Five weeks into the NFL season, the Cleveland Browns sit exactly where the numbers say they do: somewhere in the middle, and in a few spots drifting closer to the bottom than they’d like.
The latest week six power rankings reflect that slide. Cleveland dropped four spots, going from 17 to 21.
That’s still a long way from the league’s basement, where the Browns were sitting after the ugly week one loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the broader picture hasn’t changed much. Around the league, the Browns are being viewed more like a near-bottom-ten team than a real threat.
The offense is where the trouble is easiest to spot. Deshaun Watson has been sacked 19 times, the most in the NFL, and that kind of pressure has dragged everything else down with it.
Cleveland also has just nine touchdowns, which is tied for third-worst in the league. The Browns have done a little better protecting the ball through the air, with only two interceptions thrown, tied for sixth-best, but the issues haven’t disappeared.
They also have four rushing fumbles, tied for fourth most, and their 3.7 yards per carry puts them tied for eighth-worst.
There are some defensive numbers that look better on paper than the overall vibe around the team. Cleveland has forced six fumbles, tied for ninth, and picked off four passes, tied for eighth. The Browns also have 16 sacks, which ranks sixth, along with 324 tackles, tied for 10th.
Still, there are clear soft spots. Cleveland is allowing 11.5 yards per reception, tied for 23rd, and has given up 10 receiving touchdowns, tied for 25th. That points straight to the secondary as another area that could use help.
The Browns have at least been perfect on field goals so far, one of 10 teams to make every attempt this season. Their 10 made field goals tie them for sixth most.
And then there’s Corey Bojorquez, who may have been Cleveland’s most productive player statistically through the first five weeks. His 81-yard punt is the longest in the NFL this season, and his 51.8-yard average per punt ranks second in the league.
That production hasn’t exactly come in a vacuum. The Browns are tied for seventh in total punts with 24, which says plenty about how often the punter has been needed.
Taken together, the numbers point to the same trouble spots: the offensive line, the secondary, and the running game. With the NFL trade deadline less than a month away, the Browns have a pretty clear list of places to shop if they want to steady things and avoid getting picked apart even more.
In Other News...
Browns Run Game Trouble Forced A New Backfield Move
The Browns backfield has been in flux, and the latest move shows how quickly depth can become a priority when injuries start stacking up. Cleveland signed running back Audric Estime from the Vikings practice squad to its 53-man roster after Quinshon Judkins was injured, adding another option to a room that has needed reinforcements as the team tries to steady its ground game.
Estime brings prior NFL experience with the Broncos and Saints, which gives Cleveland a veteran presence at a position group that has been asked to absorb a lot lately. For the Browns, the signing is less about splash and more about keeping the rotation functional while they look for cleaner answers in the running game. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Verse Is Creating An Early Browns Trade Debate
The Browns entered this season knowing the Myles Garrett trade would be judged through whatever came back in return, and Jared Verse has been the center of that evaluation from the start. A two-time Pro Bowler and former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Verse has been on the field for every game so far, giving Cleveland the kind of every-down edge presence it wanted to plug into a defense built around disruption.
So far, though, the numbers have left room for debate. Verse has 13 tackles and has held up with moderate run-defense grades, but the sack column is still empty, and that has opened the door for questions about his pass-rushing impact. Behind him, Sam Williams has played fewer snaps yet produced more sacks and tackles, which is exactly the kind of early comparison that can turn a trade return into a talking point the Browns cannot avoid. [Read more 🡒]
Deshaun Watson Suddenly Has Real Pressure On His Browns Job
The Browns loss to the Jets did more than knock Cleveland to 3-2, it turned up the heat on a quarterback situation that had already been under scrutiny. Deshaun Watson spent the afternoon dealing with pressure, poor protection and shaky decision-making, and the result was an eight-sack outing that left the offense sputtering when it needed to steady itself.
Now the schedule only sharpens the conversation, with the Ravens and Titans next on the docket and little margin for more uneven play. Around the roster, the alternatives are already part of the discussion, whether that means leaning on backup Shedeur Sanders or eventually activating Dillon Gabriel if the Browns decide the current setup is no longer sustainable. [Read more 🡒]