Cleveland Browns fans entered the 2026 NFL season with tempered expectations. After all, Myles Garrett was shipped off to the Los Angeles Rams, a big hit, at least on paper, to their defense. They also didn’t make any quarterback moves via trade or free agency, which was another point of contention within the fanbase.
With the roster in mind, people thought it was going to be another frustrating season for the Browns, especially considering the other teams in the AFC North made moves to get better. As a whole, the other teams in the division have also proven to be more competitive than the Browns over the past few seasons.
Despite these preseason expectations, the Browns are performing better than anyone could have expected. Through four weeks, they hold a 3-1 record, which puts them atop the division.
The AFC North standings after week 4 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/x1uOaru5Do
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) October 4, 2026
The Browns seemingly hold the tie-breaker over the Baltimore Ravens, as they are also 3-1 but are listed second in the division standings.
After their Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Browns have rattled off three straight victories, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, and Pittsburgh Steelers. While none of those three teams have Super Bowl aspirations this season, wins are wins, and the Browns can only play who is in front of them on their schedule.
Based on how teams have performed through four weeks, the Browns’ schedule looks relatively light the rest of the way, minus their matchups with their AFC North counterparts, which can always be contentious and down-to-the-wire battles.
There’s a world where the Browns not only win the division, but win 10 or more games, which would be quite the accomplishment for a team with their track record and overall outlook heading into this season.
New head coach Todd Monken has this team on the right path, and it will be interesting to see if they can keep this momentum going, especially in the back half of the season.
NEXT: Browns' Defense Is Doing Something Surprising Without Myles Garrett
