CLEVELAND -- As I take a step back on the bye weekend and reflect on the first half of the Browns' season, I find myself extremely optimistic about the team for the first time in a long time. Who knows? Maybe I'm still fired up from Michael Irvin's motivational speech. Irvin was so captivating that I, too, am strutting around like a champion this bye weekend. Even my three teenagers are treating me with the utmost respect. (Not).
Regardless, here are four things rattling around my brain on this off weekend.
1. The Browns are currently the best team in the AFC North.
No, I haven't been hitting the Christmas Ale. With Jason Campbell at the helm, Jordan Cameron tearing up the league, Josh Gordon striking fear in defensive backs and the defense crushing quarterbacks, I think the Browns (4-5) are better than the Bengals (6-3), and Ravens (3-5) right now. The Browns have the best record in the AFC North at 2-1, with the Bengals at 1-1 and the Ravens 1-2. The Browns have already knocked off the Ravens and Bengals, and gave Cincinnati one of their toughest battles of the season.
What's more, the Bengals are more banged up than the Browns right now, with All-Pro tackle Geno Atkins on injured reserve with a torn ACL, cornerback Leon Hall on IR with a torn Achilles and safety Taylor Mays on the shelf with a dislocated shoulder. Linebacker Rey Maualuga is out a few weeks with a concussion and knee injury and might not be back for the Browns next week, and running back Giovani Bernard is questionable for the Ravens on Sunday with his rib injury.
I think Campbell (2-1) stacks up with Andy Dalton, Gordon matches A.J. Green and Cameron tops Cincinnati tight end Jermaine Gresham. Browns cornerback Joe Haden gave Green all he could handle in a 17-6 victory over the Bengals in Week 3, limiting him to his third-lowest yardage total of the season (51). On five occasions, Green has topped 100 yards this season, which amplifies Haden's performance.
Defensively, the Browns are allowing an NFL-low 4.51 yards per play, are second only to Kansas City with 31 sacks better and are ranked one spot higher than Cincinnati at No. 4.
Had Campbell or Hoyer started a few more games this season, the Browns might be tied atop the AFC North with the Bengals right now.
2. Jason Campbell is an elite NFL quarterback.
The 20th quarterback to start an NFL game for the Browns since 1999 is one of the best I've seen in a long time. He puts sensational spin on the ball, he's accurate, he's mobile, he gets the ball out quickly and he makes good decisions. He hasn't thrown an interception in his 75 attempts this season, and he's pushed his streak to 90 attempts without a pick. His current 106.6 rating would be third only to Peyton Manning (119.4) and Aaron Rodgers (108.0) if he had enough snaps to qualify.
So why hasn't Campbell been considered elite yet in his nine-year career? Because he hasn't had the continuity of systems that a Peyton Manning, a Tom Brady or an Aaron Rodgers has had. He's had numerous head coaches and offensive coordinators, and he's on his fourth team. But he's currently in an offense similar to one he's run before -- the downfield Air Coryell scheme -- and he's flourishing in it. I'm not suggesting he's a superstar like a Manning or a Brady, but he's an elite NFL quarterback capable of taking a team to the playoffs and possibly a Super Bowl.
What's more, he's mentoring the young guys such as Gordon and Greg Little, and letting everyone feast at the reception table. He showed tremendous faith in Davone Bess after Bess' dropfest in Kansas City, and got him back on track for the home stretch. Campbell should continue to improve as the season goes alone and he gets more reps with the starters.
3. Joe Banner hit a home run with head coach Rob Chudzinski.
Chudzinski wasn't Banner's first choice. Nor was he necessarily his second or third choice. But he's proving to be the best possible selection for the Cleveland Browns. Chudzinski is the ninth Browns head coach I've covered, and he's quickly climbing to the top of the list. Here are some of the reasons why:
• He can handle a quarterback competition: He told it like it was during the off-season and camp. He never made any promises about Brandon Weeden starting and made it clear that the best man would win. When Weeden faltered, he let on that he might bench him. When the competition between Weeden and Campbell was close, he characterized it as such. He hasn't coddled any of the quarterbacks and wasn't afraid to evaluate them on a week-by-week basis.
• He's a players' coach: He reassured Gordon he was wanted, and kept his star receiver's head in the game through trade rumors. He listened to Greg Little when he said he was choked by James Ihedigbo and didn't fine him for conduct detrimental to the team. He enjoys his players yet can discipline them. He held the squad together in the aftermath of the Trent Richardson trade.
• He's a motivator: He chewed out the defense at half-time of the Chiefs game and helped turn things around on that side of the ball. He had Hall of Famer Jim Brown speak before the season and Hall of Famer Michael Irvin at the bye. He has this group thinking like champions, and he's on a mission.
• It's personal for him: Chudzinski bleeds orange and brown, has munched on dog biscuits and loves this team as much as any Browns fan ever has. He feels your hatred for Pittsburgh and your resentment of the Ravens. He knows how much this means to you, because it means that much to him. Any Browns fan that came out to camp and woofed it up with the coach knows this is a labor of love for him. And he's committed to delivering a championship.
• He can call a football game: His aggressive mentality is refreshing. He's 10-for-19 on fourth-down conversions, both league-highs. He's also pulled out all the stops, running the wildcat, end-around, flea-flickers, the read-option and more. He doesn't get proper credit for it, but he brought the modern read-option into the NFL with Cam Newton in Carolina. And he'll keep pushing the envelope here.
4. Take it Away.
There's a lot to love about Ray Horton's defense. It's second with 31 sacks, first with 4.51 yards per play, and is fourth overall in total yards allowed. It's also one of only two teams not to have allowed a 100-yard rusher or a 300-yard passer. The defense has 11 sacks in the past two games and is allowing only 3.6 yards per rush for fourth in the league. But the Browns have only 11 takeaways this season, which is tied for No. 22 in the NFL. For comparison's sake, the undefeated Chiefs have 23 takeaways. One of the hallmarks of an elite defense is the ability to force turnovers and get the ball back for the offense. The Browns are tied for 17th in turnover differential at minus-1, and playoff teams don't usually reside on the minus side of the turnover stat. It's also one place where the Browns can gain ground on the Bengals (minus-4) in the home stretch. The Browns are also 31st in the league in third down defense. If they can improve in those two categories, they'll truly be considered a top-tier unit.
