Dawgs By Nature
Cleveland is still getting that post-Watson boost, despite losing to the Chargers.
Here is a summary of how the Cleveland Browns are viewed across mainstream media outlets in NFL Power Rankings heading into Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season. Note: These rankings were before the Week 10 TNF game between the Ravens and Bengals.
CBS Sports - No. 24 (down 1 spot)
Jameis Winston-mania came to a screeching halt in the loss to the Chargers. Their playoff hopes took a damning blow.
ESPN - No. 25 (down 1 spot)
Most important game remaining: Week 11 vs. the Saints
Five of the Browns’ final eight opponents have winning records, but Cleveland enters its bye week as one of nine teams with two wins. The Browns’ road game against the Saints could have huge ramifications for the franchise’s long-term prospects. ESPN Analytics gives Cleveland a 36.9% chance to get a top-five pick in the 2025 draft, slightly below the Saints’ projections. That head-to-head matchup could loom large for draft positioning and possibly acquiring a franchise quarterback.
NFL.com - No. 27 (no change)
After scoring 29 points in the inspiring upset over the Ravens in Week 8, the Browns managed just 10 against the Chargers, which somehow was Cleveland’s low-water mark of the season. Jameis Winston threw three picks and was lucky not to have more; he also was sacked six times. The Browns managed just 57 first-half yards and were stuck on three points until the game’s final minute. So Cleveland crawls into the bye week as a team right back to where it was before: lacking identity. The Browns coming back to earth after the one-week offensive outburst was disappointing, even if it wasn’t totally shocking, but the regression of the defense on the whole has been just as big a concern. Selling off assets like Za’Darius Smith (sent to Detroit) before the deadline makes sense, but it only underscores just how big this coming offseason will be in Cleveland. There’s a lot to figure out.
Sporting News - No. 28 (down 3 spots)
The Browns got a short-term spark from Jameis Winston, only to follow up the Ravens home win by having a major letdown with the Chargers sapping all the energy from the Dawg Pound. The clock is now ticking until they can draft their franchise QB.
Yahoo Sports - No. 25 (down 5 spots)
Well, forget about the notion that the Browns could have a surge with Jameis Winston at quarterback. He looked bad Sunday vs. the Chargers and so did the Browns. They’re playing out the string for the second half of the season.
Bleacher Report - No. 30 (down 5 spots)
While stunning the Baltimore Ravens last week, the Cleveland Browns showed their first signs of life in a while. It didn’t last long. There wasn’t much the Browns did well Sunday against the Chargers. There was Myles Garrett’s three-sack outburst, and that was about it. The...
