What Needs to Happen for the Browns to Make the Playoffs
NFL playoff picture: How Browns can withal win AFC North race, make playoffs
The Browns are not playing well. The Browns also still have a shot at sneaking into the playoffs as AFC North champions with just two weeks left in the 2021 flavour. Both of those statements are truthful, reflecting the unpredictable nature of the NFL playoff picture during a eighteen-calendar week, 17-game schedule.
Cleveland lost two games in one week, vs. Las Vegas on Monday in Week fifteen and at Greenish Bay on Saturday in Calendar week 16. Standing at vii-eight going into Week 17, the Browns don't have whatever mulligans left and must get all the breaks to become their style to make it a 2nd consecutive playoff appearance.
But equally crazy it sounds, the Browns can yet rise from the No. 12 team in the AFC to the No. 4 in only 2 weeks. Here's a breakdown the scenario:
More than: Updated standings for AFC, NFC playoff picture show
NFL playoff picture: Browns' AFC playoff chances
Beginning, before the Browns can call up most what needs to happen outside of their games, they need to win their terminal two games. They play at the Steelers (vii-7-1) next Monday night in Week 17. They end with the Bengals (9-6) at dwelling house in Week 18.
The Browns lost to the Steelers at home fifteen-x in Week 8. They routed the Bengals on the road 41-sixteen in Calendar week 9. They will look to go 2-0 with the aforementioned back-to-back matchups to close the flavour. Should the Browns practice their part, they would terminate 9-viii.
Second, they need the showtime-identify Bengals to lose out to as well stop 9-8. Cleveland can take care of half the Cincinnati formula in Week 18 at home. Cincinnati as well has the toughest AFC matchup there is in Week 17, vs. No. 1 seed Kansas Urban center.
Third, they need the second-identify Ravens (eight-7) to lose one of their two remaining games to finish no college than 9-eight. That's also reasonable, given the Ravens host the NFC No. iii Rams in Week 17 and host the Steelers in Calendar week 18. Baltimore is also in total freefall, having lost four consecutive games.
Fourth, they need the third-identify Steelers to lose one time, only that function of the business organization is also included on the Browns' agenda in Calendar week 17.
In the event of a tie between only the Browns and Bengals at 9-viii, the Browns would own the tiebreaker from having swept the season series. Should there exist a three-way tie between the Browns, Bengals and Ravens, the tiebreaker would be who has the best overall record against the other ii teams. The Browns would be iii-1, while the Bengals would be only ii-2 and the Ravens ane-three. The Steelers, with ane more loss, could finish only eight-8-1 and exist out of the conversation.
The Browns in essence are in an AFC Due north satellite tournament. Should they take downwardly the Steelers and Bengals, with some help from the Chiefs and the Rams (or Steelers), they would upgrade from 2020 wild-bill of fare squad to 2021 sectionalization winners nether Kevin Stefanski.
The AFC North race is the only reason the Browns still have a playoff path. They've done better to position themselves in the sectionalization than in the conference as a whole trying to boost their wild-card chances.
Should the Browns get to 9-viii, they would improve their record in AFC play to only six-vi. They lose head-to-head tiebreakers to the No. v Patriots (9-six), the No. 8 Chargers (eight-7) and No. nine Raiders (eight-seven). The No. 5 Colts (nine-6) can finish no worse than 7-v in conference play.
The Dolphins (7-7), who would exist the new No. 7 going into Calendar week 17 with a win on Monday night, may end up 7-v in AFC play at 9-8 overall. The Browns but accept a surefire tiebreaker against the No. 13 Broncos (7-8), whom they crush in Calendar week vii.
At that place are too many permutations there for the Browns to secure a wild carte du jour when merely the last spot is within realistic reach.
There's much simpler path to the playoffs for the Browns by just winning the Due north. The bonus would be able to host a segmentation runner-up, such as the Colts or Patriots, in the wild-carte du jour round.
Myles Garrett and the defense force have given the Browns a strong competitive backbone, but they will demand Baker Mayfield and the offense to become efficient and productive to execute their side of the equation. Pittsburgh has never been an piece of cake place for Cleveland to play and prime number time makes it tougher for the road underdog. Cincinnati is playing much better, too, with Joe Couch and the offense rolling to expect anything close to Week 9'south walkover.
The Browns accept fewer obstacles than expected to still brand the playoffs every bit AFC North champions. Their biggest stumbling block in the style is their own play.
Source: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-playoff-picture-browns-afc-north-race/1unu4jsksvol1sh8zp4t66hfr
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