ESPN NFL Power Rankings: Win Help Browns?
The Cleveland Browns had a tough game against the winless Oakland Raiders. A week after losing to the previously winless Jacksonville Jaguars, the Browns were able to pull out a win and stay above .500 at 4 – 3. Does that win help them in ESPN NFL Power Rankings?
ESPN just published them and it is time to take a look:
"19Browns4-3Last Week: 20Brian Hoyer was blitzed at the second-highest rate of his season Sunday, and finished 9-of-12 for 101 yards and a touchdown when the Raiders sent at least five rushers."
The Browns move up one spot after their win. The Carolina Panthers fell three spots, which is why the Browns were able to rise that one spot. ESPN gives Brian Hoyer a ton of credit for how he played under pressure. Taking the game as a whole he seemed to struggle but those broken out numbers when blitzed show that he had a great deal of poise under pressure.
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The Browns are likely to stay around this spot even with a win this Sunday. Facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who only have one victory, won’t buoy Cleveland’s resume much. The national attention seemed to cause the team to wilt against the Jaguars so staying under the radar for a few weeks is bound to be helpful.
The Browns are ranked below 3 win New Orleans, who they beat, as well as five other four win teams. Only one four win team is ranked below the Browns, the Houston Texans with a 4 – 4 mark. That loss to Jacksonville really did a number of the national perspective for the team.
A win this week sets up a huge game against the rival Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football. The Browns can’t be looking ahead to that game, as the Bucs still are a talented team, but a win could make that the biggest game in recent Browns history.
What do you think of this ranking?