Dawgs By Nature
It is Week 5, and last week, the Cleveland Browns lost to the Detroit Lions. They only dropped by about 1 spot (0.9 spots to be specific) in power rankings, but almost everyone is calling for a change at quarterback this week: meaning to bench Joe Flacco and start rookie Dillon Gabriel. Will the Browns pull the trigger?
Here is a summary of how the Cleveland Browns are viewed across mainstream media outlets in NFL Power Rankings heading into Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season.
They might be closing in on a quarterback change. They aren’t scoring enough with Joe Flacco.
Biggest issue on offense: Turnovers
The Browns’ eight giveaways are tied for the most in the NFL. Quarterback Joe Flacco has been at the center of each turnover, with six interceptions and two lost fumbles. While each one hasn’t entirely been his fault, the giveaways are putting even more strain on the defense and making things tougher for a team that already has little margin for error. “We all share in those things,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “We all own it, and we all have to be better.”
Joe Flacco is now up to six interceptions through four games, with two more (and a fumble) against Detroit, prompting the question of whether a quarterback change is needed — or even viable, for that matter. Flacco has been sloppier than his usual self, but he’s operating with backup offensive tackles and had a few key passes dropped on Sunday. Rookie Dillon Gabriel should be ready to go, at the very least, even if Cleveland’s situation wouldn’t be ideal for him, either. Defensively, Cleveland is great. But only Tennessee has scored fewer points this season, and the Browns have some promising skill-position players who need the ball more. They must consider a QB change, or the 1-3 hole they’ve dug for themselves could grow even bigger.
The Browns are now breaking down in every phase between Joe Flacco’s turnover woes, special teams and the defense falling apart on the road.
The problem with making a quarterback change is it’s hard to start a rookie against the Vikings’ defense, especially in England, or the week after at Pittsburgh. A home game in Week 7 against the Dolphins sounds like a safer landing spot for Dillon Gabriel’s first start.
The Cleveland Browns defense is really good. However, that doesn’t mean much when the offense and special teams units are horrendous. As constructed, Cleveland can steal wins but only when it makes fewer mistakes than the opposition. Unfortunately, the Browns tend to make a lot of mistakes just about every week.
Joe Flacco,...
