NFL Power Rankings: Cleveland Browns free falling
By Thomas Moore
Nov 1, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson (29) runs past Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns will make the first of two primetime appearances this season when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals Thursday night on the NFL Network.
The Browns will be facing the Bengals without two starters in the secondary – Joe Haden and Donte Whitner – and very likely without starting quarterback Josh McCown.
Making things even more fun, the Browns will enter the game losers of three consecutive games, five of their last six and 11 of their last 13.
The latest loss came at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals, who scored 24 second-half points to come back from a 20-10 deficit to hand the Browns their sixth loss on the season.
That defeat sent the Browns tumbling down in the weekly NFL power rankings.
Elliott Harrison at NFL.com (24, down 1):
"Saw many folks giving Josh McCown low marks for his performance versus the Cardinals. Here’s the truth: The veteran quarterback was flat dealin’ in the first half, staking the Browns to a double-digit lead. Then he took a few big hits in the second half and just wasn’t the same. McCown entered this game with a banged-up shoulder, then was seen doubling over and grabbing his ribs in pain at various points after halftime. Think we can cut this guy a break? Or maybe the Browns should’ve given him some relief. Quarterbacks are not machines. In my book, McCown earned some stripes – and not the ugly Bengals kind – for doing his best to gut it out. (Cincinnati No. 3, Pittsburgh No. 9, Baltimore No. 27)"
Frank Schwab at Yahoo Sports (26, down 4):
"The Browns average 3.4 yards per carry, second-worst in the NFL. Isaiah Crowell had 14 yards on 10 carries Sunday. Robert Turbin is averaging 3.3 yards per carry. Meanwhile exciting rookie Duke Johnson, who had 68 yards on two catches Sunday, got one carry. He has not gotten more than nine carries in any of the Browns last six games. The Browns spent a third-round pick on him this year. I mean, I can totally see why the coaching staff wouldn’t want to mess with what got the Browns to this 2-6 record, but I have to say — this is a telltale sign of a coaching staff that might be in over its head. (Cincinnati No. 2, Pittsburgh No. 9, Baltimore No. 23)"
Sean Tomlinson at Bleacher Report (24, down 1):
"There are no certainties with a 14-point lead in the first half of any football game. A quarterback who suddenly starts locating his crosshairs properly can erase that deficit fast and so can a running back who’s at his best late in a game when the defense is tiring."
"But common sense says a two-touchdown lead at any point means the team holding it has a fine chance to win—unless that team is the Cleveland Browns."
"The Browns held that advantage over the Arizona Cardinals at home Sunday in the second quarter and then entered halftime ahead 20-10. It was a half when Browns quarterback Josh McCown threw three touchdown passes, and he hadn’t chucked three or more in an entire game since 2013."
"So of course the Browns then crumbled defensively and were outscored 24-0 in a second half that started with Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd torching cornerback Joe Haden on his 60-yard touchdown reception."
"Cleveland now has the league’s 29th-ranked defense after allowing 491 yards to the Cardinals. (Cincinnati No. 2, Pittsburgh No. 15, Baltimore No. 23)"
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"Just when you think the Cleveland Browns are going to turn things around and finally break through in a game, they go full Cleveland and screw it up. It’s not comical anymore, it’s painful to witness as the Browns are in games they can win but screw them up in bad ways."
"They almost beat the Broncos, almost beat the Cardinals — always almost. It’s tragedy at this point, as the Browns finally look good but it’s still not good enough to be anything more than what they’ve been in the past. A sign in the end zone read: 11-5 Starts Today, but that’s as much of a pipe dream as it’s always been. (Cincinnati No. 2, Pittsburgh No. 12, Baltimore No. 24)"
Pete Prisco at CBS Sports (29, down 2):
"Is it about that time when we start to wonder if Mike Pettine will be back in 2016? It’s hard to win without talent. (Cincinnati No. 2, Pittsburgh No. 17, Baltimore No. 27)"
"The Browns’ two wins this season came against the Ravens and Titans, who are a combined 3-12. The unbeaten Bengals are up next. (Cincinnati No. 3, Pittsburgh No. 13, Baltimore No. 27)"