NFL Power Rankings: Browns back up to 26th heading into Week 13, as they beat up on AFC North

Cleveland sends Pittsburgh back to the second-best ranking in the division.

Here is a summary of how the Cleveland Browns are viewed across mainstream media outlets in NFL Power Rankings heading into Week 13 of the 2024 NFL season.

CBS Sports – No. 25 (up 2 spots)

Jameis Winston has brought this team some life. That was much needed. Too bad it happened too late.

ESPN – No. 25 (up 3 spots)

Offense ranking: 23
Defense ranking: 8
Special teams ranking: 11

The Browns’ defense has regressed from last season, mainly by allowing the second-most explosive plays in the NFL, but it’s still the strength of the team. Cleveland has a 59.7% defensive success rate, which is tied for the sixth-best mark in the NFL. The defense hasn’t been strong enough to mask an offense that struggled before quarterback Deshaun Watson’s ruptured Achilles and has been inconsistent with Jameis Winston as the starter. The offense has improved under Winston but is tied for 21st in EPA per play since he took over in Week 8.

NFL.com – No. 25 (up 1 spot)

I’m starting to softly buy in on the idea of Jameis Winston as a bridge quarterback. This suggestion could fabulously backfire and be a career-ender for me, but I’m taking my cues more and more from his on-field approach these days. He’s by no means perfect. But has Winston not pumped some life into this team? That and double the victories Deshaun Watson led Cleveland to. The Browns obviously would want to find a young quarterback with some pedigree to challenge Winston, but either way, he’s looking good enough to bring back right now. Most of the remaining games down the stretch are prime upset opportunities and more chances for Winston to state his case. For me, it’s been the little stuff. Like, I love that he went right back to David Njoku (after his third-down drop) on the two-point conversion in Thursday’s win over Pittsburgh. You know, after Jameis helicoptered into the end zone.

Sporting News – No. 25 (up 5 spots)

Nick Chubb and Myles Garrett threw it back to 2023 against the Steelers, giving some hope for better times with a better QB situation in 2025.

Yahoo Sports – No. 26 (up 1 spot)

When the Browns beat teams like the Ravens and Steelers, it does make their failure of a season more frustrating. But at least they have had some highlight days. The question is: Can Myles Garrett be a DPOY candidate on a 10-loss team?

Bleacher Report – No. 28 (up 3 spots)

The 2024 season has been a nightmare for the Cleveland Browns. But for at least a moment at least on Thursday night, the Browns woke up, shocking their most hated rivals in a driving snowstorm in Cleveland. There were multiple heroes in the Week 12 upset, whether it was Myles Garrett’s three sacks or Nick Chubb’s two scores on the ground. But it was the play of Jameis Winston under center that truly propelled Cleveland to victory. Winston threw a terrible interception against the Steelers, and turnovers have dogged the 30-year-old throughout his career. But as Jason Lloyd wrote for the Athletic, over the last month it can’t be denied that Winston has provided a spark to an offense that had been truly awful.

“In four starts since replacing Deshaun Watson at quarterback, Winston has guided the Browns to a pair of victories—over heavyweight division rivals Baltimore and Pittsburgh, no less,” he said. “He already leads the team in passing yards and touchdowns, and his charismatic nature has provided some memorable sermons and lighthearted social media clips in what has otherwise been a dreary season and a miserable trudge to the finish line.”

Analyst’s Take

It can be argued that Cleveland winning games at this point in the season costs the Browns more than it helps them—too many victories could knock the team out of the running for an elite quarterback prospect. With that said, Winston has earned the right to start the rest of the season—and if the money’s right, he makes sense as Cleveland’s starter to open the 2025 season, as well.

USA Today – No. 26 (up 2 spots)

QB Jameis Winston in the snow? The Steelers never stood a chance.

Listed below is a summary table of where teams in the AFC North are ranked this week.

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What do you think of the Browns’ ranking this week?