NFL Power Rankings: Browns remain at 31st heading into Week 8

There’s not much debate about a ranking for a 1-6 team.

Here is a summary of how the Cleveland Browns are viewed across mainstream media outlets in NFL Power Rankings heading into Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season.

CBS Sports – No. 30 (no change)

With Deshaun Watson out, they have to turn to Jameis Winston. Is that a bad thing?

ESPN – No. 30 (down 1 spot)

Young riser: WR Cedric Tillman

The Browns have one of the oldest rosters in the NFL and some of their young players have regressed this season. But if Sunday’s loss is any indication, Tillman is a player to watch going forward. In the first game since Cleveland traded receiver Amari Cooper to the Bills, Tillman had the second-most snaps of any Browns receiver and posted career highs in targets (12), receptions (eight) and yards (81). Tillman, 24, figures to have a more consistent role in the offense for the rest of the season.

NFL.com – No. 30 (no change)

Deshaun Watson’s season-ending Achilles injury put an abrupt end to the burgeoning question of how the Browns would handle the highly paid quarterback’s continued struggles. Their current options at the position: Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who was ineffective in relief of Watson in Sunday’s loss to the Bengals (two INTs) and left late with a finger injury, and Jameis Winston. The Browns scored their only second-half touchdown with Winston leading the charge, so he might be the more natural fit this Sunday against the Ravens, who dissected DTR with three interceptions in his first NFL start against them last season. Nick Chubb was back, and he scored a feel-good touchdown in the first half to give the fans something to cheer about. But unless Chubb is suddenly ready for a 25-carry game, this offense is running out of answers, especially after trading Amari Cooper last week.

Sporting News – No. 32 (no change)

The Browns got roasted again, with their offense losing Deshaun Watson (Achilles) to add major injury to insult. The defense can only do so much going forward to make the team respectable.

Yahoo Sports – No. 30 (down 1 spot)

Deshaun Watson’s injury puts the Browns in an even bleaker place for the near future. For this season, if they insist on playing Dorian Thompson-Robinson and trading Jameis Winston, they might not win more than another game or two. It’s ugly in Cleveland.

Bleacher Report – No. 32 (down 1 spot)

There is no bottom with the 2024 Cleveland Browns. That the Browns lost again is hardly surprising. That they struggled offensively is even less so. But the season hit a new nadir when Deshaun Watson crumpled to the turf with a season-ending Achilles tear and the fans in Cleveland celebrated. Edge-rusher Myles Garrett put those fans on blast while addressing the media after the loss.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson relieved Watson before suffering a finger injury and giving way to Jameis Winston. Who starts for the Browns next Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens may not be known until later in the week. At this point, it really doesn’t matter.

Analyst’s Take

Watson’s injury and the fans’ reaction to it is the 2024 Browns in a nutshell—gross. So is Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski’s boneheaded decision to go with Thompson-Robinson as Watson’s backup and not Winston, who led the team on a late-game touchdown drive after DTR got banged up.

Thompson-Robinson completed less than half his passes and threw a pair of interceptions. The season is lost. The Watson deal somehow now looks even worse than before. And if Winston isn’t the Week 8 starter, then either Stefanski is trying to get fired or the Clowns (that nickname is definitely back now) are blatantly tanking.

USA Today – No. 32 (down 1 spot)

Whatever his football future is at this point, injured QB Deshaun Watson will at least remain financially tethered to this franchise for two more seasons. But if he’s played his last down with the Browns, Watson will almost doubtless be remembered for settling 24 lawsuits during his stint, juxtaposed to the 22 TDs he generated.

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?