The Cleveland Browns find themselves facing an uphill battle in the AFC North after dropping from 14th to 22nd in Sports Illustrated's NFL Power Rankings following a 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. With this defeat, the Browns are now ranked last in their division, trailing the Ravens, Steelers, and Bengals, all of whom hold higher spots despite their own mixed results.
The Ravens lead the division in the power rankings at 7th, even after a narrow 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Pittsburgh, the only AFC North team to secure a win in Week 1, has climbed to 11th after defeating the Atlanta Falcons. Meanwhile, the Bengals dropped from 4th to 14th following a surprising 16-10 loss to the New England Patriots. The Browns, now at 22nd, are at the bottom, struggling to find their footing after an inconsistent performance on both sides of the ball.
Cleveland's offense managed just 230 total yards against Dallas, with quarterback Deshaun Watson completing only 53% of his passes and throwing two interceptions. Despite the efforts of defensive leader Myles Garrett, the Browns' defense also fell short, unable to contain Dallas' game plan effectively. As the Browns prepare for a challenging Week 2 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, they must quickly address their offensive and defensive woes.
As the Browns prepare to face Jacksonville, a competitive game could provide the spark Cleveland needs to climb back in the rankings and gain some much-needed momentum in a fiercely competitive division. The Browns will need to make critical adjustments and showcase resilience to keep pace in the AFC North, where every game is a battle for positioning.
