The Cleveland Browns have had a disastrous start to the season.

The Browns tried to recapture the magic of 2023, but their luck has run out. They sit at 2-6, a week past the midway point. It’s nearly impossible for the Browns to make the playoffs, and it’s doubtful the team will finish with a winning record. The Browns’ poor record doesn’t even place them in the top three of the NFL draft. With games against some of the worst teams in the NFL, the New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, and Tennessee Titans still left, the Browns could miss their chance at a top quarterback in the 2026 NFL draft. What can go wrong with the Browns this season has gone wrong for the Browns. The Browns rank among the worst teams in the NFL, but there’s a clear tier between teams actively tanking and those just bad.

The Browns’ offense has been horrendous, and it’s cost them every game. The Browns’ only two victories were because the offense performed just well enough not to be a detriment to the defense. They desperately needed a change at play caller. The Browns’ defense has been terrifying this season, for about a half, then they get disinterested and retreat. The team hasn’t played a full game in months. It’s reflective in the data. On the night the man who brought analytics to Cleveland left, here is how the Browns rank among various metrics. 

NFL Team TiersBrowns defense gets off the field quickly, but the offense sends them back out quickerBrowns run game is not being respected in 12 personnelDillon Gabriel is among the worst quarterbacks in the NFLDillon Gabriel is not having success under any stable metric

PFF has several defined “stable” components of quarterback play (clean pocket, no play action, etc.). While typically evaluated using PFF grades, I broke down this year’s quarterback play into these buckets using EPA per play. pic.twitter.com/PcPagWyxUN

— Sam Hoppen (@SamHoppen) November 6, 2025The Browns offense line has been decimatedThe Browns have the worst offensive tackles in the NFL

Pass block grades of offensive linemen in True Pass Sets only (excludes plays with less than 4 rushers, play action, screens, short dropbacks and time-to-throws under 2 seconds) pic.twitter.com/ZTKd0AFooy

— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) November 4, 2025The Browns have a tale of two trenchesBrowns have best run defense in the NFLBrowns lead league in man coverage rateThe Browns are coaching scared on fourth down