Here is a summary of how the Cleveland Browns are viewed across mainstream media outlets in NFL Power Rankings heading into Week 7 of the 2020 NFL season.
CBS Sports - No. 10 (down 4 spots)
Just when it appeared they were ready to put their losing behind them, they go and get whacked by the Steelers. Baker Mayfield has to be better.
ESPN - No. 13 (down 3 spots)
Chubb suffered an MCL knee injury in Week 3 against the Cowboys. The Browns continue to boast the league’s leading rushing offense behind Kareem Hunt, but it hasn’t been quite as effective since Chubb went down. Cleveland is hopeful Chubb will be able to return around mid-November. He is still No. 2 in the league with an average of 2.6 rushing yards after contact. And having established himself as one of the best backs in the league, Chubb is paramount to the Browns’ offense reaching its potential.
NFL.com - No. 15 (down 6 spots)
Mike Tomlin couldn’t resist twisting the knife on Myles Garrett and Co. after a 38-7 beatdown of the Browns. “That was varsity ball today,” the Steelers coach explained. The obvious implication being that Cleveland remains jayvee in this one-sided rivalry. Not exactly the outcome Browns fans were expecting in a year that’s supposed to be different. Meanwhile, it’s time to start worrying about Baker Mayfield. The third-year quarterback looked uncomfortable playing with bruised ribs and took his team out of the game with turnovers, including an early Minkah Fitzpatrick pick-six. With running back Nick Chubb sidelined, the Browns won’t be able to consistently hide their quarterback in the game plan. Baker needs to start making plays, or difficult conversations will commence at team headquarters.
Sporting News - No. 13 (down 4 spots)
The Browns got a wake-up call for Baker Mayfield’s struggles like they did in Week 1, as overmatched against the Steelers as they were against the Ravens. The defense won’t go away a concern with their linebacker snd safety issues behind Myles Garrett.
Yahoo Sports - No. 15 (down 7 spots)
I’m not going to do a 180 on the Browns. I think Sunday was more about the Steelers’ dominance than Cleveland being exposed. Still, the Browns have been absolutely destroyed by the Steelers and Ravens this season, and that’s not the most promising development.
Bleacher Report - No. 14 (down 7 spots)
The Cleveland Browns got smacked by reality in Week 6. Over the first five weeks of the 2020 season, the Browns were one of the NFL’s most pleasant surprises. They led the league in rushing, ranked fourth in scoring and worked their way into the top 10 of these power rankings. But Sunday’s trip to Pittsburgh marked Cleveland’s stiffest test since the season opener in Baltimore. And just as they did in that game, the Browns got hammered.
Without the run game to lean on, Baker Mayfield had his worst outing of the season, throwing multiple interceptions for the second week in a row. Cleveland’s defense was exposed by the Steelers, who piled up 38 points despite finishing with only 277 yards of offense. This may well be the best Browns team we’ve seen since the franchise rejoined the NFL in 1999. But as Sunday plainly showed, they’re still only the third-best team in their own division.
“The Browns loaded up on wins against teams that are a combined 8-15-1 this season, but they were humiliated by a combined margin of 76-13 in key matchups with the Ravens and Steelers,” Gagnon wrote. “That suggests they aren’t worthy of being considered elite just yet.”
Associated Press - No. 14 (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 | 27 | 10 | 4 | 1 |
| ESPN | 27 | 13 | 4 | 3 |
| NFL.com | 28 | 15 | 4 | 2 |
| Sporting News | 25 | 13 | 5 | 2 |
| Yahoo Sports | 23 | 15 | 2 | 3 |
| Bleacher Report | 25 | 14 | 5 | 1 |
| Associated Press | 26 | 14 | 5 | 3 |
| Average | 25.9 (down 0.8) |
13.4 (down 5.0) |
4.1 (down 0.2) |
2.1 (up 2.2) |