Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: 32-team overreactions heading into Week 2

By Peter Panacy

FOXBOROUGH, MA - SEPTEMBER 09: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots celebrates after a touchdown by Phillip Dorsett #13 (not pictured) during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - SEPTEMBER 09: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots celebrates after a touchdown by Phillip Dorsett #13 (not pictured) during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 09: Josh Gordon #12 celebrates his touchdown with Tyrod Taylor #5 and Devaroe Lawrence #99 of the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 09: Josh Gordon #12 celebrates his touchdown with Tyrod Taylor #5 and Devaroe Lawrence #99 of the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

28. team. 53. . T, 21-21 vs. Steelers. Previous: . Cleveland Browns

Usually a tie would be no reason to move a team up in NFL power rankings. But when the Browns pulled off this feat against the likely AFC North champions in 2018, the Steelers, one could almost consider this a moral victory.

Sure, there’s no such thing in football. But at least it ended Cleveland’s woeful losing streak dating back to 2016. That’s a plus for head coach Hue Jackson and Co.

Granted, quarterback Tyrod Taylor was terrible. And it’s only a matter of time before Browns fans will start clamoring for the rookie, Baker Mayfield, to see time under center. If Jackson is smart, however, he’ll wait on that and ride Taylor for the next few weeks.

At least wide receiver Jarvis Landry was a bright spot, logging 106 yards through the air and making Cleveland’s offense somewhat watchable at times.

Perhaps the bigger story, though, was how the Browns defense frustrated Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to the tune of three interceptions and two fumbles lost.

Maybe we should start looking at Cleveland’s defense as a legitimate force this season.

Weird to think that, isn’t it?