Playoff-clinching scenarios have largely been a foreign concept to Browns fans. Something reserved for the rest of the NFL as the Browns hope for a miracle or run out the clock on another lost season.
Not this year.
With three games left, the Browns are 9-5 and in position to lock up an AFC postseason spot this weekend.
Kevin Stefanski: Myles Garrett is Defensive Player of Year, nobody in same realm
They’ll need a win and plenty of help, but the possibility remains that when Santa Claus visits Northeast Ohio late Christmas Eve the Browns will know they have a wild card spot secured.
The NFL released its weekly clinching scenarios Tuesday, and the Browns have eight. They all start with a win over the Texans (8-6) in Houston on Sunday afternoon. They also require four or five specific results from across the AFC.
Here they are:
CLE win + CIN loss + DEN loss or tie + BUF loss + MIA win or tie + IND loss or tie OR
CLE win + PIT loss or tie + BUF loss + MIA win or tie + DEN loss or tie OR
CLE win + PIT loss or tie + BUF loss + MIA win or tie + JAX loss + IND win OR
CLE win + PIT loss or tie + DEN loss or tie + JAX loss + IND win OR
CLE win + PIT loss or tie + BUF loss + KC win + IND win + JAX loss OR
CLE win + PIT loss or tie + DEN loss or tie + MIA win or tie + IND loss OR
CLE win + PIT loss or tie + DEN loss or tie + MIA win or tie + JAX loss OR
CLE win + CIN-PIT tie + BUF loss + IND win + JAX loss
Keeping track will require a spreadsheet and a lot of scoreboard watching while opening presents, eating ham and watching Christmas movies.
The Browns would be best served by a Steelers (7-7) loss or tie against the Bengals (8-6) on Saturday in Pittsburgh and a loss by the Bills (8-6) and/or Broncos (7-7). Buffalo plays at the Los Angeles Chargers (5-9) on Saturday night, and Denver hosts the Patriots (3-11) on Sunday night.
The Browns are the only AFC wild card contender with nine wins. Due to the logjam at 8-6 (four teams) and 7-7 (two teams) and tiebreakers, in some scenarios the Browns want a Colts loss or tie and in others a Colts win.
The Browns are also still alive in the quest for their first division title since the AFC North was formed in 2002. The Ravens (11-3) lead the North by two games and are the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
The Ravens can clinch the title with a win Monday night at San Francisco (11-3) and a loss or tie by the Browns, or with a tie vs. the 49ers and a loss by the Browns.
AVOIDING A-ROD
After the trip to Houston, the Browns will return home to face the Jets on Thursday, Dec. 28. They’ll catch a break by not facing four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Commentary: Browns somehow survive excruciating endurance test, move step closer to playoffs
His Achilles tendon tore in the opener in September, but he hoped to make an unprecedented comeback and returned to practice a couple of weeks ago. But with the Jets (5-9) eliminated from playoff contention last Sunday, he won’t rush it.
“I think the whole time it’s been hoping that we’re still in it because it was unrealistic to think that I would be 100 percent to be medically cleared at any point during the regular season,” Rodgers said Tuesday on the “Pat McAfee Show.” “I do feel like in the next three to four weeks, it would have been very possible to get to 100 percent, but obviously not there. So the conversation was a way from 100 percent medical clearance to willingness to play, and that’s never been a problem for me.”
Zach Wilson took over for Rodgers in the opener, was benched after nine starts, returned to the lineup Dec. 10 and beat the Texans 30-6. He left the 30-0 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday with a concussion and was replaced by Trevor Siemian.
ROSTER MOVE
Defensive tackle Chris Williams was signed to Cleveland’s practice squad.
He’s in his third season out of Wagner, has played in 13 games and spent most of this season on the Chiefs’ practice squad.
"spot" - Google News
December 20, 2023 at 04:59AM
https://ift.tt/3PIxzWd
Browns can clinch a wild card spot this weekend … here are the complicated scenarios - BrownsZone with Scott Petrak -
"spot" - Google News
https://ift.tt/RMznleH
https://ift.tt/LSqzlNi
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Browns can clinch a wild card spot this weekend … here are the complicated scenarios - BrownsZone with Scott Petrak -"
Post a Comment