ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said Thursday he sees the Cleveland Browns closer to a playoff spot than a top-five pick in the 2027 draft after their Week 2 win. He expects them to be better than last year but said they are probably still a middle-of-the-pack team.
The Browns host Carolina on Sunday, followed four days later by Pittsburgh. Cleveland has beaten the Panthers in their last two meetings; the Steelers have lost four straight and six of their last seven games in Cleveland. After a brief break, the Browns face the Jets and could reach Baltimore on Oct. 18 at 4-1 if they play well enough.
Fowler cautioned that a 17-game season leaves time for the outlook to change, saying winning can build momentum but results can turn quickly.
