Returning the Pit of Misery: Week 14 Winners and Losers
December 11, 2017My favorite music of 2017: While We’re Waiting
December 12, 2017The Cleveland Browns are winless after yet another debacle of a game on Sunday. The Browns lost in overtime to the Green Bay Packers, after entering the fourth quarter with a 14-point lead. Nevertheless, the Browns found a way to lose the game and remain winless with a 0-13 record. So with no playoff positioning to root for, Browns fans are left with little to really get behind for the final three weeks. Well, Browns fans I have something for you to root for, DRAFT PICKS!
Cleveland owns two first round picks, their own and Houston’s pick. The Browns currently hold the first and sixth pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft1. With three weeks to go in the season, the 2018 NFL Draft order is still very much in the air. So, what should Browns fans do to make the last three weeks more interesting? Well, we have your answer. Take a look at our Browns fan guide to rooting for draft pick positioning in the final three weeks of the 2017 season.
Rule #1
Root for the team playing the Houston Texans. As many have probably already done, the top thing Browns fans should do is root for whoever the Texans are playing each week. Houston finishes the season by traveling to play the Jacksonville Jaguars, hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers and then finishing up at the Indianapolis Colts. Now as a Browns fan, I will never recommend rooting for the Steelers. But, that does not mean that you have to cheer for Houston. The Jaguars and Steelers should be heavy favorites versus the heavily injured Texans, so the biggest game to watch on the Texans schedule is the season finale versus the Colts. Colts could have the edge as they are the home team, but this is a real toss up game.
Rule #2
We are fans of the New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers for most of the games in the final three weeks. It would also help for the Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and the Oakland Raiders to win a game or two. These are the teams that surround the Houston Texans pick. With a win by any of these teams, it improves their record and moves them back in the draft and out of the way for the Texans pick.
Rule #3
Never root for the Browns to lose. This is an easy thing to follow as Browns fans. A win is a win. Fans should never root for their team to lose. Sorry, you just can’t. Also, the Browns have a nice cushion where they can win and remain in the No. 1 overall spot anyway.
Team to Watch
The Indianapolis Colts will be a big player in the final draft order. The Colts finish the season at home versus the Denver Broncos, on the road at the Baltimore Ravens and back home versus the Houston Texans. The Colts play two teams, the Broncos and Texans, who are incredibly important to the Browns’ draft positioning. These two matchups will greatly affect the positioning of the two Browns picks.
Possibilities
Best draft position possible: The Browns would get the No. 1 and No. 2 picks. But, this is highly unlikely. The Browns and Texans would have to lose every game and the teams in front of Houston would need to put together some big upsets.
Worst draft position possible: The worst draft position would come if the Browns and Texans win out in the final three weeks, and that is pretty much impossible. The Browns pick could fall to No. 4, while the Texans pick would fall around No. 14, give or take a spot or two based on how the strength of schedule shakes out.
My Prediction: The Browns will pick at No. 1 and No. 5. I do not see the Browns and Texans winning another game this season. Cleveland lost probably their most winnable game of the season this past Sunday and I don’t see a win on their remaining schedule. The Texans are losing players to injury left and right. The only game to really watch for Houston is the season finale versus the Indianapolis Colts.
Key Final Schedules
Browns | Texans | Colts | 49ers | Broncos | Giants | Bears | Buccaneers | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Week 15 |
vs Ravens |
@ Jaguars |
vs Broncos |
vs Titans |
@ Colts |
vs Eagles |
@ Lions |
vs Falcons |
Week 16 |
@ Bears |
vs Steelers |
@ Ravens |
vs Jaguars |
@ Redskins |
@ Cardinals |
vs Browns |
@ Panthers |
Week 17 |
@ Steelers |
@ Colts |
vs Texans |
@ Rams |
vs Chiefs |
vs Redskins |
@ Vikings |
vs Saints |
***
- Ties are decided by strength of schedule, so the Denver Broncos have a worse full season strength of schedule than the Houston Texans [↩]
56 Comments
hi CHRIS … one of them should be there at 6-10.
Either of those teams could wind up Top 6-8. So much unknown as teams are clustered.
I think Denver ends up with Jackson though.
I am usually down compared to national consensus on Buckeye prospects due to watching them too much. I really, really like Ward (more than I did Lattimore last year, tbh).
I very much agree with the idea of trading up opportunistically. I’d much rather have 5 impact players in the first two rounds (QB, WR, FS, CB & RB) + some depth FAs (DB, LB, OL) than anything they can get in later rounds.
This team is already super young, and they don’t need to get younger with 12 more rookies next year. I.E. if the 4th/5th rounder wasn’t going to make the team, shouldn’t they have traded that pick to get higher in the 2nd round? They should trade up into the 1st if possible, and also from the back of the 2nd (PHL pick). I want them to get the 5 highest rated prospects they possibly can, and call it a draft.
This is ABSOLUTELY what Browns fans should be hoping for. Even if you’d never go to the 0-16 parade, the incompetent Jackson HAS TO GO. The longer he stays, the longer the turnaround will take. I’ve no idea why Haslam can’t see that.