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NFL Power Rankings: Browns stay volatile

By Thomas Moore

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Oct 4, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnidge (82) juggles a pass while diving into the end zone as San Diego Chargers strong safety Jimmy Wilson (27) tries to break up the play in the fourth quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. After a video replay Barnidge was ruled to have made the catch and scored a touchdown to make the score 27-27. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns dropped a back-and-forth game to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday and the weekly NFL power rankings reflect the nature of the game.

While the rankings are subjective, what’s not is the statistical rankings, which put the Browns at 20th overall in total offense (25th in rushing and ninth in passing), and 32nd in total defense (31st against the rush and 22nd against the pass).

Helping to pull down the defense’s ranking is the inability to avoid big plays, as the Browns have given up 13 plays of 20-plus yards and five plays of 40-plus through the season’s first four games.

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“We have to limit the mistakes. Guys have to be in the right place at the right time and everyone has to do their job,” linebacker Chris Kirksey said of the defensive issues. “That is the best way to eliminate big plays. Don’t worry about doing someone else’s job or don’t get out of your character. That is the best way to stop.

“If you watch film – I know a lot of people outside, they are not watching the film; they are just watching the game on Sunday and they see the stats and they think, ‘The Browns are doing this bad and doing that bad.’ There are a lot of good things on film that we can learn from and build off of. I think we are right where we want to be. We just have to keep moving forward.”

Here is where the Browns sit as the team prepares to head to Baltimore to take on the Ravens:

Elliott Harrison at NFL.com (26, up 2):

"Whole lotta folks have been howling for Johnny Manziel. Well, Josh McCown just shot them all a one-finger salute with his stellar performance Sunday in San Diego. For all those people who are still howling for John Football – side note: McCown might be old enough to actually have seen The Howling in the theater – the Browns staff clearly feels that the veteran gives the team the best chance to win. Hard to argue with 32-of-41 for 356 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. (Cincinnati No. 3, Pittsburgh No. 13, Baltimore No. 21)"

Frank Schwab at Yahoo Sports (26, down 3):

"Duke Johnson had 45 snaps at running back this week, and Isaiah Crowell had 27 according to Pro Football Focus. Wouldn’t be a surprise if that gap continues to grow. (Cincinnati No. 3, Pittsburgh No. 12, Baltimore No. 19)"

Sean Tomlinson at Bleacher Report (23, no change):

"Simply losing isn’t good enough for the Cleveland Browns, as their losses often have to be emotionally scarring, too."

"Everything was clicking for the Browns Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. Quarterback Josh McCown looked surprisingly competent, passing for 356 yards with two touchdowns. He even led a 67-yard game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter, complete with a successful two-point conversion."

"Then Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers spearheaded a long drive of his own, advancing into field-goal range with two seconds left. It seemed for a moment, however, that someone high above was smiling on the Browns when Chargers kicker Josh Lambo whiffed on his gimme 39-yard attempt. Then those powers above turned evil: Browns cornerback Tramon Williams jumped offside, giving Lambo a second shot."

"It was a very Browns way to lose, and they’ll surely top it next week. (Cincinnati No. 3, Pittsburgh No. 11, Baltimore No. 21)"

FanSided (21, up 4):

"Even though the Browns lost, you have to give them some credit. They were expected to be blown out on the road agianst the San Diego Chargers, but instead played right down to the final whistle. Josh McCown threw for more than 350 yards and Duke Johnson looks like a weapon. One has to think that if Joe Haden was available for this game, Cleveland would have won. Instead, the Browns are 1-3. (Cincinnati No. 3, Pittsburgh No. 12, Baltimore No. 20)"

Pete Prisco at CBS Sports (28, down 1):

"Josh McCown is playing some solid football, but the defense has become an issue. This team competed at San Diego, but that’s not good enough. (Cincinnati No. 3, Pittsburgh No. 9 Baltimore No. 18)"

ESPN (25, up 1):

"The Browns have scored a touchdown on three of their 11 red zone drives this season (27.3 percent). That makes those two losses by a touchdown or less even tougher to bear. (Cincinnati No. 5, Pittsburgh No. 10, Baltimore No. 19)"

Next: Browns open as road underdogs to Ravens

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