Monday leftovers

If there was one thing you could count on from the Browns this season, it was failing to master football security. On a weekly basis. 

As in holding on to the prolate spheroid. Not gifting the opposition with it. Makes it a whole lot easier to win football games.

Ball discipline, of which the Browns had next to none and yet finished with an 11-6 record this season, made the season very interesting. Too interesting, in fact. 

Lack of discipline prevented this team from seriously challenging for the AFC North championship. The talent was there. But carelessness followed them all season, which made it hazardous at best, downright frustrating at worst.

Fans never could get comfortable because they never knew when a lost fumble or interception would arrive without warning and blow up a promising possession. That unpredictability is what gave rise to the brilliance of the defense, which gained a large part of its solid reputation by putting out fires.

It shouldn't surprise anyone, then, that this playoff-bound team led the National Football League in turnovers this season with 37, three more than runner up Minnesota. They're the only playoff team in the top eight in that category. Right up on top. 

They also lead the NFL in interceptions with 23 and finished fourth in lost fumbles with 14. How in the world did this team get here? Simple. The arrival of Joe Flacco gave them something they didn't have previously: The ability to simply outscore opposing teams.

Sure the old quarterback throws interceptions. Eight in five games to be exact. But he has also thrown for 13 touchdowns in those give games. Only he can fix what needs to be fixed. The others did not and that's the difference.

Historic defense made the Browns competitive in the first half of the season when they had problems winning games with an offense that frankly was barely mediocre at best. Since his arrival, fans are justifiably confident the odds of losing have fallen significantly.

At the bottom of the turnovers list, by the way, or the team with the fewest turnovers in the NFL this season: The stingy Houston Texans with 14 turnovers. Yep, Saturday's playoff game in Houston game will feature the league's worst team with ball security against the best. 

The defense for this one will be the most important unit for the Browns. They'll need to set the tone in what promises to be a battle waged through the air between two dangerous quarterbacks whose reputations are rooted in throwing the football.

How they start with the benefit of a game day off against Cincinnati a few days ago will likely determine the direction this game heads. Jim Schwartz's men need to be sharp against C.J. Stroud, who has helped turn around the team culture in Houston.  

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Breaking down the Browns' woes on offense: The gifting problems arose immediately with 10 in the first four games and lasted the entire season. The next three outings produced seven more. The only week with nary a turnover turned out to be the week nine 27-0 perfecto against the Arizona Cardinals at home. There were a few games with just one giveaway. It was uphill practically the entire season. But it sure got them ready for the money games.