There were always going to be ups and downs for the Cleveland Browns this season. The good times were not going to last forever, and now it’s time to make sure that a bad loss doesn’t linger for too long.
Cleveland failed to post its fourth straight victory, dropping a winnable game to the New York Jets 17-12 on Sunday. Some of the Browns’ shortcomings finally proved costly, and now they have to regroup to face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6 with first place in the AFC North still on the line.
With all of that in mind, the Browns made a concerning move in Bleacher Report’s latest power rankings, falling to No. 17 from No. 12.
“The Cleveland Browns are who we thought they were a few weeks ago. The defense is keeping the team in games week after week, but the offense remains a major weakness. After three straight wins, the Browns delivered an ugly, mistake-filled performance. Next week’s AFC North matchup against the Baltimore Ravens may not be a must-win, but Cleveland needs a strong response to bolster its credibility as a contender in 2026,” Gary Davenport wrote.
After an embarrassing 34-10 Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Browns were ranked last, No. 32, in these rankings, so even their current placement is a sign that things are better than many people expected. But with their surprise status as a playoff contender comes added pressure and responsibility, which is why the loss to the Jets was so disappointing.
During a rainy afternoon at MetLife Stadium, the Browns continued to struggle on offense, failing to score a touchdown in the first three quarters. Cleveland could not protect quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Jets’ pass rush, and the running game did not provide any assistance, as usual.
Yet, after leading game-winning fourth-quarter scoring drives in each of the previous three weeks, Watson was in line to do it again. His 29-yard touchdown pass to Denzel Boston with 6:15 remaining gave Cleveland a 12-10 lead.
But after forcing a turnover and with a chance to ice the game, the Browns fell apart. First, punter Corey Bojorquez failed to handle a snap, which gave the Jets a short field for their go-ahead touchdown. Then, Watson was sacked twice on their final possession, putting the total for the day at eight, and Cleveland headed home with a missed opportunity.
Now, a loss to the Ravens this Sunday could push the Browns into last place in the division, just two weeks after leading it, and drop them further in these power rankings as well.
NEXT: Bernie Kosar Forever Stamps His Mark In Cleveland
