Here is a summary of how the Cleveland Browns are viewed across mainstream media outlets in NFL Power Rankings heading into Week 9.
CBS Sports - No. 27 (no change)
They fired Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley, which means Gregg Williams is the interim head coach. Is that a good thing for Baker Mayfield?
SB Nation - No. 27 (no change)
NFL.com - No. 26 (down 1 spot)
At the end of the day, Hue Jackson’s 3-36-1 mark was just too big an eyesore. Rankling OC Todd Haley, then laying blame at his feet, probably didn’t help Jackson, either. The Browns’ offense needed solutions (or, at bare minimum, not making it so easy for defenses to solve), not snipping back and forth. Whatever was going on between the coaches, neither survived Monday’s housecleaning. Now, Gregg Williams is in charge (at least for the time being), which brings on new problems to be solved. How will he handle rookie QB Baker Mayfield? Er, how will Mayfield handle him? Will Williams’ attention be taken away from the defense, which has immense upside? Fans in Cleveland probably aren’t too upset to see Jackson go, but the national perception of Williams is not flattering, given what went down in New Orleans. If the Browns’ bleak past is to be water under the bridge, it better flow past the new head coach, too.
MMQB - No. 27 (down 3 spots)
Is this week rock bottom for Cleveland, after firing both Hue Jackson and Todd Haley? No, it’s going to get worse after this week against the Chiefs.
Yahoo Sports - No. 27 (down 1 spot)
Firing Hue Jackson was the right move. Here’s a possible problem: A talented team that just dumped a terrible coach has a good second half under Gregg Williams, and the Browns talk themselves into giving Williams another year as head coach. We’ve seen teams do that before. The Browns need a clean start. If Williams is their 2019 head coach, then it will end up being a mistake firing Jackson now.
ESPN - No. 26 (down 1 spot)
Baker Mayfield has been sacked 19 times in his five starts, which projects to 61 for a full season. Mayfield is taking too many sacks and too many hits. Anything learned about Mayfield this season is a positive, but the Browns also have to worry about his mental well being for the future.
Associated Press - No. 27 (down 1 spot)
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 | |
| CBS Sports | 12 | 27 | 10 | 6 |
| SB Nation | 14 | 27 | 11 | 6 |
| NFL.com | 16 | 26 | 11 | 7 |
| MMQB | 17 | 27 | 16 | 6 |
| Yahoo Sports | 12 | 27 | 16 | 7 |
| ESPN | 12 | 26 | 10 | 7 |
| Associated Press | 14 | 27 | 16 | 7 |
| Average | 13.9 (down 0.5) |
26.7 (down 1) |
12.9 (down 4.9) |
6.6 (up 1.3) |