The Atlanta Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski knowing full well it would be risky. He got fired by the Cleveland Browns just weeks prior, but they chose to believe he'd thrive in a better situation, although the Browns' coaching search led the risk of making this hire age a little bit worse if they succeeded.
And unfortunately for the Falcons, this is what's happening right now: at least on paper. After firing Stefanski, the Browns hired Todd Monken to replace him--and he actually got to work with a competent group of weapons, which has Deshaun Watson turning back the clock and they're off to a red-hot 3-1 start.
Following a dismal Week 1 loss to the Jaguars, Watson and the Browns looked cooked, but Cleveland has managed to turn things around. They've won three straight games, including upsets of the Bucs and Panthers before their biggest statement yet: a 27-24 upset on TNF vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A common notion in the NFL is that one side (whether it be the player or the team) has to "win" the breakup. I know, it's very high school. But more often than not, no one is better off, and there are also occasions where both sides are better off needing a change over sticking with a failed experiment.
And contrary to popular belief, both the Falcons and Browns should be happier with their new coach.
Both Kevin Stefanski and the Browns are better off after they parted ways
Too many people will look into the Browns' surprise start and say that Stefanski was the problem, but that doesn't tell the full story. You try calling an offense where your best pass-catchers are Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond, and rookie Harold Fannin Jr., it's not as easy as playing Madden makes it seem.
Comparatively speaking, Monken has prized rookie wideouts KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston leading the receiver room, with Jeudy and Bond now supporting players alongside Fannin and Quinshon Judkins. You tell me who was dealt the better hand across the last couple of seasons.
The two-time Coach of the Year never wanted Watson in the first place, and while his resurgence-of-sorts may make him eat his words, Stefanski is in a better (and more preferable) spot without him.
Atlanta has controlled both sides of the line of scrimmage due to impressive trench play, Michael Penix Jr. has a bunch of untapped potential, and I think he would choose Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts over those guys in Cleveland--even though the Falcons got off to a slow start.
Then again, Atlanta's 1-2 record is deceiving given they started Cooper Rush in both losses--and they could hardly move the football with him. But in the one game we saw Penix start, they showed signs of life, surpassing 500 yards of offense and blowing out the Packers at Lambeau Field.
At full strength, both Monken and Stefanski are fielding competent offenses and have things to get their fans excited about. That doesn't sound like a clear breakup winner. If anything, both teams are in a better place than where they were this time last year, and that's all you can ask of a new regime.
Frankly, if we really want to measure the growth between both new teams and their new coaches, it's too early to tell. We might have to wait to see Kevin Stefanski pull one over on Todd Monken and the Browns until they face off in December.
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