payback came at a price. Peters was fined $15,000 on Saturday for taunting during the Ravens’ 20-13 wild-card victory Sunday in Tennessee, a league source confirmed to ESPN. The discipline was for “physical actions directed at the Titans bench” by Peters, the source said.
- Steelers expected to make Matt Canada new offensive coordinator (NFL.com) - Once again, the Pittsburgh Steelers will promote from within to fill their offensive coordinator job. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the Steelers are expected to promote quarterbacks coach Matt Canada to OC, per sources informed of the situation.