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NFL Cleveland Browns

NFL Playoff Picture Week 14: Cleveland Browns’ Scenarios

By @cdrottar19

Getty Images

Getty Images

We’re entering Week 14 of the NFL season, and the Cleveland Browns are still in the thick of the playoff hunt.

Let’s just stop and take a moment to consider just how long it’s been since such a statement was uttered. That would be seven years ago, as 2007 was not only the last time Cleveland was contending late in the year, it was also the last time the team had topped more than five wins. Not expected to go anywhere beyond the aforementioned win quota, the Browns have surely surprised everyone with their 7-5 record.

However, their postseason dreams took a big hit this past Sunday after a woeful loss to the Buffalo Bills. With both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens losing, it would’ve been a huge opportunity to gain a leg up on the AFC North. Instead, the Browns are still in a three-way logjam for second place.

With four weeks left in the season, Cleveland’s chances are alive, but they’re slimming. Some surprising losses from earlier in the year have certainly had an impact on where they stand today. With a tough schedule ahead and a very competitive conference standing in their way, the Browns are going to require a lot in order to make their first playoff appearance since 2002.

First of all, Cleveland clearly must win most, if not all of their remaining games. Of course, this will be no easy feat. They kick off the final stretch of the season hosting the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday. From there, they’ll welcome the Cincinnati Bengals the following week, before heading on the road to take on the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore to finish the year. Of these, you can really only point to the Panthers game as an easy one. At the same time, seeing as the Browns gave the Jacksonville Jaguars their first win of the year in Week 7, clearly nothing is guaranteed with this team.

Facing two divisional opponents will definitely help Cleveland’s cause. Unfortunately for them, winning the division is likely their best shot at getting to the postseason. There’s just too many teams vying for the wild card spots, and the Browns don’t have a single tie-breaker against any of them.

The San Diego Chargers own the first wild card berth at the moment, but also have a brutal final stretch, featuring games against both the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos. The Miami Dolphins have two tough games ahead of them before ending the season against the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets. Buffalo and the Kansas City Chiefs – the other two non-divisional teams ahead of the Browns – also face a slew of top teams this month.

Even when you break all of this down, though, you’re still looking at four teams outside of the AFC North who have to slump badly in the final weeks in order for the Browns to creep into the playoffs. It’s a whole lot to rely on, and it’s also a big reason why Cleveland needs to go for the division instead of hoping for a wild card berth.

This won’t be much easier, though. At the moment, the Browns are still technically in second place along with Pittsburgh and Baltimore. However, not only will Cleveland need to at the very least win three of their final four, they’ll need everyone else in the AFC North to fall apart as well. Cincinnati and the Steelers meeting twice in the final weeks could help cannibalize the division, while Baltimore facing two playoff hungry teams in Miami and the Houston Texans may aid Cleveland as well.

Again though, the Browns are asking a lot right now. They need so many things to fall their way just to stay alive, and this isn’t even considering their own remaining games. To make it even more interesting, Cleveland is pinning their playoff hopes on Brian Hoyer at quarterback, despite the struggles he’s been dealing with as of late.

Bottom line: the Browns have put themselves in a position to make the postseason, but their odds aren’t too great. In order to accomplish this, they’ll need to try and win out while praying the conference falls apart around them, and do so with a QB trying desperately to keep his job.

At the very least, it should be fun to watch.

Casey Drottar is a Featured Columnist for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @CDrottar19 or “Like” him on Facebook

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