Cleveland Browns: Week 16 NFL power rankings and draft update

The Cleveland Browns continue to chase the top pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, but can’t seem to put any distance between themselves and the San Francisco 49ers.

The Cleveland Browns are doing everything they can to secure the top overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft but can’t seem to shake those pesky San Francisco 49ers.

With two games remaining, the 0-14 Browns should have clinched the top spot by now and could use the remainder of the season to rest their key players for next year.

But the 49ers, who have lost 13 in a row since a season-opening win against the Los Angeles Rams, simply will not cooperate. But there is hope, Browns fans.

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According to ESPN, this is the third time in franchise history that the 49ers have been 1-13, having pulled off that feat in both 1978 and 1979. In both instances, San Francisco was able to pull it together enough to win one of their final two games.

The best chance for the 49ers to make it an historic trifecta comes on Saturday, when they travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams. Unless San Francisco throws the game, they should pick up their second win of the season, which will be more than enough to lock up the top pick for the Browns.

That would leave Cleveland with the luxury of picking up a meaningless win in the season finale at the Pittsburgh Steelers – who may rest everyone but their practice squad players if they can’t improve their playoff position – and send everyone into the off-season happy because 1-15 is so much better than 0-16.

Got all that? OK, then, onto the weekly (and still highly predictable) NFL power rankings.

Cameron DaSilva at Fox Sports:

No. 32: The Browns aren’t going to win a game this season. There, I said it. They just aren’t competitive anymore, and it’s getting uglier by the week. But hey, at least RG3 is proving he’s not the guy in 2017. (Pittsburgh No. 5, Baltimore No. 12, Cincinnati No. 21)

Chris Simms at Bleacher Report:

No. 32: Hue Jackson can get a job based on quarterback whispering and outside-the-box thinking. But at some point, he’s going to need to coach some defense. Cleveland allowed four touchdown drives of over 70 yards—including a 91-yard march from quarterback extraordinaire (note my sarcasm) Tyrod Taylor. The Browns haven’t given up fewer than 23 points all year. That’s how you go 0-16, folks. (Pittsburgh No. 6, Baltimore No. 15, Cincinnati No. 21)

Elliot Harrison at NFL.com:

No. 32: Often when a team is winless or gets blown out, the first thing you can point to is giveaways, particularly from the quarterback position. Not the case with the Browns, who simply let the other team run for 280 yards. Speaking of running the football, thought Isaiah Crowell could have a big day against the Bills’ front. Sure enough, Crowell ripped off a big run up the gut on the second play from scrimmage. Holding. Bring it back. Cleveland got away from the run, got down 14 points and was on its way to loss No. 14. (Pittsburgh No. 5, Baltimore No. 12, Cincinnati No. 23)

ESPN:

No. 32: The Browns are the fourth team to start a season 0-14, joining the 2008 Lions, 1980 Saints and 1976 Buccaneers (who played a 14-game schedule). The 1980 Saints were the only one of those teams to win a game (they went 1-15). We’ll see if the Browns’ Christmas wish of a win comes true Saturday against the Chargers. (Pittsburgh No. 7, Baltimore No. 10, Cincinnati No. 19)

Next: 5 Browns jerseys to buy this Christmas

Frank Schwab at Yahoo Sports:

No. 32: This is an amazing stat: Even though we’ve known since before the season that the Browns were probably the worst team in football, and Las Vegas doesn’t like giving away money, the Browns have covered the spread only two of 14 times, according to OddsShark. They haven’t covered since Oct. 16. No matter how high oddsmakers set the point spread for Browns games, Cleveland still can’t beat the line. (Pittsburgh No. 7, Baltimore No. 10, Cincinnati No. 24)

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