NFL Power Rankings: Browns jump back to 24th heading into Week 9

Jameis Winston injects hope that the Browns are a solid 2-6 team.

Here is a summary of how the Cleveland Browns are viewed across mainstream media outlets in NFL Power Rankings heading into Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season.

CBS Sports – No. 23 (up 7 spots)

Jameis Winston to the rescue. He gave this team life, which begs the question as to why they waited so long. He is better than Deshaun Watson — and a lot cheaper.

ESPN – No. 26 (up 4 spots)

Best offseason addition: Linebacker Jordan Hicks

Hicks and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah have provided the Browns with a linebacker duo that’s rarely out of place or misses tackles. Hicks has called defensive plays on the field and ranked third in tackles (19) through Week 4 before injuries forced him to miss three of the past four games. “Jordan brings a lot to us,” defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. “He’s a great communicator, he’s played physical, he’s made plays for us … gives us a lot of energy on the field.”

NFL.com – No. 27 (up 3 spots)

It’s difficult to underscore just how much has fundamentally changed with the Browns’ offense in the past few weeks. Amari Cooper was traded away. Kevin Stefanski gave up play-calling duties. Deshaun Watson was lost to an Achilles injury for the season, replaced by Jameis Winston. And it was Winston who led a stirring upset over the Ravens, throwing for 334 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner in the final minute. Winston’s mere presence was somehow cleansing and invigorating for a stagnant offensive operation, leading the Browns to a season-high 29 points (topping the previous best of 18) and leading to talk that perhaps Winston is this year’s Joe Flacco. Of course, the Browns had a 7-4 record when Flacco replaced Watson in Cleveland a year ago, so the comparison isn’t quite apt, given that they currently sit at 2-6. It would take a heroic effort for Winston to drag them back into the postseason — but then again, teams have recovered from that mark twice in NFL history before

Sporting News – No. 25 (up 7 spots)

The Browns hinted at what could have been this season had their quarterback play with Deshaun Watson been above average. Jameis Winston became their 2023 Flacco with sharp pocket passing to his key receivers against a vulnerable Ravens’ pass defense. Winston’s fiery intangibles have been a great fit with the team, too.

Yahoo Sports – No. 20 (up 10 spots)

Forget about the Browns’ record for a moment. They ate a 1-6 start trying to get Deshaun Watson to become a thing. Not that Jameis Winston is great, but he’s clearly better than Watson. This Browns team might be dangerous now, like last season with Joe Flacco.

Bleacher Report – No. 25 (up 7 spots)

Not much has gone right for the Cleveland Browns this year. The team had failed to score 20 points in a game this season. Quarterback Deshaun Watson had been mostly terrible before suffering a season-ending Achilles tear. That injury thrust veteran Jameis Winston into the starting job at quarterback for the Browns—and with Winston under center the Cleveland offense finally woke up.

Winston completed 27-of-41 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Seven of those passes went to Cedric Tillman, who scored two touchdowns—including a 38-yarder late that was the difference in the game. Winston was waxing poetic after leading the Browns to easily their biggest victory of the season.

“Man, there’s a white boy from Detroit that I really admire named Eminem,” Winston told reporters. “He said, you only get one shot. Do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity lasts once in a lifetime.”

Whatever you say, Jameis.

Analyst’s Take

Well, if you wanted one more example of how disastrous the Watson fiasco has truly been, you got it on Sunday. Winston had the best game by a Cleveland quarterback this season by a country mile—and he did it without having the since-traded Amari Cooper to throw to.

It’s all but certainly too late for the Browns to salvage the 2024 season, especially with the ground game continuing to struggle to get on track behind a banged-up offensive line. But at this point, the Browns are just searching for some respectability. Looking to staunch the bleeding that has seemingly been going on from the moment the season started. For one week at least, the Browns did that.

USA Today – No. 23 (up 9 spots)

Since the infamous 2022 acquisition of Deshaun Watson, two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski is 9-10 with the quarterback in the starting lineup and 11-12 without him. Essentially a wash, but QB Jameis Winston’s performance Sunday was also a reminder that this was a playoff outfit last season – mostly thanks to the leadership of another veteran passer, Joe Flacco.

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?