It is Week 7, as the Cleveland Browns are coming off of a 23-9 loss to the Steelers in which they didn’t stand a chance. The only optimism heading into this week is the fact that our opponents, the Miami
Dolphins, are struggling just as much and have the same record at 1-5, so maybe Cleveland has a chance? In the power rankings, the Browns dropped two spots for an average ranking of 28.4. It’s crazy to see three members of the AFC North ranked so low, especially the Ravens.
Here is a summary of how the Cleveland Browns are viewed across mainstream media outlets in NFL Power Rankings heading into Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season.
CBS Sports – No. 28 (down 2 spot)
Dillon Gabriel threw it more than 50 times in the loss to the Steelers. That should never happen. They have to run it better.
ESPN – No. 29 (down 3 spots)
Lesson learned: The Browns’ “strategic pivot” is coming with all the expected growing pains.
Cleveland is fielding one of the NFL’s youngest rosters with 14 rookies in an attempt to rebuild its foundation, a move that general manager Andrew Berry called a “strategic pivot” during the offseason. Between their youth and no clear answer at quarterback, the Browns have had a frustrating start that has been highlighted by the league’s lowest-scoring offense (13.67 points per game) and the third-worst point differential (minus-.64).
NFL.com – No. 30 (down 1 spot)
Cleveland is 1-5 after the loss at Pittsburgh, and the two trades the team made in the week leading up to the game should indicate what the Browns’ mindset is: finding players who will be part of the future. Anyone over a certain age making too much money might be next to go prior to the Nov. 4 trade deadline. Rookie QB Dillon Gabriel won’t be traded, but he could be hurting after taking some massive hits against the Steelers. It’s hard to get an accurate evaluation of a quarterback when he’s being mauled on every other dropback, but this is the Browns’ unfortunate habitat right now. It would be the same if Shedeur Sanders were in there — maybe worse, given his penchant for taking sacks in college.
Sporting News – No. 28 (down 2 spots)
The Browns need to give Dillon Gabriel a long look as a third-round rookie QB, but it was difficult to watch him get sacked six times by the Steelers with little hope for the passing or running game. The now full-evaluation season will be a long one.
Yahoo Sports – No. 26 (down 2 spots)
Dillon Gabriel didn’t have a good game against the Steelers, which is no big deal for a rookie in his second start … unless his backup is Shedeur Sanders, and then you get some really wild conspiracies and hot takes. The Browns voluntarily signed up for this.
Bleacher Report – No. 29 (down 2 spots)
Dillon Gabriel’s second start didn’t go nearly as well as his first. A major issue is coming to light, with the rookie signal-caller’s inability to drive the ball down the field. He completed five-of-25 passes over 10 yards during first two starts. Cleveland can’t stretch the field. The Browns are also struggling to block anyone because of poor offensive tackle play. When Gabriel does get time, his receivers continue to drop passes.
At 1-5, the Browns are once again stuck in the swirling vortex of a lost season. The hope is that Gabriel asserts himself as QB1. If he doesn’t play well, Shedeur Sanders needs a look to prove what he can do. Otherwise, Cleveland’s enduring search for the franchise quarterback will continue next offseason.
USA Today – No. 29 (down 3 spots)
The perfect remedy for an offense that hasn’t exceeded 17 points in any of its past 11 games? A visit from a Miami defense that hasn’t surrendered fewer than 21 points in any of its past seven games.
Listed below is a summary table of where teams in the AFC North are ranked this week.
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|
|
|
|
|
Bengals
|
Browns
|
Ravens
|
Steelers
|
|
| CBS Sports |
27
|
28
|
23
|
3
|
| ESPN |
27
|
29
|
24
|
12
|
| NFL.com |
27
|
30
|
23
|
10
|
| Sporting News |
24
|
28
|
26
|
8
|
| Yahoo Sports |
28
|
26
|
21
|
15
|
| Bleacher Report |
25
|
29
|
27
|
8
|
| USA Today |
25
|
29
|
24
|
12
|
| Average |
26.1
(down 0.8) |
28.4
(down 2.1) |
24.0
(down 2.3) |
9.7
(up 1.3) |
What do you think of the Browns’ ranking this week?
