The Cleveland Browns tied their streak from last season with their fifth win of 2026 in Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans. After winning just eight games over the last two years, the Browns were able to surpass that total.
Cleveland is also off to one of the best starts in franchise history and is in first place at the end of the season for the first time since 2014 and the second time since 1994. Thus, in every success there is a historical turning point.
But the Browns have made an incredible resurgence just this offseason. After an embarrassing loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, Bleacher Report ranked Cleveland last in the power rankings at No. 32.
Now, entering Week 8, the Browns have moved up another spot in the rankings from 13th to 12th.
“Under first-time head coach Todd Monken, the Cleveland Browns have found ways to win one-score games. They had a nail-biting win at Tennessee that kept them atop the AFC North. At this point, even if questions remain about their quarterback and limited offense, we have to give the Browns more respect in the power rankings. Cleveland has 5 points in a few games. A battle-tested squad,” wrote Maurice Moton.
Since the 34-10 loss to Jacksonville, none of Cleveland’s games have been decided by a touchdown. Their only loss in that stretch was 17-12 to the New York Jets in Week 4, a contest the Browns led until a fumble in the fourth quarter led to the decisive touchdown.
Andre Szmyt hit a game-winning field goal for the third time in the closing seconds of Cleveland’s 27-24 victory at Tennessee on Sunday. He added to his home heroics against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 27-24 win in Week 4 and a 13-10 victory against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson started a five-game hitting streak with a touchdown pass to Blake Whiteheart in Week 2’s 23-19 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He did it to Harold Fannin Jr. in a 21-18 win against the Carolina Panthers in Week 3.
So while their margin for error is slim, the Browns have shown they know how to be on the right side more often, and that could lead them to their first AFC North title.
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KC Concepcion Earns High Grade for Week 7 Performance