The Cleveland Browns are one of the most surprising teams in the NFL when compared to last year. They are also arguably the most improved team since Week 1 of this season.
A non-competitive 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the opener seemed to indicate that the Browns were heading toward another top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Instead, after three straight victories, Cleveland is in first place in the AFC North and harboring legitimate thoughts about the playoffs.
Former player Ross Tucker has high praise for the Browns after their 3-1 start, saying they are playing well on both sides of the ball.
“There’s really no higher honor that an NFL team can receive than the Ross Most Improved Team of the Week. They’re doing it on defense. They’re doing it on offense. Deshaun Watson has been clutch. His mobility has returned. Defensively, that first game against Jacksonville was an aberration. They’ve been much better ever since,” Tucker said.
“They're doing it on defense. They're doing it on offense…”
“Deshaun Watson has been clutch. His mobility has returned…”@RossTuckerNFL names the Browns his @WestShoreHome Most Improved Team of the Week: https://t.co/1sSRPtI6JZ pic.twitter.com/6AdSBdy6K1
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) October 6, 2026
On defense, the Browns surrendered points on the first four drives of the season and six of the first seven. Since then, with Mike Rutenberg adapting to his personnel in his first season as coordinator, the unit has protected a late lead in three straight victories.
Cleveland has improved to the point where it had five sacks and two interceptions of Aaron Rodgers in a 27-24 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night. That was despite losing emerging star defensive tackle Mason Graham to a leg injury in the first quarter.
On offense, quarterback Deshaun Watson has led a fourth-quarter scoring drive in each game of the winning streak. His mobility has allowed him to thrive in head coach Todd Monken’s offense, and his resurgence has him approaching elite status again.
The Browns won eight games combined over the past two years, and they can get halfway to that total with a victory against the New York Jets on Sunday. Cleveland hasn’t been 4-1 in 2020, when Kevin Stefanski won NFL Coach of the Year in his first year on the job. Monken could be headed toward a similar award if his team can keep getting better.
His next test is to make sure it does not overlook the lowly Jets, especially coming off an emotional victory and with the Baltimore Ravens on deck in Week 6.
NEXT: Insider Names Top 5 College QBs Browns Should Be Scouting
