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An early favorite to make it deep into the Playoffs, the Cleveland Browns odds of winning the AFC North were even better than that of the Pittsburgh Steelers. But the Browns got off to a rough start and their odds of winning the 2009 Super Bowl were made substantially longer.
This week, Sportsbook.com has given Cleveland a +5000 shot of winning the 2009 Super Bowl. That would result in a $5000 payout for every $100 bet.
But the Browns are closing in on .500 next week following some impressive wins - the New York Giants definitely the eye opener.
The division is tough but questionable.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, stretched thin by injuries and their own mistakes, repeatedly kept the New York Giants out of their end zone. A game the Steelers were controlling turned dramatically when they couldn't stay out of that end zone themselves.
The Steelers had won their previous nine home games against NFC teams, and Roethlisberger (13-of-29, 189 yards) had been 13-3 against the conference, but Pittsburgh couldn't hold on despite getting two big-play touchdowns from backups.
Mewelde Moore, gaining 84 yards for the injured Parker, scored on a 32-yard run on Pittsburgh's fourth play from scrimmage in the first quarter. Roethlisberger later found Nate Washington for 65 yards -- the backup receiver's third touchdown in three games -- and a 14-9 lead on Pittsburgh's first play of the second half.
"But it's disappointing, and it starts with me," Roethlisberger said.
Roethlisberger threw four interceptions in their game against the Giants.
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens sailed to a win against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, bringing their record to 4-3.
Baltimore will be on the road next weekend playing Cleveland. The Browns are opening as a -1 ½ favorite against the Ravens.
Baltimore is 6-4 in this series over the last 10 though Cleveland is 3-1 at home and that one loss was by a single point.
A win here and we have a questionable Denver team coming to Cleveland.
But if the Browns can win moving forward, their chances of a Super Bowl win indeed look promising. They'll be facing the likes of Indianapolis, Buffalo and Tennessee, to name a few.
Cleveland faced a pretty solid test this past weekend when they managed to knock off the potent Jacksonville Jaguars on the road.
Cleveland won for the third time in its past four games and Jacksonville stumbled to its second loss in three games.
Derek Anderson has now gone three consecutive games without an interception. He threw six picks in the Browns' first four games.
You can bet on the Browns chances to win the 2009 Super Bowl and the AFC North at Sportsbook.com
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Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com
