Slight edgeCLE
Cleveland Browns
71.4PFM Team Score#30 NFL
Cleveland Browns vs. New Orleans Saints: PFM Team Comparison
PFM rates the Cleveland Browns higher than the New Orleans Saints overall, with a slight advantage. The main reasons are the stronger defense and fewer roster problems.
Current PFM Team Scores
NO
New Orleans Saints
70.5PFM Team Score#32 NFL
PFM JUDGMENT
Why PFM Rates the Cleveland Browns Higher
The Cleveland Browns own the stronger defense. More dependable stops give the offense better field position and keep one bad drive from controlling the day. New Orleans' strongest counterargument is QB Stability. The quarterback problem is less severe for the New Orleans Saints, but the rating still warns against treating the position as settled.
Cleveland also brings fewer roster problems. Cleveland adds the less limited big-play ability. That is enough to keep the Cleveland Browns ahead.
TEAM DNA COMPARISON
Cleveland vs. New Orleans Across the Core Pillars
The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.
CLECleveland Browns
NONew Orleans Saints
THE COUNTERARGUMENT
New Orleans Saints’ Best Argument
The New Orleans Saints have the less unsettled quarterback situation, although the grade remains below the strength range. The QB Stability advantage is a real point in New Orleans' favor, but it does not outweigh the rest of the higher-rated team’s advantages. The problem for New Orleans is that Cleveland counters with the stronger defense and fewer roster problems.
COMPLETE COMPARISON
Where Each Team Has the Edge
PFM Team Score
CLE71.4
Cleveland Browns 71.4NO70.5
New Orleans Saints 70.5Overall NFL Rank
CLE#30
Cleveland Browns #30NO#32
New Orleans Saints #32QB Stability
CLE67.0
Cleveland Browns 67.0NO69.2
New Orleans Saints 69.2Roster Strength
CLE76.6
Cleveland Browns 76.6NO72.0
New Orleans Saints 72.0Coaching Direction
CLE73.0
Cleveland Browns 73.0NO72.0
New Orleans Saints 72.0Recent Performance
CLE67.4
Cleveland Browns 67.4NO71.5
New Orleans Saints 71.5Offense
CLE69.4
Cleveland Browns 69.4NO69.0
New Orleans Saints 69.0Defense
CLE84.2
Cleveland Browns 84.2NO77.6
New Orleans Saints 77.6Franchise Direction
CLE69.3
Cleveland Browns 69.3NO66.0
New Orleans Saints 66.0Explosiveness
CLE63.7
Cleveland Browns 63.7NO61.1
New Orleans Saints 61.1Conference Rank
CLE#15
Cleveland Browns #15NO#16
New Orleans Saints #16Division Rank
CLE#4
Cleveland Browns #4NO#4
New Orleans Saints #4Outlook
CLERebuilding or Major ConcernsNORebuilding or Major Concerns
Same outlookTEAM CONSTRUCTION
How These Teams Are Built Differently
Cleveland Browns
- Strongest Rating
- Defense
- Category Edge
- Defense
- Biggest Matchup Concern
- QB Stability
Cleveland's clearest category edge is Defense. Defense is one of the clearest reasons the Cleveland Browns sit higher against the New Orleans Saints. The unit gives the offense more chances to recover from a bad drive. The biggest problem in this matchup is QB Stability, where New Orleans owns the clearer advantage.
New Orleans Saints
- Strongest Rating
- Defense
- Category Edge
- QB Stability
- Biggest Matchup Concern
- Defense
New Orleans' clearest category edge is QB Stability. Quarterback is still a concern for both teams, but the New Orleans Saints carry less uncertainty than the Cleveland Browns. The biggest problem in this matchup is Defense, where Cleveland owns the clearer advantage.
SCHEDULE CONTEXT
Which Team Has the Tougher Road?
Cleveland Browns
Full schedule rank: #32
Toughest stretch: Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals
Strongest opponents: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens
View Cleveland Browns Road AheadNew Orleans Saints
Full schedule rank: #31
Toughest stretch: Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers
Strongest opponents: Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers
View New Orleans Saints Road AheadNew Orleans has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 31. The strongest opponents include Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers. Cleveland also has the more favorable road, which adds to the stronger defense and fewer roster problems.
Explore Both Team Dashboards
Ratings and Schedule Freshness
PFM ratings updated July 24, 2026. Schedule data updated June 29, 2026.
How to Read This Comparison
PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.
PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.