Here is a summary of how the Cleveland Browns are viewed across mainstream media outlets in NFL Power Rankings heading into Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season.
That was a big-time victory at Jacksonville. The defense came up big in that one. Deshaun Watson was also better than the week before.
ESPN - No. 22 (down 1 spot)
Most important backup/role player: QB Jameis Winston
In 2023, the Browns lost quarterback Deshaun Watson to a season-ending shoulder injury and had to rotate through five different starters before Joe Flacco led an improbable run to the playoffs. Watson has often been injured since arriving in Cleveland in 2022, missing 11 games last season because of injury. He has also struggled too, posting the sixth-lowest QBR since his debut. In Winston, the Browns have one of the NFL's most experienced backups should Watson go down or get benched by the coaching staff. A 10-year veteran, Winston has started 80 games and thrown 141 touchdowns in his career.
NFL.com - No. 18 (no change)
It was by no means a masterpiece, but the Browns found a way to get what they could from Deshaun Watson (and Jameis Winston in the short-yardage package) to eke out a road win in Jacksonville. The offensive rhythm was at least tangible, although the Browns tried their best to stunt that with a slew of late penalties, including four on one drive alone that wiped out three gains of double-digit yards and set them back 40 yards total. Those flags didn't cost Cleveland the win, but they could have against a more disciplined opponent. That's now 24 combined penalties through two games for the Browns, five more than any other team. The Browns tied for the second-most flags in the league last year, and it still took them until the fourth quarter of Week 4 to reach that total in 2023. The schedule lightens a bit the next few games, so we'll see if Cleveland can stop with the self-inflicted wounds.
Sporting News - No. 22 (up 1 spot)
The Browns got on the board in Jacksonville with some solid defense and better running, taking the game for the most part out of Deshaun Watson's hands. A run of the Giants-Raiders-Commanders can get them hot going into Week 6.
Yahoo Sports - No. 14 (up 2 spots)
The Browns have to feel OK. Deshaun Watson looked better. The defense showed up and led a big win at Jacksonville. And the rest of the AFC North is struggling (aside from the Steelers, who can't keep winning if they don't find offense). It's not an ideal start in Cleveland but the Browns aren't in bad shape.
Bleacher Report - No. 20 (up 4 spots)
The good news for the Cleveland Browns is that after getting drilled at home in the opener by the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland got into the win column Sunday in Jacksonville. The bad news is that the biggest problem looming over the team is still there. Yes, Deshaun Watson scored a touchdown on the ground against the Jaguars. But he also averaged 5.5 yards per attempt and posted a passer rating of less than 80. That's not good, folks.
Add to that yet another lawsuit from a woman alleging that Watson sexually assaulted her in 2020, and the Watson trade and contract may well be the worst personnel move in the history of the NFL. But as Yahoo Sports' Frank Schwab wrote this week, the team is effectively stuck.
"The trade is done but the contract still looms. He has an unbelievable cap hit of $72.9 million each of the next two seasons. According to OverTheCap.com, cutting Watson next offseason would cause $172.7 million in dead cap space. If you want a reason the Browns seem to keep talking themselves into Watson being an answer for them instead of a problem, that's it. If they decide to go in any other direction at quarterback, Watson will be carrying around a Microsoft Surface on the sideline with the highest cap number in the NFL by a mile. There are no other options."
"The Browns may have to pay Watson," Davenport said, "but they don't have to play him. This is a playoff-caliber team with skill-position talent, one of the league's better offensive lines when healthy and a stifling defense led by the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. So long as Watson is under center, the rest of that roster is effectively being wasted. Bench Watson and start Jameis Winston. Now."
USA Today - No. 19
Care to venture a guess as to how many 300-yard passing games QB Deshaun Watson has had since coming to Cleveland? Answer: Still waiting for one.
Listed below is a summary table of where teams in the AFC North are ranked this week.