NFL Power Rankings: Cleveland Browns hit rock bottom

Nov 15, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) hands the ball off to running back Isaiah Crowell (34) against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns are ensured of one thing this weekend: they won’t lose a game.

That’s because the team is enjoying its bye week.

The Browns enter the bye losers of five consecutive games and 13 of their past 15, dating back to last season.

The offense is ranked 26th overall and just 31st in rushing. After scoring a combined 19 points in the past two games, it is has also dropped to 28th in the league in scoring.

Defensively, the Browns are 29th overall and 32nd against the run. After giving up at least 30 points in each of the past three games, the Browns are 29th in points allowed.

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“Being a 2-8 football team forces you to question yourself and question your methods,” head coach Mike Pettine said earlier this week. “The fact of the matter is that we are not playing good enough football. We are not playing complete football games. We are not playing well enough. We are not coaching well enough. That all has to be improved.

“We are not going to look back and make excuses and talk about ‘what ifs.’ We own the fact that our record is what it is. We are going to come to an understanding of the ‘why’ and do what we can to get it fixed.”

Part of getting things turned around started with Tuesday’s announcement that Johnny Manziel is taking over as starting quarterback from Josh McCown. How much of a difference that makes remains to be seen, as the Browns will not play again until Nov 30, when they host the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football.

Until then, the Browns will have to live with residing at the bottom of the weekly NFL power rankings.

Elliott Harrison at NFL.com (32, down 6):

"We would get excited over the improvement of the run defense if Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant hadn’t catch 16 balls for 317 yards and three touchdowns. Pittsburgh averaged 7.8 yards per play. Given Mike Pettine’s lack of exuberance with regard to starting Johnny Football at quarterback, perhaps the coach should trot Manziel out there at corner. (Cincinnati No. 3, Pittsburgh No. 7, Baltimore No. 29)"

Frank Schwab at Yahoo Sports (31, down 3):

"Johnny Manziel was 33-of-45 for 372 yards on Sunday. He wasn’t perfect — he was sacked six times and the Browns had just a field goal going into the third quarter — but it’s clear now that the Browns need to start him the rest of the season and see where it goes. (Cincinnati No. 3, Pittsburgh No. 7, Baltimore No. 28)"

Sean Tomlinson at Bleacher Report (32, down 7):

"The Cleveland Browns are the thing in your fridge that smells really bad. But you can’t quite find where it is because you tucked a now-rotten food item away in a corner, and now it’s stinking up your entire kitchen."

"In that sense, the Browns are worse than awful. They’re awful, and coming close to being forgotten, too. They’ve lost five straight games now, and are one loss away from securing their eighth consecutive losing season."

"Head coach Mike Pettine’s dismissal on Black Monday (or sooner) is feeling inevitable, though that will be more of a mercy firing than anything. Pettine will move on to be a fine defensive coordinator somewhere, while the same inept offense will remain in Cleveland."

"The Browns have lost their last two games by a combined score of 61-19. Quarterback Johnny Manziel is the only source of hope after his career-best game statistically during a Week 10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers (372 passing yards at 8.3 per attempt). But he’ll be benched once journeyman Josh McCown is healthy because the Browns seek to kill all signs of progress. (Cincinnati No. 5, Pittsburgh No. 7, Baltimore No. 26)"

FanSided (29, down 5):

"The Cleveland Browns had the chance to make a statement on Sunday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they weren’t able to get that done. Actually, in their 30-9 loss, they weren’t even close. If there was one bright spot in the loss, it was the fact that Johnny Manziel didn’t really play all that badly. He was 33-of-45 for 372 yards and a touchdown, but the rest of the offense couldn’t really get going, especially on the ground. The loss dropped them to 2-8 on the season and now it’s maybe time to start thinking about who they’re going to select with the high draft pick they’re more than likely going to get so they can try to put more pieces in place. (Cincinnati No. 4, Pittsburgh No. 9, Baltimore No. 27)"

Pete Prisco at CBS Sports (32, down 2):

"It’s Johnny Manziel time. With nothing to lose, it’s time to see if he’s the future at QB for the Browns. (Cincinnati No. 3, Pittsburgh No. 11, Baltimore No. 30)"

ESPN (32, down 4):

"Josh McCown has more prolific passing stats, but he has just as many wins as Johnny Manziel this season and a lower Total QBR (52.7 to Manziel’s 54.5). (Cincinnati No. 4, Pittsburgh No. 9, Baltimore No. 29)"

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