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Here is a summary of how the Cleveland Browns are viewed across mainstream media outlets in NFL Power Rankings heading into Week 1.
Don’t act surprised. The Browns are bad once again, even with RG3 under center. The defense is so unspectacular that the Browns were happy to part with two former first-round picks in Barkevious Mingo and Justin Gilbert. There’s no depth at any position on defense and the offense isn’t very explosive without Josh Gordon. The best thing that can happen for the Browns is landing Deshaun Watson with the first-overall pick next year.
The Browns are going to be an exciting team to watch. RG3 has his limitations, but Hue Jackson tipped his hand about how he intends to work around those. The defense is miserable, the offensive line is shaky, but there’s more talent among the skill positions than you realize.
Call it a gut feeling, but I'm predicting the Browns won't be here for long. If the defense had put up even slight resistance against Jameis Winston and the Bucs in the third preseason game, Cleveland might have moved up these rankings. On another note, what it must be like to be Josh Gordon. Remember when you first got a Nerf basketball hoop, and you were doing-double-pump-tomahawk-jams that would put Dominique Wilkins to shame? That's what I thought of while watching Gordon versus Brent Grimes the other night in Tampa. If only the offensive line could hold its blocks for three seconds, Robert Griffin III might be able to connect with Gordon a time or 10 in the end zone this season.
Look what head coach Hue Jackson has done this preseason with a once-unwatchable offense. Josh Gordon is back to his old form. And Terrelle Pryor! That kid has finally figured out he can make an NFL paycheck at receiver. Robert Griffin III might look rusty, but his deep ball is on point right now.
Defensive coordinator Ray Horton is a master at plugging holes. He’s not a miracle worker, though. This defense is in major transition, and the youth movement won’t look pretty. Guys like Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib are going to feel some growing pains.
I’m a Hue Jackson believer. Just maybe not on the road in Philadelphia to start the season.
I liked what Robert Griffin III did on the field in the preseason. What’s reportedly happening off the field is a bit stranger. But if we’re talking football, it appears that Hue Jackson has a plan to turn RG3 around. Here’s Greg Cosell’s breakdown of his play.
Clevelands offense might not be too bad once Josh Gordon returns from his league-mandated suspension. The Browns defense, however, looked positively woeful in August.
Listed below is a summary table of where teams in the AFC North are ranked this week.
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| Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers | |
| Fox Sports | 7 | 31 | 19 | 6 |
| SB Nation | 6 | 31 | 15 | 7 |
| NFL.com | 9 | 32 | 20 | 7 |
| Bleacher Report | 9 | 32 | 17 | 2 |
| Yahoo Sports | 7 | 32 | 15 | 5 |
| Covers | 5 | 31 | 15 | 8 |
| Associated Press | 8 | 32 | 14 | 7 |
| Average | 7.3 | 31.6 | 16.4 | 6.0 |