Browns Power Rankings Rise Following Quarterback Upgrade

It's Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season, and the Cleveland Browns have seen a notable rise in their NFL power rankings, moving up 2.3 spots to a ranking of 26.7. This change comes on the heels of the team's recent quarterback upgrade, with rookie Shedeur Sanders earning his first career win as a starter against the Las Vegas Raiders.

His performance has led to increased respect for the Browns, particularly their defensive unit spearheaded by Myles Garrett, who is having a historic season. CBS Sports has the Browns ranked at 28, up three spots, highlighting that starting Sanders was the correct decision after his victory.

ESPN also places them at 28, noting the team's historical struggles on Thanksgiving, where they are 0-3 in the Super Bowl era and last played in 1989. NFL.com ranks the Browns at 27, noting that Sanders became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his debut start in a long time.

They mention that while Sanders displayed some inconsistencies, his ability to make plays outside the structure of the offense was encouraging. Meanwhile, Sporting News has the Browns at 27 as well, praising Sanders for his performance, particularly given the support from their dominant defense.

Yahoo Sports is slightly more optimistic, ranking the team at 26, crediting Sanders for making significant improvements from his first game to his second. Bleacher Report also ranks the Browns at 27, acknowledging that while it's too early to overreact to Sanders' debut success, he has made a compelling case to remain the starter.

USA Today keeps the Browns at 24, emphasizing the impact of Garrett's potential as he chases the single-season sack record. The rankings across major outlets show a mixed but generally upward trajectory for the Browns, with an average ranking of 26.7, reflecting a slight increase in optimism surrounding the team as they prepare for a critical matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Browns are looking to build on this momentum, even with a sub-.500 record, demonstrating that they are a non-playoff team capable of making noise in the final stretch of the season. As their season unfolds, the focus will be on whether Shedeur Sanders can solidify his role as a viable starting quarterback while Myles Garrett continues his pursuit of greatness.