The Browns (10-5) go into Week 17 of the 2020 NFL season still looking to officially end their 18-year AFC playoff drought. Despite seven teams now making the playoffs in each conference, Cleveland is in danger of not securing one of three AFC wild-card berths even with the double-digit wins.
Coming out of Week 16, the Browns are the projected No. 7 seed, behind the victorious Dolphins (10-5) and Ravens (10-5) but ahead of the Colts (10-5). The Browns could have clinched a playoff spot when the Colts blew a big lead to the Steelers, but they failed to complete a big comeback against the Jets.
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The Browns now need to beat the Steelers at home in Week 17 to guarantee an AFC playoff spot. Pittsburgh won't be playing for much knowing it would get either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed behind Kansas City regardless of result. But still, on paper, it's a tough matchup for Cleveland.
The Browns know that they would be in if they win, thanks to a head-to-head victory over the Colts. They would, at worst, stay behind the Dolphins and Ravens and perhaps get a rematch with the Steelers in the wild-card round.
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The Browns also would be in with a loss if they are tied alone with the Colts or Titans, whoever doesn't win the AFC South at 10-6, thanks to having beaten both teams. The Titans play at the Packers on Sunday night in Week 16 but are still strong favorites to win the division, so for now, let's operate under the assumption that they are not in the Browns' scenarios.
But losing to the Steelers also opens the door for the Browns be left out in a variety of ways. Here's breaking them down:
1. Browns lose; Dolphins, Ravens and Colts win
This is the no-brainer. This would mean the Browns finish 10-6 while the Dolphins, Ravens and Colts all get in at 11-5. Miami has the hardest game, at Buffalo, but like the Steelers, the Bills may rest players if they don't care much about No. 2 vs. No. 3. Baltimore has it easy at Cincinnati, while Indianapolis has it even easier vs. Jacksonville.
2. Browns and Dolphins lose; Ravens and Colts win
This would leave the Browns and Dolphins tied at 10-6 while the Ravens and Colts would get in at 11-5. Cleveland and Miami didn't play each other this season, so their first tiebreaker is conference record. In this scenario, the Dolphins would be one game better, 7-5 vs. 6-6. So the Browns would be left out again.
3. Browns and Ravens lose; Dolphins and Colts win
This would make the Browns and Ravens tied at 10-6 while the Dolphins and Colts would get in at 11-5. But Baltimore swept Cleveland, which gives it the head-to-head tiebreaker. This scenario doesn't work for the Browns, either.
4. Browns, Dolphins and Ravens lose; Colts win
This would put the Colts at 11-5 while the Browns would be in a three-way tie with the Dolphins and Ravens at 10-6. The Browns would lose the tiebreakers here and would drop to No. 8. The Dolphins would hold the conference record tiebreaker over the Ravens and Browns, making them the first team in. Then the Ravens would earn the last spot over the Browns because of their head-to-head sweep of the Browns.
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December 28, 2020 at 06:55AM
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How the Browns can fail to clinch an AFC playoff spot in Week 17 - Sporting News
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