Ohio State didn’t cover against Rutgers…and that’s OK
November 18, 2019Njoku’s soon-to-be return will be another boost for the Browns offense
November 19, 2019There’s no mistaking that this Cleveland Browns season has not gone as well as the city had hoped. The offense remains shaky, the coaching is highly suspect, and the defense has on occasion weaponized safety equipment. However, a pair of wins in the past two weeks leaves the Browns (4-6) only two games out of the second wild-card spot with six games to go. It’s a long and unlikely road to the playoffs but so long as the chance exists it’s worth looking into the upcoming week of games to see who Browns fans should root for.
Monday Night: Chiefs @ Chargers
The Bolts and Browns both sit at 4-6 and while Cleveland holds the tiebreaker (better record in AFC) it’s better to have division winners separate themselves and handle fringe teams like Los Angeles. Go Chiefs!
Week 12 Games
Thursday Night: Texans @ Colts
Both teams are 6-4 and Houston occupies the second wild-card spot right now. The Browns won’t play either team, but a Colts loss would drop their AFC record to 5-5. With an AFC-friendly schedule for the Browns coming up they’d likely have better luck duking it out with the Colts’ numbers. Go Texans!
Sunday
Dolphins @ Browns
Duh. The ‘Phins have won two of their last three games, but remain an active disaster quickly plummeting to a top-three pick. Per Five Thirty-Eight a Browns win raises their playoff percentage from 22% to 27% independently of any other outcome. Still slim odds, but every little bit helps. Go Browns!
Broncos @ Bills
The Browns are a game up on the Broncos and own the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Bills. Buffalo has a rigorous schedule to close out the year (Cowboys, Ravens, Steelers, Pats) and may end up slipping into the second wild-card spot from the first. That would be good news for Cleveland who would jump their Lake Erie neighbors if they end with the same mark. Go Broncos!
Steelers @ Bengals
The Bengals were eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday. Ouch. Still, a Cincinnati win would drop the Steelers into a tie with the Browns pending a Cleveland win. However, even if Pittsburgh prevails the Browns control their destiny against them as a two-game sweep would give them the advantage in case of a tie. Go Bengals!
Raiders @ Jets
The Raiders have mostly avoided the Hard Knocks curse and enter play at a surprising 6-4. Good for Oakland, but bad for Cleveland. The Jets (3-7) are not much of a threat but a New Jersey upset would goose the Browns’ playoff odds a little bit. Go Jets!
Jaguars @ Titans
Remember Week 1? Oh, you blacked it out? Well the Titans ran roughshod over the Browns giving them a potentially critical tiebreaker in the wild card race. The Jags have the same record as the Browns and also enjoy a soft schedule down the stretch (Chargers, Falcons, Buccaneers) but, Cleveland has the AFC-record tiebreaker and would continue that if this week’s games break well. Go Jaguars!
Ravens @ Rams
Okay hear me out: The Browns are not going to catch the Ravens. Even with a potential sweep in play, the Ravens feel like a runaway train at this point with a strong led on the division. So, let them have it. If the Ravens win their next four games, they’ll be 12-2. My hope is that before Week 16 they’ve already secured the division and their playoff seeding. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll be interested in resting players against Cleveland in the league’s penultimate week. Is this a cowardly hope? For sure, but at this point I don’t see full-strength Baltimore losing to the Browns again. Let’s take them off the board. Go Ravens?
So let’s review the card: Browns fans should root for the Chiefs, Texans, Browns, Broncos, Bengals Jets, Jaguars, and Ravens (gag). At this moment Cleveland’s playoff percentage sits at 22%. If all those contests go the Browns’ way those odds climb to 38%. For a one-week swing that’s not too shabby. Every sports movie montage must start somewhere; maybe the Browns’ already has.