NFL Announces Date, Kickoff Time For Browns Season Finale Against Bengals

After locking up a playoff berth in Week 17, the Browns will wrap up the regular season on the road in Cincinnati on Sunday, Jan. 7 at 1 p.m.

The game has no impact on the playoff picture now that Cleveland is locked into the five seed in the AFC and the Bengals were eliminated from playoff contention after a loss to Kansas City on this weekend. It remains to be seen what either team plans to do in terms of playing any key starters in an essentially meaningless game.

There are, however, a number of games with plenty of important implications for who the Browns will face in the opening round of the playoffs. What is certain at this point is that no matter what happens next weekend, they'll face the winner of the AFC South. Right now, the current leader in the clubhouse is the 9-7 Jacksonville Jaguars, who have a date with the Tennessee Titans in Week 18. 

Should the Jaguars win that game, they'll remain the Browns Wild Card Weekend opponent and nothing changes. If they lose though, the winner of a key matchup between the Texans and Colts takes home the AFC South crown instead. The winner of that game, which the NFL scheduled for Saturday night at 8:15 p.m., is guaranteed at least a wild card berth as well. 

Meanwhile, the the Browns other two division rivals, Baltimore and Pittsburgh are set to square off in and earlier Saturday game. Kickoff for that one is set for 4:30 p.m. and it does carry some weight as the Steelers can still earn a wild card spot with a win and a loss from either the Jaguars or Bills. 

Speaking of the Bills, they play in maybe the biggest game of the weekend against the Dolphins with a chance to win the AFC East if they emerge victorious over Miami. That game, rightfully, will air on Sunday Night Football.