The Cleveland Browns made National Football League history in coming back from a 25-point deficit to stun the Tennessee Titans at Tennessee. Last Sunday’s game involving the Browns and Titans was a tale of two halves, during which the Browns played like the worst team in the NFL and then like a true postseason contender.
Cleveland has yet to play well in a full four quarters of a single game, and yet the Browns are at .500 one-fourth into their season. They'll host hated rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers this week in front of what will be a raucous home crowd hoping that the Browns are in a midst of a true turnaround that will have the club playing meaningful December football for the first time since 2007.
Cleveland Browns Week 6 NFL power rankings: Pete Prisco
Ranking: 24
Prisco kept the Browns at 24 despite the fact that Cleveland rallied from behind at Tennessee. He typed out an opinion had by many supporters of the team in saying that he is “concerned about the defense.”
The defense of the Browns is by far the biggest disappointment regarding the 2014 edition of the team. Cleveland’s secondary, including Joe Haden, has been a major letdown, and the pass rush has largely been nonexistent. It is unrealistic to believe Cleveland’s offense will bail the team out every week.
This defense must do better.
Cleveland Browns Week 6 NFL power rankings: Paul Domowitch
Ranking: 20
“Browns have turned the ball over just once in four games,” Domowitch wrote in his latest NFL power rankings. That is technically true, but don’t forget that Cleveland had two turnovers erased by Tennessee penalties this past weekend. The Browns have been far from perfect on offense.
Quarterback Brian Hoyer is, to his credit, averaging one interception every four games. Hoyer is limiting his mistakes and he is playing well with games on the line. Rookie phenom Johnny Manziel will have to wait for his chance to lead the Cleveland offense.
Cleveland Browns Week 6 NFL power rankings: Frank Schwab
Ranking: 22
Schwab wonders what could have been for the Browns in his latest NFL power rankings:
“Imagine if the NFL had done the right thing and not given Josh Gordon that 10-game suspension, if he would have gotten the same fair treatment Wes Welker did. Imagine putting an elite playmaker like that on this team, which is playing pretty well without him.”
Gordon will be back just in time for the stretch run of the season. Cleveland could, looking at the team’s upcoming fixtures, be in the playoff race this holiday season when Gordon returns fresh and ready to make impacts in games.
Cleveland Browns Week 6 NFL power rankings: Pat Kirwan
Ranking: 20
The NFL insider for CBS Sports bumped the Browns up eight spots in his Week 6 NFL power rankings following the team’s historic comeback against the Titans. He happens to have the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 19. Those two teams will face off in Cleveland this coming Sunday in a game that will tell us plenty about those two sides.
Will Big Ben continue to own the Browns? Can Cleveland show that these aren’t your same old Browns? We will find out on Sunday.
Cleveland Browns Week 6 NFL power rankings: Hank Gola
Ranking: 19
Gola had some praise for the Cleveland starting QB in his NFL power rankings: “Hoyer now 5-2 as a starter, including two game-winning 2:00 drills. Johnny Manziel will be sitting for a while.”
There is no question that Manziel’s time will come. Johnny Football learning from a winning quarterback while watching regular season games from sidelines is a good thing for Manziel and for the Browns. Manziel is the future for the club, but that future doesn’t have to begin in 2014.
Related
