The Browns were supposed to spend 2026 inching toward another quarterback reset, not flirting with anything that even remotely resembles a playoff conversation.
That was the expectation entering the season: Deshaun Watson would get a short runway, Shedeur Sanders would be evaluated, Dillon Gabriel would get a look, and rookie Taylen Green would likely wind up with the familiar Week 18 start that means nothing in the standings. Then the team would move on to another draft season and another swing at the quarterback problem that has hung over Cleveland for years.
Two weeks in, though, the script is already wobbling.
The Browns open the home portion of their season Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, a team Cleveland has beaten in the last two meetings. Four days after that, the Browns get the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have dropped four straight and six of their last seven in Cleveland. After that comes the mini-bye, then the Jets, where there are already calls for head coach Aaron Glenn’s job.
If the Browns keep stacking wins, the picture changes fast. Suddenly, instead of cycling through quarterbacks who might not be on the roster in 2027, Cleveland could be heading to Baltimore on October 18 to face the Ravens with a 4-1 record.
That’s obviously jumping way ahead, but ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler is at least willing to entertain the idea. Speaking Thursday on ESPN 850 radio, Fowler said the Browns are closer to the playoffs than to a top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
“I would say closer to a playoff spot. That is kind of where I’m at.
I’ve been on record that I think they are going to be better than last year but not quite a playoff team, probably somewhere in the middle. Winning is infectious; if you get a few that can carry you a little bit into winning games you have no business winning.
“It can go the other way in a hurry, too; 17 games is a long way. But I do have them closer (to the playoffs) right now.”
It’s enough to get the Browns and playoffs in the same sentence, which alone is a departure from the way this season was supposed to begin. Still, Fowler’s point comes with the obvious warning: it’s early, and 17 games can swing in a hurry.
Sunday is the first real chance for this Browns team to prove that this version of the story is different. Handle the Panthers and Steelers next week, and Fowler won’t be the only one looking at Cleveland a little differently.
In Other News...
Brian Brennans Browns Return Will Hit Longtime Fans Right Away
Brian Brennans return to Cleveland has a certain kind of pull for longtime Browns fans, the sort that reaches back to an era when the teams identity was built around familiar names and hard-earned loyalty. This week, the Browns are adding Brennan, Alex Mack and Lou Rymkus to the Browns Legends club during Week 3, a nod to three players whose careers each meant something different to the franchise and to the people who followed it closely.
The timing only sharpens the nostalgia, with Nick Chubb also back in the fold after signing a one-day contract and set to be honored at the upcoming game. Brennan spoke about his reaction to the induction and reflected on his career, and for fans who remember him best in orange and brown, the recognition lands as more than ceremonial. It is the kind of Browns moment that connects generations, even if the full emotional weight of it is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Run Game Problem May Go Beyond The Offensive Line
Through two games, Clevelands rushing attack has been one of the early concerns around an offense that has not found much rhythm. Quinshon Judkins, in his second season, has been asked to do plenty of the heavy lifting, but the ground game has not gotten the traction the Browns need as they try to settle into the year.
The issue may not stop with the offensive lines run blocking. With Deshaun Watson working mostly in a condensed passing game and rarely pushing the ball beyond 10 yards, defenses have had little reason to respect the deeper threat, and that can make life harder for any run game trying to get established. For Cleveland, the challenge now looks a little bigger than just winning at the point of attack. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Defense May Have Found The Fix Week 3 Must Prove
Mike Rutenbergs first two weeks as Clevelands new defensive coordinator have already brought a notable shift in approach, and the early returns were better after he leaned into more man coverage in Week 2. After a Week 1 plan built mostly around zone, the Browns changed course and the defense responded with a cleaner performance, including fewer passing yards allowed.
Carolina now offers the next test of whether that adjustment was a one-week answer or something sturdier. The Browns will get another look at whether the man-heavy approach can hold up against a Panthers offense that should force them to prove the change was more than just a short-term fix. [Read more 🡒]