Here is a summary of how the Cleveland Browns are viewed across mainstream media outlets heading into Week 9 Power Rankings of the NFL season.
CBS Sports - No. 29 (Down 2 from Last Week)
Is it about that time when we start to wonder if Mike Pettine will be back in 2016? It's hard to win without talent.
FOX Sports - No. 24 (Up 1 from Last Week)
In every loss this season, Cleveland’s inability to stop the run has been its Achilles heel, and Week 8 was no different.
NFL.com - No. 24 (Down 1 from Last Week)
Saw many folks giving Josh McCown low marks for his performance versus the Cardinals. Here's the truth: The veteran quarterback was flat dealin' in the first half, staking the Browns to a double-digit lead. Then he took a few big hits in the second half and just wasn't the same. McCown entered this game with a banged-up shoulder, then was seen doubling over and grabbing his ribs in pain at various points after halftime. Think we can cut this guy a break? Or maybe the Browns should've given him some relief. Quarterbacks are not machines. In my book, McCown earned some stripes -- and not the ugly Bengals kind -- for doing his best to gut it out.
Yahoo Sports - No. 26 (Down 4 from Last Week)
The Browns average 3.4 yards per carry, second-worst in the NFL. Isaiah Crowell had 14 yards on 10 carries Sunday. Robert Turbin is averaging 3.3 yards per carry. Meanwhile exciting rookie Duke Johnson, who had 68 yards on two catches Sunday, got one carry. He has not gotten more than nine carries in any of the Browns last six games. The Browns spent a third-round pick on him this year. I mean, I can totally see why the coaching staff wouldn't want to mess with what got the Browns to this 2-6 record, but I have to say — this is a telltale sign of a coaching staff that might be in over its head.
ESPN - No. 23 (Up 1 from Last Week)
The Browns' two wins this season came against the Ravens and Titans, who are a combined 3-12. The unbeaten Bengals are up next.
Covers.com - No. 24 (Down 1 from Last Week)
Key defensive backs Joe Haden and Tashaun Gipson both returned to the lineup last week. Then Haden and safety Donte Whitner got concussions; neither expected to suit up this week.
Listed below is a summary table of where teams in the AFC North are ranked this week.
Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers | |
---|---|---|---|---|
FOX Sports | 3 |
24 |
26 |
11 |
NFL.com | 3 |
24 |
27 |
9 |
ESPN | 3 |
23 |
27 |
13 |
Yahoo Sports | 2 |
26 |
23 |
9 |
Covers.com | 2 |
24 |
27 |
7 |
SB Nation | 2 |
23 |
26 |
13 |
CBS Sports | 2 |
29 |
27 |
17 |
Average: | 2.4 (no change) | 24.7 (down 1.0) | 26.1 (up 2.1) | 11.2 (down 0.6) |