AFC Power Rankings: Where do Cleveland Browns land following Week 5 defeat?
By Greg Newland
After five weeks of the NFL season, the Cleveland Browns aren’t in the position that most fans want, but see where they fall in the AFC power rankings.
The Cleveland Browns enter Week 6 with a 3-2 record and are now tied for second in the division with the Cincinnati Bengals. Man, if only the Indianapolis Colts could have finished that game on Monday night and kept the Ravens at 3-2 vs. 4-1, the heartbreaking loss vs. the Los Angeles Chargers wouldn’t hurt as bad still on Wednesday morning.
At 3-2, the Browns are still in great shape. They truthfully should be 5-0, and their two losses are both against great teams. The Chargers are 4-1 in a great division, and the Chiefs although 2-3, are still a huge favorite to make it to the AFC Championship game.
The one division that seems down this year, the AFC South. The Tennessee Titans are a disappointing 3-2, and the remaining three teams in the division have two wins combined. Just one more division the Browns don’t have to worry about a wild card team
Keep reading to see the top five teams in the NFL after Week 5.
AFC Power Rankings No. 5 – Kansas City Chiefs
There’s no doubt the Kansas City Chiefs have struggled thus far in the 2021 season, but I’m not ready to move them out of the top five AFC teams in the NFL. Truthfully, it’s hard to put them outside the top three, but I have no problem being a bit of a homer.
The Chiefs have two tight losses vs. the Ravens and Chargers and then were blown out of the stadium at home on Sunday Night Football vs. the Buffalo Bills.
With a lack of running the football, the recipe for success vs. Patrick Mahomes has been containing him in the pocket and collapsing quickly. If he gets outside he can still make plays, but if you contain him and speed up his clock, you can force some mistakes.
Kansas City has historically gotten off to hot starts and then get cold in November for a week or two before closing strong. I’m honestly not worried about these guys, and after a few more weeks I think you can safely put them as the second or third best team in the AFC. I do think the Buffalo Bills have asserted themselves as the real deal with their blowout win in KC.
The offensive line is young on the right side and continues to get better, injuries to Frank Clark and Chris Jones have also slowed down the defensive progress this year. Don’t worry, they’ll be back in peak form soon enough, Mahomes is too good not to.