Shedeur Sanders Drives Browns’ Power Rankings Surge Despite Titans Setback
As the NFL regular season edges toward its conclusion, the volatility in Power Rankings tends to diminish. This is particularly true for teams like the Cleveland Browns, who have languished near the bottom for much of the year. However, last Sunday’s nail-biting 31-29 defeat to the Tennessee Titans—a team widely regarded as the league’s weakest—could have been a significant blow. And indeed, it was. The Browns slipped in five of the eight weekly Power Rankings we monitor, while maintaining their position in one.
Unexpected Promotion Amidst Adversity
In a surprising twist, two media outlets opted to elevate the Browns in their rankings despite the disappointing loss. This shift can largely be attributed to the emergence of fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders as the team’s starting quarterback. Sanders delivered a standout performance, showcasing the potential that has reinvigorated the franchise’s hopes.
Sports Illustrated acknowledged this shift by moving the Browns up to 27th, a modest gain from the previous week. Similarly, Yahoo! Sports also nudged them upwards to 26th. Conversely, Fox Sports opted for consistency, keeping the Browns at 29th. Meanwhile, ESPN and NFL.com each dropped Cleveland one spot, settling them at 28th and 29th, respectively. ProFootballTalk placed them at 27th, while CBSSports dealt a more severe blow, demoting the Browns two spots to 31st. USA TODAY Sports was particularly harsh, pushing them down five spots to 28th.
Shifting Dynamics in the AFC North
In the broader landscape of the AFC North, the fortunes of Cleveland’s rivals also took a hit following their own Week 14 struggles. The Baltimore Ravens fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers, while the Cincinnati Bengals were unable to keep pace with the Buffalo Bills. As a result, only the Steelers emerged with their stock on the rise. They experienced an upward surge across all eight Power Rankings consulted, including a remarkable seven-spot jump in ESPN’s rankings, positioning them at 14th—jointly the highest ranking alongside Sports Illustrated, NFL.com, and ProFootballTalk.
On the flip side, the Ravens suffered their largest drop, losing three spots in both CBSSports and USA TODAY Sports, landing them no higher than 16th, according to NFL.com. Not long ago, they stood as the top team in the AFC North. Meanwhile, the Bengals managed to leapfrog past Baltimore in one ranking, ascending two spots on USA TODAY Sports to 18th, which places them just ahead of the Ravens and one spot behind the Steelers. However, they remain clustered in the 22nd to 23rd positions on five of the eight rankings.
A Critical Stretch Ahead for the Browns
Looking ahead, the Browns have four games remaining, including a critical matchup against the Bengals. This game could be pivotal in determining whether Cleveland can avoid finishing at the bottom of the AFC North. For the Browns to make a positive impression as the season wraps up, they must learn to close out games—an essential lesson that has yet to be fully grasped, as evidenced by their inability to secure a win in the final moments against Tennessee. The path to redemption is clear, but it will require significant growth and resilience from this young squad.
