Defense Leads the Way
Cleveland wants the line and run game to make vertical play action safe for an unsettled quarterback room. Jared Verse and the front are the more dependable side of the roster.
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Cleveland Browns 2026 Team Rankings and Ratings
PFM Archetype
Defense on an Island
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71.4PFM Team Scorei
PFM Verdict
Why PFM Ranks the Browns Here
Jared Verse gives Cleveland a dependable pass-rush anchor, but the Browns still do not have a quarterback answer they can trust. That uncertainty keeps them at No. 30 despite useful pieces on both lines. Todd Monken needs the run game and protection to simplify the job because neither Deshaun Watson nor the rest of the competition has supplied a proven recent floor.
NFL Rank#30Current PFM ranking
AFC Rank#15Among AFC teams
QB Stability#32Deshaun Watson · Red Alert
Season OutlookRebuilding or Major Concerns
Head coachTodd Monken
Offensive coordinatorTravis Switzer
Defensive coordinatorMike Rutenberg
PFM Team DNA
View all NFL team rankingsCleveland Browns Team DNA
Quarterback Uncertainty
Deshaun Watson may have the early edge, but Cleveland still needs one quarterback to run a low-risk offense for an entire afternoon. The defense cannot keep carrying a rotation that creates sacks, turnovers or repeated third-and-long.
Cleveland’s Defense Is on an Island
Jared Verse and the pass rush give Cleveland its best chance to stay in games. The defense is 12.0 points ahead of an offense still searching for a dependable quarterback answer, so every short field and takeaway matters.
Cleveland's Quarterback Has to Cash In the Defense's Work
Jared Verse can create the short field. The Browns still need the quarterback room to convert it without a string of third-and-long throws, because this offense is not built to erase a two-score deficit.
PFM ROAD AHEAD
2026 Cleveland Browns Strength of Schedule
Cleveland has one of the league’s more favorable schedules at No. 32, with opponents averaging 77.1. Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals still give the schedule a real test, but one game against a current top-10 team keep the full road from looking as heavy as most.
Difficulty Rank#32No. 1 is toughest
Opponent PFM Avg.77.1Average across opponents
Next 3 Avg.78.0Upcoming opponents
Top-10 Matchups1Games vs. current top 10
Away games left9
Away opponent average76.6
at Jacksonville Jaguars83.3 PFM · #14
Sep 13 · 1:00 pmAway
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers78.4 PFM · #20
Sep 20 · 1:00 pmAway
vs. Carolina Panthers72.3 PFM · #29
Sep 27 · 1:00 pmHomeBottom 10
Toughest remaining opponent: 
Houston Texans at 84.8 PFM.
PFM Reporter
Who will be QB1 for the Browns?
After last season many assumed that Shedeur Sanders would be the starter going forward but that doesn't seem the case. The front office is still pushing for Deshaun Watson to get another shot. This QB battle could make for some internal controversy when it's all said and done.
Analysis updatedJuly 8, 2026
Around the League
League Context
Closest Team DNA Match
Built Like New Orleans Saints
New Orleans SaintsMatch distance: 3.96 rating points
Shared profile: Offense and Coaching Direction.
Cleveland creates early-down control through the offensive line, whereas New Orleans creates downfield pressure through the offensive line. two important parts of the roster connect the teams because each side has a football answer beyond the first option. Cleveland owns the defensive edge because stronger support from the rush and coverage surrounds coverage and the defensive front.
Where they separate: Defense. Browns hold the stronger current rating.
Division Pressure
AFC North
Cleveland Browns sits 4th in the division, 9.6 PFM points from Baltimore.
Supporting Team Information
More About the Team
Cleveland Browns in the Super Bowl Era
Cleveland has yet to reach the Super Bowl.
- Super Bowl Titles
- 0
- Super Bowl Appearances
- 0
- Super Bowl Record
- No appearances
- Last Appearance
- Still chasing First appearance
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