With four weeks of the regular season in the books, the Cleveland Browns are way above .500. They're riding a three-game winning streak for the first time since 2023, and the vibes in the locker room might be at an all-time high.
Todd Monken's team keeps finding ways to win games, and while it's not always easy and it's definitely not always pretty, their record reads 3-1. With an easier schedule in the next couple of weeks, there are legitimate reasons to feel encouraged.
Whether this will be sustainable remains to be seen, but the fact is that the Browns are the best team in the AFC North right now — ahead of the Baltimore Ravens.
For the nonbelievers out there, let's break down each team's record and situation to make our case.
The Browns have an edge over every AFC North team (including the Ravens)
The Steelers might be washed
The Pittsburgh Steelers don't have the quarterback or offensive line to compete right now. Their defense is aging and they're coached by a perennial underachiever whose quarterback routinely undermines him.
Replacing Mike Tomlin with Mike McCarthy hasn't done much to move the needle for a team that's long overdue for a rebuild. They've been a .500-caliber team for a decade, and after trading away their best cornerback in Joey Porter Jr., their record 22 straight seasons with a record above .500 might be in serious jeopardy.
The Bengals are overrated
Moving on to our fellow state neighbors, everything can be summed up in a single sentence: New year, same old Cincinnati Bengals. They drew tons of hype in the offseason because of their new-look defense, yet they still can't get a stop. They look like the same team that hasn't qualified for the playoffs since 2022.
Both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are dealing with injuries, and with Zac Taylor's history of poor decision-making, it's almost impossible to trust the Bengals to live up to the hype.
The Browns still have to face them twice this season, so it's worth noting that Joe Burrow has a 4-6 record in 10 career games against Cleveland.
The Ravens are also a work in progress
Now, onto the Baltimore Ravens. They have struggled to close out games every week. Jesse Minter is learning the ropes of head coaching, and while his initial gameplan has worked like a charm, he's failed to make adjustments in the second half of games.
To add insult to injury, Lamar Jackson left Sunday's game in a walking boot and is currently considered week-to-week. Tyler Huntley struggled to keep the chains in motion as his replacement against a floundering Tennessee Titans team.
While the Ravens still have plenty of talent and should probably be considered the top dog in the division, Jackson's injury could change everything. He hasn't been the most durable quarterback throughout his career, and even if he plays against the Browns in two weeks, who better than Todd Monken to provide the defense with insight on how to stop him?
Monken, the former offensive coordinator of the Ravens, brought out the best in Jackson, helping him reach new heights as a passer and become a much more balanced player. He also watched him up close every week and knows how to disrupt his rhythm. The same logic applies to Derrick Henry.
The Browns finally have reasons to believe this start is sustainable
The Cleveland Browns have admittedly been a tough watch at times, especially on offense. That said, Deshaun Watson and the offensive line are progressing and getting better every week, and the rookie wide receivers look like superstars in the making.
Mike Rutenberg's defense got back on track after a dreadful start in Week 1. The Browns have frustrated quarterbacks and star wide receivers over their three-game winning streak, and they've been much more aggressive than they were in the Jim Schwartz era.
To say this team is Super Bowl-bound would be just wishful thinking, and there's no telling how long this winning streak will continue. But regardless of results, this Browns team has shown signs of improvement for the first time in years.
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