The Browns’ Week 2 win gave them something they badly needed after the opener: a spot in the AFC playoff standings that at least looks better than the draft-order conversation from a week ago.
With one game still left in Week 2 - the Rams and Giants meeting on Monday Night Football - the conference picture is already split into clear groups. In the AFC, there are four undefeated teams, five clubs still searching for their first win, and seven teams sitting at 1-1. Cleveland is one of those seven, but the Browns land at the very bottom of that group because of tiebreakers.
That’s the key detail here: nine of the 10 teams ahead of Cleveland have already won a conference game, which pushes the Browns down the AFC ladder despite being .500.
According to the NFL’s official AFC playoff standings after Week 2, the top of the conference looks like this:
Kansas City Chiefs: 2-0
Buffalo Bills: 2-0
Cincinnati Bengals: 2-0
Jacksonville Jaguars: 1-1
Las Vegas Raiders: 2-0
New England Patriots: 1-1
New York Jets: 1-1
Baltimore Ravens: 1-1
Denver Broncos: 1-1
Pittsburgh Steelers: 1-1
Cleveland Browns: 1-1
Miami Dolphins: 0-2
Tennessee Titans: 0-2
Los Angeles Chargers: 0-2
Houston Texans: 0-2
Indianapolis Colts: 0-2
So while the Browns have moved past the ugly opening-week discussion, the standings show there’s still plenty of ground to make up if they want to climb in the AFC picture.
In Other News...
Browns Could Turn Zak Zinters Roster Squeeze Into Something Useful
Zak Zinters place on the Browns roster is getting a little tighter by the week, and not necessarily because he has done anything wrong. Hes currently positioned as the backup left guard, but Clevelands recent draft additions and overall depth along the offensive line have turned what once looked like a useful developmental spot into a legitimate roster squeeze. For a team that likes to keep its trenches stocked, that kind of surplus can quickly become a tradeable asset.
The Browns could look at the situation as an opportunity rather than a problem, especially with the NFLs early-November deadline approaching. New England has a need at right guard because of injuries, and Zinters prior connection with coach Mike Vrabel gives that possible match a little extra intrigue. If Cleveland decides to move him, the return would be less about immediate help and more about adding draft capital while the depth chart still has some value to others. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Suddenly Face A Shedeur Sanders Decision Fans Wont Ignore
The Browns quarterback picture has already become one of the most closely watched parts of the roster, and Tony Rizzo of ESPN Cleveland added another layer to it by suggesting Shedeur Sanders could be on the move before the NFL trade deadline. Cleveland entered the season with a crowded room, and the current depth chart still lists Sanders as Deshaun Watsons backup, a spot that naturally draws attention when a team is trying to sort out both the present and the future at quarterback.
Rizzos read is that Watson will handle most of the starts this season, with Dillon Gabriel sliding back into the primary backup role once he returns from injured reserve and Taylen Green filling the third spot. In that setup, Sanders becomes the name to watch, because any real trade discussion would hinge on how Watson performs and how much confidence the Browns have in the depth behind him. For a team already trying to manage competing timelines at the position, it is the kind of decision that could come into focus fast. [Read more 🡒]
Deshaun Watson Just Put Browns Coaches On Notice In Key Situations
Deshaun Watsons second-half turnaround against Tampa Bay did more than help the Browns get their first win of the season, it also sharpened the conversation around how Cleveland wants to handle key downs moving forward. After a first half in which the offense stalled and failed to move the chains on third-and-long, Watson said he went to head coach Todd Monken at halftime and asked for the ball to be put in his hands.
The response was immediate. Watson finished 17-of-21 for 183 yards and two touchdowns after the break, and the Browns were much more efficient once the third-down distances got shorter. For a team still searching for consistency, the bigger question now is whether that late spark changes how the staff approaches those pressure moments the next time the game is on the line. [Read more 🡒]