2023 NFL Power Rankings: Cleveland Browns
Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.
Below you will find a Week 8 roundup for the Cleveland Browns in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.
ESPN -- Rank: 8
Young riser: CB Martin Emerson Jr.
Deservedly, Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward gets much of the attention in Cleveland's vaunted secondary. Emerson, 23, has been just as good this season. The former third-round pick out of Mississippi State has been a key part of Cleveland's resurgent defense. He has allowed the third-lowest completion percentage in the NFL as the nearest defender (min. 15 targets) in coverage among cornerbacks (36.0%). He's a big reason Cleveland's man coverage has been so stifling. With him and Ward, the Browns boast one of the top cornerback duos in the league. -- Jake Trotter
Deservedly, Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward gets much of the attention in Cleveland's vaunted secondary. Emerson, 23, has been just as good this season. The former third-round pick out of Mississippi State has been a key part of Cleveland's resurgent defense. He has allowed the third-lowest completion percentage in the NFL as the nearest defender (min. 15 targets) in coverage among cornerbacks (36.0%). He's a big reason Cleveland's man coverage has been so stifling. With him and Ward, the Browns boast one of the top cornerback duos in the league. -- Jake Trotter
NFL.com -- Rank: 10
After another outlandish game comes another week of the Browns not knowing what the franchise quarterback is going to offer them. They found a way to win for a second straight time with PJ Walker and Kareem Hunt playing big roles. Whether this can be maintained is anyone's guess, but with the statuses of Deshaun Watson and Jerome Ford unclear, Cleveland might have to run it back for a third time. As long as the Browns have Myles Garrett, things might be OK. And how valuable has Dustin Hopkins been? For the cost of a 2025 seventh-round pick, Cleveland landed a kicker who is 16 of 18 on field-goal tries, including a 7-for-7 mark from 50-plus yards out.
CBS Sports -- Rank: 9
The defense wasn't as dominant against the Colts, but it made a lot of big plays on that side of the ball to help offset an odd day. The Deshaun Watson injury situation isn't helping this team.
USA Today -- Rank: 11
Somehow, they have the league's second-fewest passing yards but the second-most interceptions thrown. Good thing that defense is so dominant.
The Athletic -- Rank: 7
One question: What's the deal with Deshaun Watson?
After missing Weeks 4, 5 and 6 with a bruised shoulder, Watson returned Sunday but threw only five passes (completing one to each team) before leaving after a big hit. He cleared an in-game concussion evaluation but did not return to the game, which continues a pattern of the Browns saying Watson is uninjured but not playing him. Coach Kevin Stefanski said after the game that Watson will start this week against Seattle, but is that good news or not? Since joining the team in Week 13 last year, he has a passer rating of 81.3, which ranks 36th among qualifying quarterbacks in that time, according to TruMedia.
After missing Weeks 4, 5 and 6 with a bruised shoulder, Watson returned Sunday but threw only five passes (completing one to each team) before leaving after a big hit. He cleared an in-game concussion evaluation but did not return to the game, which continues a pattern of the Browns saying Watson is uninjured but not playing him. Coach Kevin Stefanski said after the game that Watson will start this week against Seattle, but is that good news or not? Since joining the team in Week 13 last year, he has a passer rating of 81.3, which ranks 36th among qualifying quarterbacks in that time, according to TruMedia.
FOX -- Rank: 11
Deshaun Watson's ongoing injury issues are officially a concern, but this defense is doing a lot to offset that problem. The Browns allowed plenty of yards to the Colts, but four takeaways, a touchdown and a blocked field goal from Myles Garrett & Co. do a lot to help.
Yahoo! -- Rank: 9
It was strange to see the Browns suddenly give up 38 points to the Colts after looking like the best defense in the NFL a week before against the 49ers. But they won, which helps as they answer another round of questions about what's going on with Deshaun Watson.
PFT -- Rank: 11
Myles Garrett is making a case for MVP.
Previous updates:
- Cleveland Browns 2023 Power Rankings Roundup: Week 7
- Cleveland Browns 2023 Power Rankings Roundup: Week 6
- Cleveland Browns 2023 Power Rankings Roundup: Week 5
- Cleveland Browns 2023 Power Rankings Roundup: Week 4
- Cleveland Browns 2023 Power Rankings Roundup: Week 3
- Cleveland Browns 2023 Power Rankings Roundup: Week 2
- Cleveland Browns 2023 Power Rankings Roundup: Week 1
- Cleveland Browns 2023 Power Rankings Roundup: Post-Draft
More Cleveland Browns pages:
- Cleveland Browns Mock Draft Roundup
- Cleveland Browns 2023 NFL Draft Grades
- Cleveland Browns Draft History
- Cleveland Browns Schedule
- Cleveland Browns Tickets
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