The Browns’ 3-1 start has them in a place they don’t visit often, and another win this week would push that feeling even further. Cleveland has already strung together three straight victories, a mark the club has now reached 30 times since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, according to Chris Easterling at The Beacon Journal.
Next up is the New York Jets, and the Browns are not exactly being treated like a sure thing. FanDuel lists Cleveland as a 1.5-point underdog. If the Browns handle that, the winning streak would reach four games, something they have only done four times since 1970, with those runs coming in 2023, twice in 2020 and in 2009.
That kind of start can invite bigger-picture talk, and there is some of that around Cleveland already. Easterling noted that the last two seasons in which the Browns won four straight ended with playoff trips. Still, none of that matters much if the Browns slip against the Jets.
For now, the bigger immediate development is at quarterback. The Browns have opened the 21-day practice window for Dillon Gabriel, a move that could crowd the quarterback room even more.
There is also some early-season optimism baked into the bigger picture. Chris Pokorny’s Reacts Survey points out that about 75 percent of teams that start 3-1 have made the playoffs since 2020.
Elsewhere around Browns coverage, the team is climbing in the power rankings again after last week’s win.
Trade chatter is also part of the conversation, with Jared Mueller looking at Khalil Mack’s contract, salary cap hit and performance review. Mueller also noted that Mike Pettine wanted the Browns to draft Mack in 2014, before general manager Ray Farmer traded down and selected Justin Gilbert.
On the national side, there is more Deshaun Watson discussion as the Browns prepare for the Jets. The Beacon Journal asked whether four quarters from Watson is possible, while cleveland.com framed the trip to New Jersey as a chance for the first-place Browns to see where they go next, with the Jets potentially waiting to spring a trap.
The Athletic offered a different angle on Watson, suggesting his fast start may not be a mirage because the veteran is getting back to using his legs.
There was also quarterback movement tied to Shedeur Sanders news, with Athlon Sports reporting that the Browns made a QB move as decision day approaches for Cleveland’s quarterback room.
And in the broader NFL picture, The Athletic examined the Chargers’ attempt to refine Justin Herbert, arguing they may have exposed him in the process.
In Other News...
Browns Defense Suddenly Has A New Problem Ahead Of Jets Game
The Browns defense got a fresh dose of uncertainty this week when the teams Week 5 injury report landed ahead of Sundays matchup with the Jets. Defensive tackle Mason Graham is dealing with an MCL and ankle sprain, while defensive end Derek Barnett is also on the report with an ankle injury, giving Clevelands front another reason to monitor practice closely as the week unfolds.
Safety Grant Delpit was limited because of a shoulder issue, adding to the sense that this unit may not be at full strength when it needs to be. Dillon Gabriel has been cleared to return but is still waiting on a roster spot, while wide receiver Tylan Wallace sat out practice with a knee injury, leaving a few moving parts for Cleveland to sort through before game day. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Could Be Eyeing A Week 5 Opponent For Defensive Line Help
The Browns have been working through a familiar front-line question all season, and the possibility of adding help at defensive tackle has now turned toward a Week 5 opponent. One name that fits the profile is Jets veteran Harrison Phillips, a sturdy run-stopper whose value would be tied to improving a defense that wants more resistance up front without forcing a long-term commitment.
Phillips also comes with a contract situation that makes him easier to imagine in trade discussions as the calendar moves toward the 2026 deadline, especially if New York slips and decides to move veterans for future assets. For Cleveland, the appeal is straightforward: a short-term fix for the defensive line now, while still leaving room to spend a draft pick on a more permanent answer later. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bears QB Turned A Terrifying Health Scare Into A New Mission
Connor Shaws life changed in an instant during a youth flag football game in September 2025, when the former NFL quarterback and ex-Bears signal-caller suffered sudden cardiac arrest while coaching his son. He was saved by quick CPR from bystanders and medics using an automated external defibrillator, then later had a heart monitoring device implanted as he continued to recover from the scare.
Now Shaw is turning that frightening experience into a broader push for preparedness through HRTHUDL, the nonprofit he founded to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest, teach CPR and help get AEDs into communities in South Carolina. For anyone around football, especially youth sports, it is the kind of reminder that the most important play can happen long before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]