The Browns are heading into this week with confidence that’s clearly been shaken, but not shattered.
After last week’s disastrous outing, fan optimism took a hit, especially with the quarterback conversation now front and center. Week to week, Browns fan confidence dropped by 28 percentage points to 60%.
That’s a big slide, but given what happened, it’s not exactly a mystery. One fan had been trying to believe this was the year Cleveland would finally break through in Pittsburgh, only to watch the Browns turn in their worst performance of the season.
That loss also reopened the question of whether the team is really 5-3 because of a soft schedule. On the other side, just 35% of Saints fans say they’re confident in where their team is headed.
Even with the recent dip, Browns fans still lean toward a win on Sunday. In the week’s main question, 60% picked Cleveland to beat the Saints, while 40% went with New Orleans. Most of the fans backing the Browns expect a tight one, not a runaway.
Still, not everyone is buying into a rebound. One fan sees a much better showing coming in New Orleans and thinks one of the team’s problem areas will finally click:
“It will be interesting to see how our young group responds. I’m thinking that at least one of our “troublesome trucks” puts it in high gear.
Maybe verse gets a couple sacks, the o-line creates serious holes for our run game or Sanders connects with KC and JJ repeatedly for big scores. Either way I have a feeling we win big this week.”
Another fan is bracing for a repeat of last week’s mess:
“Expect more of what we saw last week. Penalties, confusion, Sanders running for his life, no run game on offense, inability to stop the run on defense. Special teams will contribute positively.”
The week’s other poll, meanwhile, came from Ravens fans. Given the uncertainty around the quarterback situation, it was still a surprise to see how quickly so many of them jumped to the “sell everyone but core” side of the conversation.
In Other News...
Browns Face Trade Deadline Pressure After Garrett Deal Disappointment
The Browns already made one of the biggest defensive moves of the offseason when they sent Myles Garrett to the Rams and brought back Jared Verse, a swap that was supposed to help reshape the pass rush. Eight games in, Verse still has not recorded a sack, and that slow start has only sharpened the focus on how Cleveland might respond before the trade deadline.
One name drawing attention is Chargers edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu, who has been productive this season and is under contract through 2027 before reaching unrestricted free agency. For a Browns defense looking for more disruption up front, he would represent the kind of upgrade that could change the conversation around the Garrett deal, even if the front office has to decide how aggressive it wants to be in the market. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Keep Sending A Troubling Message About Their Offensive Line
The Browns are still shuffling the bottom of their offensive line room, signing guard Austin Blaske and tackle Xavier Truss to the practice squad while moving on from tackle Andrew Coker and guard Vershon Lee. It is the latest sign that Cleveland is still searching for the right mix behind its starters as it tries to stabilize a group that has been under constant scrutiny.
With the Browns leading the league in sacks allowed, every tweak to the depth chart carries extra weight. These moves do not solve the bigger problem, but they do show the team is still evaluating options and keeping an eye on the backup spots that could matter if the front five is forced to change again. [Read more 🡒]
Shedeur Sanders Just Added Real Heat To Browns Saints
Shedeur Sanders has already managed to add a little edge to a Browns-Saints matchup that was shaping up as one of the more intriguing games on Clevelands schedule. With Sanders expected to start in Week 9, his recent comments quickly made their way across the league and landed in New Orleans, where Saints defensive end Carl Granderson acknowledged the extra motivation waiting for his side.
It is the kind of bulletin-board material that still matters in pro football, especially when a young quarterback is stepping into a spotlight game and the opponent has reason to circle it. For Cleveland, the bigger question is whether Sanders can handle the attention that comes with the job as much as the defense he is about to face. [Read more 🡒]