NFL power rankings Week 2: Browns near the bottom
By Thomas Moore
Sep 13, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) runs after recovering a fumble against the Cleveland Browns during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
The weekly power rankings from various NFL “experts” are out following the opening weekend of the NFL season.
The Cleveland Browns had a typical opening day, dropping an NFL-record 11th consecutive game in losing to the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
“I know this week is going to be a crazy week of practice and preparation is going to be serious,” cornerback Joe Haden told the team’s website. “We left a bad taste in our mouths. We don’t want our fans to think we built it up so bad and now it’s over. We’re going to come back out with a vengeance.
“We don’t want to turn one loss into two. We want to get back to the film. Everybody, just the way the defense is and the way we feel and the way we feel our defense should play, everybody was so sick to their stomachs. That’s the way I would feel everyone to expect. We came in yesterday and we just can’t wait to get back out there.”
So where do the Cleveland Browns fall after their 31-10 loss to the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium? And how about their division rivals?
Let’s find out!
Elliott Harrison of NFL.com: 31
"Positive vibes weren’t exactly flowing from this team in Sunday’s three-touchdown loss to the Jets, but Brownie fans did get to catch a glimpse of what Johnny Manziel is (or is not) capable of. After a disastrous rookie year and an offseason of life changes, John Football was forced into action earlier than anticipated following Josh McCown’s helicopter crash. Manziel’s day: 13 for 24, 182 yards, one touchdown, one pick. Of course, 54 of those yards came on his second pass of the game. Still, there is no replacement for regular-season action. (Cincinnati is No. 7, Pittsburgh is No. 13 and Baltimore is No. 17)"
Sean Tomlinson of Bleacher Report: 25
"Johnny Manziel replaced an injured Josh McCown after he suffered a concussion attempting to Superman into the end zone during an eventual loss to the New York Jets. On just his second throw, Manziel connected with Travis Benjamin for a 54-yard touchdown, which came after he had a 22-yard run called back. This sounds crazy, I know, but Manziel might be much better than McCown."
"Or maybe it’s a little soon to say that? It’s easy to see why Manziel should be the superior option, as his talent ceiling is far higher than McCown’s ever hoped it could be, and at this point the veteran is only a journeyman placeholder."
"But for every dazzling scramble or pinpoint deep heave, Manziel still tosses in plenty of poor decisions and inaccurate throws when he fails to set his feet. He completed only 54.2 percent of his passes against the Jets and threw behind a receiver for an interception. Then later he fumbled while scrambling, showing that he still refuses to take the safe play too often. (Cincinnati is No. 4, Pittsburgh is No. 13 and Baltimore is No. 19)"
"It looks like it could be Johnny Football time. That might not be a bad thing. (Cincinnati is No. 5, Pittsburgh is No. 8 and Baltimore is No. 9)"
Frank Schwab of Yahoo Sports: 26
"Johnny Manziel wasn’t great, but he likely got few practice reps during the week as the backup, was facing a tough Jets defense on the road, and his best receiver was probably Travis Benjamin. And he wasn’t all that bad either. (Baltimore is No. 7, Cincinnati is No. 8 and Pittsburgh is No. 10)"
ESPN.com: 28
"It might not matter who plays quarterback for the Browns this season. Cleveland has allowed 2,419 rushing yards since the start of last season, worst in the NFL. (Cincinnati is No. 8, Baltimore is No. 12 and Pittsburgh is No. 13)"
The Browns will have a chance to move up in the rankings, presumably, when they host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday for the home opener at FirstEnergy Stadium.
What do you think of the rankings? Did they get it right about the Browns?