Browns Move Into Top-15 of New NFL Power Rankings

When the NFL season started, there were very few people who said that the Cleveland Browns would be 3-1 after four weeks.

But this is exactly where the Browns are, with the team winning three straight games in the process. After a poor performance in Week 1 of the season, Cleveland has cleaned up its act to get back on track under new head coach Todd Monken.

Monken has seen his share of criticism since taking over the Browns, but his decisions have paid off, at least for now. The big issue was Monken naming veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson as the starter, with fans pushing back at every angle.

But Watson has now led the Browns to three straight wins, looking much more comfortable in the system. Watson hasn't played spectacularly in the wins, but he has done just enough to give the team a chance to win.

All Cleveland can do is ask for this type of outing from its starter, and Watson has delivered through the first few weeks. The Browns moved to 3-1 after taking down the rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night, defending home field once again.

After the win against the Steelers, the Browns moved up into the top 15 of a new power ranking from NFL analyst Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report. Cleveland now sits at No. 12 in the ranking, moving up eight spots from last week.

The performance against Pittsburgh was eye-opening for the Browns, showing that this group can shock people this year. There has never been a waver of belief within the Cleveland locker room, and that has shown itself on the field over the last few weeks.

The Browns are now thinking that they can go after the AFC North crown, which would be the first time in franchise history to win. But there is still a lot of the season left to go, and Cleveland will have to stay the course.

Consistent effort each week will determine the outcome of the 2026 season for the Browns, but this team has the utmost confidence. The first few weeks of the season have proven this, and Cleveland is no longer the pushover that they were considered entering the year.

Next up for the Browns will be a matchup on the road against the New York Jets, who have seen their own issues this season. If Cleveland can take care of business against New York, they would head into another divisional game against the Baltimore Ravens with a 4-1 record.