It is Week 17, and the Cleveland Browns moved up 0.1 spots to 29.0 overall on average in this week’s power rankings — so, essentially, there was no movement. Most of the rankings shared the same sentiment: the Browns put up an admirable effort against the Bills, and it also sucked that they lost Quinshon Judkins to injury.

Here is a summary of how the Cleveland Browns are viewed across mainstream media outlets in NFL Power Rankings heading into Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season.

Advertisement

CBS Sports – No. 31 (no change)

The injury to rookie runner Quinshon Judkins really puts a damper on their loss to the Bills. Shedeur Sanders doesn’t look like the long-term guy, either.

ESPN – No. 29 (no change)

Rookie of the year: Linebacker Carson Schwesinger

The favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year (-1400 at DraftKings), Schwesinger has been at the center of the action all season for one of the league’s top defenses. The No. 33 pick leads all rookies in total tackles (147) and tackles for loss (11), and he is tied for second among rookies with two interceptions. Schwesinger, a former walk-on at UCLA, has also worn the green dot all season to relay the defensive playcalls.

NFL.com – No. 29 (down 1 spot)

Shedeur Sanders was better against the Bills than he was against the Bears one week prior, ripping some confident throws and conjuring up some magic in a game the Browns had legitimate chances to win. But on the flip side, he also turned the ball over twice and was guilty of a grounding penalty deep in Cleveland territory in a one-score game late. He was good but not quite good enough. The Browns are in position to land a top-five draft pick in 2026, and they have the ammunition (also owning the Jaguars’ first-rounder) to make a big push for a quarterback. Sanders hasn’t yet done enough to assure the team will pass on one. How he finishes the season and whether Myles Garrett breaks the sack record — he’s one full sack away — are the best reasons to tune into Cleveland in its final two games, which is more watchability than most teams in this range can boast.

Sporting News – No. 28 (up 1 spot)

The Browns fought hard against the Bills with Shedeur Sanders showing the kind of fight and play that gets him a full-season audition as the starter in 2026 despite the defense falling apart around Myles Garrett.

Yahoo Sports – No. 27 (no change)

Cleveland had a shot to beat Buffalo on Sunday. They had three possessions in the fourth quarter, trailing by six points, and all they could get was a field goal, turnover on downs and a punt. There have been some horrible performances from the Browns this season, but also enough good efforts to keep them from being the Raiders. The hard news Sunday was a horrible leg injury to promising rookie running back Quinshon Judkins. Hopefully that doesn’t affect him into next season.

Bleacher Report – No. 30 (down 1 spot)

The Cleveland Browns managed to keep it close with the Buffalo Bills in a game that was both encouraging and devastating. On the positive side, Cleveland saw more encouraging flashes from rookie quarterback Sheduer Sanders, who is auditioning for 2026. He was credited with two more interceptions—both off of tipped/dropped passes—but he made some impressive plays with his arm and his legs.

He hasn’t played consistently well enough to think the Browns’ QB quandary is solved, but he’s giving them plenty to think about. Unfortunately, rookie running back Quinshon Judkins suffered the sort of leg injury during the loss that could impact his offseason, if not his 2026 availability.

USA Today – No. 29 (up 2 spots)

Bagging a Steelers quarterback, even if − especially if? − it’s old friend Mason Rudolph could be an especially satisfying way for DE Myles Garrett to set the single-season sack record.

Listed below is a summary table of where teams in the AFC North are ranked this week.

html { font-family:Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:11pt; background-color:white } table { border-collapse:collapse; page-break-after:always; text-align: center; width: 100% } .b { text-align:center } .e { text-align:center } .f { text-align:right } .inlineStr { text-align:left } .n { text-align:right } .s { text-align:center } td.style0 { vertical-align:middle; border-bottom:none #000000; border-top:none #000000; border-left:none #000000; border-right:none #000000; color:#000000; font-family:’Calibri’; font-size:11pt; background-color:white; text-align: center; } td.style1 { vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; border-bottom:none #000000; border-top:none #000000; border-left:none #000000; border-right:none #000000; color:#FFFFFF; font-family:’Calibri’; font-size:11pt; background-color:#371B03 } td.style2 { vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; border-bottom:none #000000; border-top:none #000000; border-left:none #000000; border-right:none #000000; font-weight:bold; color:#FFFFFF; font-family:’Calibri’; font-size:11pt; background-color:#371B03 } td.style3 { vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; border-bottom:none #000000; border-top:none #000000; border-left:none #000000; border-right:none #000000; font-weight:bold; color:#FFFFFF; font-family:’Calibri’; font-size:11pt; background-color:#E26B0A } td.style4 { vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; border-bottom:none #000000; border-top:none #000000; border-left:none #000000; border-right:none #000000; font-weight:bold; color:#000000; font-family:’Calibri’; font-size:11pt; background-color:white } td.style5 { vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; border-bottom:none #000000; border-top:none #000000; border-left:none #000000; border-right:none #000000; color:#000000; font-family:’Calibri’; font-size:11pt; background-color:white } td.style6 { vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; border-bottom:none #000000; border-top:none #000000; border-left:none #000000; border-right:none #000000; color:#000000; font-family:’Calibri’; font-size:11pt; background-color:white } td.style7 { vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; border-bottom:none #000000; border-top:none #000000; border-left:none #000000; border-right:none #000000; font-weight:bold; color:#FFFFFF; font-family:’Calibri’; font-size:11pt; background-color:#E26B0A } td.style8 { vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; border-bottom:none #000000; border-top:none #000000; border-left:none #000000; border-right:none #000000; font-weight:bold; color:#FFFFFF; font-family:’Calibri’; font-size:11pt; background-color:#E26B0A } table.sheet0 tr { height:18pt } td {line-height:110%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; valign: middle;};

 

 

Bengals

Browns

Ravens

Steelers

CBS Sports

21

31

16

14

ESPN

25

29

18

12

NFL.com

23

29

16

13

Sporting News

24

28

17

13

Yahoo Sports

22

27

20

13

Bleacher Report

23

30

16

13

USA Today

22

29

15

13

Average

22.9
(up 1.4)

29.0
(up 0.1)

16.9
(down 1.5)

13.0
(up 1.0)

What do you think of the Browns’ ranking this week?