ESPN Poll has already counted the Cleveland Browns out of the 2025 season

Greg Newland

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ESPN Poll has already counted the Cleveland Browns out of the 2025 season image

As the Cleveland Browns enter game week for the first time in the 2025 season, ESPN recently released an article ranking the team 30th in the NFL, with only the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints ranked behind them.  At this point, it's hard to say there is real evidence to disagree, but there does feel like an opportunity for the Browns to overachieve again in 2025 for a couple of reasons. 

One, as the article alludes, the Browns have an extremely talented defensive line that is anchored by Myles Garrett, with high expectations out of the rookie defensive tackle, Mason Graham, who was the fourth overall pick in this year's draft.  The Browns showed in the preseason without Garrett that they were able to generate a ton of pressure and hold up tough against the run, and if that translates, we could see this defense get back to their 2023 form, where they were one of the best in the league.  

Two, I have faith in Joe Flacco, even at 40 years old.  Daniel Oyefusi points out that he hasn't started a full season since 2017, which is concerning, but Kevin Stefnaski and Tommy Rees are going to run an offense that focuses on the run game and play action, which should take a lot of the hits off Flacco.  Right now, the team should have zero focus on if or when Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders play, BUT if it came down to it because of an injury, I still feel confident that, preferably, Gabriel could competently run this offense.

The biggest challenge for this team will be that their first six games are extremely difficult as they face the Bengals, Ravens, Packers, Lions, Vikings, and Steelers, who all had winning records in 2024.  If they can limp out of that stretch healthy with even two wins, they still have plenty of season ahead of them to turn things around.  But there is certainly a chance that the Browns are staring 0-6 down the barrel, and that will be a defining moment for Stefanski and Andrew Berry with a ton of difficult decisions on the direction of the organization moving forward. 

Greg Newland

Greg Newland is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He was born and raised in NW Ohio with a deep passion for Cleveland Browns and Ohio State Football He has previously written for Dawg Pound Daily. Although relocated to enemy territory in Michigan, the fandom runs deep. This is definitely the year for the Browns.