Browns Playoff Picture: It’d take an epic collapse for Cleveland to miss playoffs

The Cleveland Browns are getting closer and closer to doing something they’ve done just once in over a couple of decades.

In Kevin Stefanski’s first year as head coach of the Browns, they made the playoffs and won a Wildcard game against the Steelers. That is surely the top moment fans under 30 have seen for Cleveland.

At 8-5 on the 2023 campaign, Cleveland is primed to get back to the postseason again after missing out the last two seasons.

Current AFC playoff picture

Baltimore Ravens (10-3)

Miami Dolphins (9-4)

Kansas City Chiefs (8-5)

Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5)

Cleveland Browns (8-5)

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)

Indianapolis Colts (7-6)

AFC teams in the hunt

Houston Texans (7-6)

Denver Broncos (7-6)

Cincinnati Bengals (7-6)

Buffalo Bills (7-6)

It was quite the week for the AFC with the Dolphins, Chiefs, Jaguars, Steelers, and Colts being current playoff teams that all took a loss.

Teams like the Ravens, Browns, Bengals, and Bills did themselves a big favor with a win in Week 14. Baltimore currently holds the No. 1 seed by a game and the Colts are the final seed that would make the playoffs right now.

Will the Browns make the playoffs?

This is a firm yes at this point. After two straight losses on the road in Week 14 and 15, Cleveland’s defeat of the Jaguars was much needed. Right now, the Browns have an 85 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to the New York Times.

In the AFC North, the Browns have the second-best odds to make the playoffs behind just the Ravens.

How many wins will the Browns need to make the playoffs?

Simply put, 10 wins should get the Browns into the postseason. Right now with the top Wildcard spot, Cleveland needs at least two more wins in their final four games.

Left to play for the Browns are the Bears, Texans, Jets, and Bengals. Three of those four teams are in the AFC and AFC wins are important for tiebreakers, so Cleveland needs to take advantage of that. The Browns have two home games remaining and two road games.

It would take a meltdown for the Browns to not make the playoffs down the stretch. The Texans and Bengals are still in the hunt for the playoffs, so those two games stick out that Cleveland could benefit from.

What other teams should the Browns root for in Week 15?

Cleveland is two games behind the Ravens in the AFC North, who will be on the road playing the Jaguars. Awkwardly enough, the Browns will be fans of the team they just defeated. Pulling within a game of the Ravens with three games left would give Cleveland at least a shot at a divisional crown.

The No. 6 and 7 seed in the AFC will play this week when the Steelers head to play the Colts. The Browns are a game ahead of both of them. Cleveland should be rooting for the Steelers in Week 15. When looking at schedules, the Colts have a lighter schedule, while the Steelers still have to play the Ravens and Seahawks.

Houston, Denver, Cincinnati, and Buffalo are all teams that the Browns would like to see lose this coming weekend.

Enjoy this time of the year if you are a Browns fan because it hasn’t come around often in many years. If the Browns handle business, they’ll be playing into the second week of next month.