Four weeks into the regular season, the Browns have done something that’s hard to ignore: they’ve put themselves at the top of the AFC North conversation. At 3-1, Cleveland is riding its first three-game winning streak since 2023, and the locker room energy sounds as high as it’s been in a while.
The wins haven’t always been clean. They haven’t always been pretty.
But Todd Monken’s team keeps finding a way, and with a softer stretch coming up, there’s real reason for Browns fans to feel better about where this thing is headed. For now, the record says Cleveland is the best team in the division, even if Baltimore still looms close behind.
That case starts with the rest of the AFC North, because the Browns have an edge over every other team in it right now.
The Steelers don’t look like a threat. Pittsburgh doesn’t have the quarterback or offensive line to compete at the moment, and its defense is getting older.
The franchise also remains stuck with a coach who has been unable to move the needle, while the quarterback keeps making life harder for him. Swapping Mike Tomlin for Mike McCarthy hasn’t changed much for a team that feels overdue for a reset.
After spending years as a .500-type group, Pittsburgh now has even bigger problems after trading away its best cornerback in Joey Porter Jr., and its run of 22 straight seasons above .500 could be in real danger.
Cincinnati doesn’t inspire much confidence either. The Bengals came into the year with plenty of buzz because of their new-look defense, but the results look awfully familiar.
They still can’t get stops, and they still look like the same team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2022. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are both dealing with injuries, and Zac Taylor’s track record of shaky decisions makes it tough to buy into Cincinnati living up to the preseason hype.
The Browns still have two meetings left with them, and Joe Burrow’s 4-6 record in 10 career games against Cleveland is worth keeping in mind.
Baltimore is the one team that still belongs in the top-tier discussion, but the Ravens have their own issues. They’ve had trouble finishing games, and Jesse Minter is still figuring out the head-coaching job.
His early gameplans have worked, but the second-half adjustments haven’t been there. Then came Lamar Jackson’s injury on Sunday, when he left in a walking boot and is now considered week-to-week.
Tyler Huntley had a rough time keeping things moving after taking over against a struggling Tennessee Titans team.
The Ravens still have talent, and they probably should still be viewed as the class of the division. But Jackson’s status changes the picture fast.
He has not exactly been the most durable quarterback in his career, and if he’s back in time to face Cleveland in two weeks, Monken may be in a uniquely useful position. As the former offensive coordinator in Baltimore, he helped Jackson become a more complete passer and saw him up close every week.
That kind of familiarity could matter against both Jackson and Derrick Henry.
As for Cleveland, there are finally signs that this start might actually hold. The offense has still been uneven and at times hard to watch, but Deshaun Watson and the offensive line are moving in the right direction, and the rookie wide receivers are starting to look like stars in the making.
The defense has also bounced back after a rough Week 1. Over this three-game run, Mike Rutenberg’s unit has made life miserable for quarterbacks and star receivers, and it has looked far more aggressive than the Browns defense did in the Jim Schwartz era.
No one is calling this a Super Bowl team, and no one knows how long the winning streak will last. But Cleveland has something it hasn’t had in years: clear signs of progress. And right now, that’s enough to put the Browns at the front of the AFC North pack.
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 🡒]