Besides 0-15, numbers look OK for Browns

The Cleveland Browns are on the precipice of history, and not in a good way.

The team is 0-15 and one loss away from joining the 1960 Dallas Cowboys (0-11-1), the 1975 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14), the 1982 Baltimore Colts (0-8-1, in a strike-shortened season) and the 2008 Detroit Lions (0-16) as the only teams in NFL history to go an entire season without a win.

They play the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in Week 17, but no matter what the outcome, the 2017 Browns deserve a better fate than being labelled one of the worst NFL teams ever.

Their defence, particularly against the run, has played well. Cleveland is allowing a leaguelow 3.3 yards per carry and has stopped 29 per cent of rushers at or behind the line of scrimmage. Only the 13-2 Philadelphia Eagles, who hold a 31 per cent mark, have been better this season.

The problem is Cleveland’s woeful passing. Its 59.4 passer rating is the lowest in the NFL — the league average is 87.4.

However, eight other teams during the last 16 seasons have turned in worse passer ratings, with each winning at least two games.

Cleveland’s point differential also suggests a better record. The Browns have scored 210 points while allowing 382, giving them a minus-172 point differential. The 2008 Lions, in contrast, were outscored by 249 points through their first 15 games.

Since 2002, teams with a point differential between minus 150 and minus 200 after 15 games played have won an average of 2.8 games. And five of Cleveland’s losses in 2017 were by a margin of six points or less; only the 4-11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers have more losses (seven) by such a close margin this season.

With the odds set at 50-1, Cleveland has what is essentially a two per cent chance of upsetting Pittsburgh, so it looks like 0-16 is very likely.