Browns fourth in power rankings
By STEVE KING
This is already starting to get very interesting.
The Browns, with a 2-1 record after dominating the Chicago Bears 26-6 last Sunday, are fourth in the NFL in this week’s SI power rankings.
Yes, that’s right, fourth, as in one better than fifth and one worse than third. It is believed to be the highest ranking for the Browns — anywhere — since they returned to the field in 1999.
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Yes, I know the season is young. It’s just three games into a 17-game season, which means the teams haven’t played even 20 percent of their schedule yet. But fourth is fourth. It’s a whole heckuva lot better than 32nd — or dead-last — in the NFL, which is what the Browns were in 2017 when they were 0-17.
Whatever week it is, though, a ranking is just that, an opinion — somebody’s thoughts and views. However, these opinions hold water with me — a lot of water, in fact — because they are from the writers at Sports Illustrated, which I think does the best job of covering the NFL of all the media outlets.
The Los Angeles Rams, fresh off a defeat of Tom Brady and defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay last Sunday, are ranked first, ahead of the runner-up Buccaneers and the Buffalo Bills. Right after the Browns are the fifth-place Green Bay Packers and then Cleveland’s AFC North rivals, the Baltimore Ravens.
The San Francisco 49ers are seventh, the Kansas City Chiefs, losers of two in a row, are eighth, the Arizona Cardinals, who visit the Browns on Oct. 17, are ninth and the Las Vegas Raiders are 10th. The Los Angeles Chargers, who host the Browns in a week and a half, on Oct. 10, are 11th. The Minnesota Vikings, who host the Browns on Sunday, are 16th.
The AFC North’s two other teams, the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers, are 19th and 21st, respectively.
Yes, this has all the makings of a really exciting season for the Browns.
Myles Garrett named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
BEREA, Ohio – Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett has earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week for games played Sept. 23-27 (Week 3), the National Football League announced Wednesday.
Garrett set a Browns single game record with 4.5 sacks during the team’s 26-6 victory over the Bears on Sunday. He added seven tackles and four TFLs. Garrett helped the Browns establish single-game team records for net yards allowed (47) and net passing yards allowed (1). The Browns defense finished with nine sacks and held the Bears to 1-for-11 on third downs.
This marks Garrett’s second career Player of the Week award as he also earned the honor in Week 4 last season.
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Key dates ahead Sunday: Oct. 3: Week 4 at Minnesota, 1 p.m. Oct. 10: Week 5 at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m. Nov. 2: NFL trade deadline, 4 p.m.
