NFL Power Rankings: Cleveland Browns rising up
By Thomas Moore
Oct 11, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cleveland Browns celebrates kicker Travis Coons (6) celebrates kicking the game winning field goal in overtime against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Cleveland Browns defeated Baltimore Ravens 33-30 in over time. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns shocked the NFL on Sunday when they defeated the Baltimore Ravens behind a record-setting day from quarterback Josh McCown.
McCown had a franchise-record 457 passing yards as the Cleveland offense put up 505 yards of total offense on the Ravens’ defense in the overtime win.
“Certainly, a great feeling for our organization, the team and everyone included to get the victory and we can sense it in the building today,” head coach Mike Pettine said. “We constantly talk about how important it is to play inside the division, and to get a win on the road in overtime was huge. We have to be able to build on it. We are not going to get too high from it.
“Again, I say after losses, you have to compartmentalize, but certainly hope that this win, team-building win can create some real positive momentum for us.”
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Following that big day, the Browns offense is now eighth in the NFL in total yards (377.4 per game), third in converting on third down (48 percent) and 13th in points per game (23.6).
Unfortunately, after giving up 181 rushing yards, the Browns defense is not fairing as well. The defense is currently ranked 30th in total yards allowed (400.4 per game), 22nd in points allowed (26.4 per game), 31st against the run (149.4 yards per game) tied for 30th in yards per carry (an average of 5.0), and 32nd in allowing runs of 20-plus yards (10 of them).
But a win is a win, so here is how the Browns are looking in the Week 5 power rankings:
Elliott Harrison at NFL.com (20, up 6):
"Gary Barnidge – you can’t even hope to stop him. Speaking of suddenly-dominant 30-somethings … Josh McCown! After Sunday’s 457-yard outing – which, yes, was a franchise record – McCown’s season stats look like this: 102.8 passer rating, 67.8 completion percentage, 6:1 TD-to-INT ratio. Yup, this is the guy Browns fans wanted firmly parked on the bench. It’s been a long time since an entire fan base owed the head coach such a mea culpa. What a win. (Cincinnati No. 3, Pittsburgh No. 13, Baltimore No. 21)"
Frank Schwab at Yahoo Sports (21, up 5):
"There are six NFL quarterbacks averaging 300 yards per game this season. Josh McCown is one of them. (Cincinnati No. 3, Pittsburgh No. 10, Baltimore No. 22)"
Sean Tomlinson at Bleacher Report (18, up 5):
"I’m not sure what’s more shocking: That we live in a universe where Browns quarterback Josh McCown threw for 457 yards in a game or that his tight end Gary Barnidge was on the other end for 139 of those yards during a win Sunday over the Baltimore Ravens."
"Let’s go with the latter, because by NFL standards Barnidge is a middle-aged man who shakes his fists at young folks. And yet in his eighth season, he’s now third among all tight ends in receiving yards with 374."
"This is a good time to remember that prior to 2015 Barnidge had 603 receiving yards scattered throughout his career stats sheet. He’s scored a touchdown in three straight games and his averaging 15.6 yards per catch. Acquiring him in any fantasy league already means sacrificing your first-born child. (Cincinnati No. 2, Pittsburgh No. 11, Baltimore No. 23)"
"You can’t call the Cleveland Browns playoff contenders just yet, but at 2-3 they are very much alive in the postseason race and just need to keep treading water like they are to improve. Cleveland teams are just so historically godawful that anything other than regression is progress, but Sunday’s win in Baltimore is a huge deal. Sure, the Ravens aren’t a great team, but the Browns winning in Baltimore is a game that we usually chalk up the other way around and Cleveland just carved a nice notch on their belt. Johnny Manziel is learning on the sidelines what it’s like to be Josh McCown — which right now isn’t the worst thing in the world. (Cincinnati No. 3, Pittsburgh No. 9, Baltimore No. 20)"
Pete Prisco at CBS Sports (22, up 6):
"Josh McCown is really playing well, better than most expected. But now he faces a tough Denver defense. (Cincinnati No. 3, Pittsburgh No. 13, Baltimore No. 27)"
"Josh McCown has thrown for 300 yards in three straight games. According to Elias, he’s the first quarterback in Browns history to throw for 300 yards in three straight games. (Cincinnati No. 5, Pittsburgh No 9, Baltimore No. 23)"