Editor's note: Tony Grossi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN 850 WKNR.
Takeaways from Super Bowl 53 …
1. The Super Bowl effect: Do the less-than-spectacular performances by the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams in SB53 mean the gap between the Browns and them are more narrow than imagined?
In a word, no.
Nothing in the Super Bowl affects the work ahead for the Browns. Their direct aim should remain focused on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens – not the Patriots or Rams. They closed the gap on both teams considerably last year, but are still looking up at them.
The path to the Super Bowl is the same for the Browns. Winning the AFC North is the shortest route.
2. Trendy: Prisoners-of-the-moment always want to assign trends from the most recent Super Bowl.
Such as:
* The 13-3 final score proves the old adage is still in vogue: defense wins championships.
Hey, could it be that both offenses simply had bad games on the same night? Yes, Bill Belichick’s defensive scheming deserves praise. But didn’t it just come down to young Jared Goff missing some key throws in the clutch?
On the other hand, how on Earth could the lowest-scoring Super Bowl in history produce slot receiver Julian Edelman (10 receptions for 141 yards, no touchdowns) as game MVP?
More deserving were cornerback Stephon Gilmore (game-clinching interception, three passes defensed, one forced fumble) or linebacker Dont’a Hightower (two sacks, one pass breakup).
In fact, if you absolutely had to vote an offensive player the award, you could argue for tight end Rob Gronkowski (six receptions – including two on the game’s only touchdown drive – for 87 yards) ahead of Edelman.
* Is Sean McVay a has-been already at the age of 33?
Of course not. The Rams coach surely was schooled by the best coach of the last 30 years, if not all time. But a three-point egg in the Super Bowl doesn’t undo McVay’s stellar work in changing the culture of the Rams and lifting them to NFC champions. They’ll be back.
* Who’s more valuable to the Patriots dynasty – Tom Brady or Belichick?
The last two Super Bowls tell an interesting story.
In Super Bowl 52, Brady threw for a record 505 yards and three touchdowns in leading the Patriots to a record 613 yards of total offense. Yet Belichick’s defense was strafed for 538 yards and eight scoring drives by backup quarterback Nick Foles, and the Philadelphia Eagles won, 41-33.
In Super Bowl 53, Brady suffered arguably his worst performance in his nine Super Bowls, passing for no touchdowns, throwing one interception and compiling a career-low passer rating of 71.3. Yet Belichick’s defense limited the No. 2-ranked Rams offense to but one field goal and the Patriots won, 13-3.
Bottom line: They need each other and are equally responsible for New England’s amazing run.
3. Plan ahead: Coach Freddie Kitchens and quarterback Baker Mayfield have preached from the same prayer book in stating the Super Bowl is the Browns’ only goal.
Given their eight-game track record together in 2018, John Dorsey’s drafting acumen, and the culture change indisputably made last year, is it that much of a stretch to imagine the Browns could reach their goal in, say, one of the next five seasons?
Which brings to mind the sites of the next five Super Bowls.
Super Bowl 54: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL, Feb. 2, 2020.
Super Bowl 55: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL, Feb. 7, 2021.
Super Bowl 56: Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park, Inglewood, CA, Feb. 6, 2022.
Super Bowl 57: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ, Feb. 5, 2023.
Super Bowl 58: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA, Feb. 3, 2024.