AFC PLAYOFF CHASE TODAY

DIVISION LEADERS

AFC NORTH - PITTSBURGH 8-0
AFC EAST - BUFFALO 7-2
AFC SOUTH - TENNESEE 6-2
AFC WEST - KASAS CITY 8-1

WILD CARD CHASE

RAVENS - 6-2 Hold Tie Breaker over us (Head to Head)
BROWNS - 5-3
RAIDERS - 5-3 Hold Tie Breaker over us (Head to Head)
COLTS - 5-3 we Hold Tie Breaker over them (Head to Head)
DOLPHINS - 5-3

Man, Dolphins are really coming on strong ... and Raiders/Colts will be tough to beat as well.

We gotta take care of games we should win (Houston, NYJ, NYG, JAX)

Don't forget Philly at home if we win these games that's 10 wins with Tennessee away and the Stillers and the Rats at home ...

Houston is as good as us, they’ve just had horrible luck.

Browns aren't making the playoffs.

Probably not, but this is better than talking about next years draft.

Give it a few weeks. In three weeks the draft talk will be front and center.

Browns peaked with the second Cincy game.

Terrible defense and mentally weak across the board.

Zero chance they make the playoffs.

They will lose to the Texans.

No... they are trash this year... not saying they couldn't beat us... but they are a dumpster fire... have some talent on offense... their defense is awful...

Have you seen who they played?

Haha Rish you’re always dogging on me for being too negative!

I do tend to agree w/you in some ways, but I think we have a decent chance at the playoffs. My hope is Chubb’s return and our health will make a big difference for the next few weeks.

IMO the Houston game is massive for this team

I honestly thought of you when I was typing all that.

Here's the bottom line. The Raiders game showed us that nothing has really changed. Same old Browns. Give them something to play for and they wilt all the time.

Not making any trades was the second dagger. Sent a message to the team that we don't think we are ready. The team will respond in kind.

After starting 5-3 Stefanski will be fighting for his coaching life by the end of the year after the collapse. After this extended honeymoon he won't know what hit him.

Get ready for for the collapse. It's coming. Starting next week.

Not sure after what happened yesterday, but as of Nov. 5th, the Browns had the easiest remaining schedule in the entire NFL. Verify it at https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2020/11/05/easiest-hardest-remaining-strength-of-schedule-nfl/

The league is expanding the playoff format, our schedule is weak, and we have a ton of talent.

The Browns should absolutely make the playoffs.

I agree that the Raiders (and Steelers/Ravens) games were alarming because they are “for sure” playoff teams. They basically manhandled us.

We have to do a good job of self scouting over the bye and break tendencies (whatever they are) to keep the next few teams off balance.

IF we do collapse, that’ll be unfortunate. I was hoping this year would be different. IMO making the playoffs is a huge accomplishment for this franchise

Why would anyone blame, our first time head coach (Stefanski) ...if the Browns don't make the playoffs in his first year?

Talk about some with "unrealistic" expectations...

I think Stefanski has showed MORE than enough to everyone to break out of the regular Browns coaching churn. IMO, he'd have to regress some on Sundays in order for the people to start to turn on him. I know we Browns fans are a fickle bunch (when it comes to coaches and the like), but he's already started building up some goodwill.

Yeah for me not making a single move when your defense has forced 1 punt in almost 3 games was pretty much telling me and everyone else this is a throwaway season. Players normally will respond in kind. Really depends on KS, He has to get them up every sunday now. Look at Flores in Miami, they got rid of alot of high pick players and jettisoned alot of players yet still got his team up last year and they were a hard out, now they are playing lights out and have a ton of picks, Miami is going to be a team to watch for awhile. I believe LV and Miami and BAL will get the wildcards this year. Next offseason we fix defense and hopefully get a full offseason install and I expect better next season.

Week 9 action nudges Browns from final AFC playoff spot

https://brownswire.usatoday.com/2020/11/...olphins-week-9/

The Browns didn’t play on Sunday, but the action around the rest of the AFC still pushed the team down, at least temporarily. Cleveland entered Sunday holding the No. 7 seed in the AFC, good for the final Wild Card spot in the conference.

Cleveland now wakes up on Monday looking up at the postseason. The Browns sit at No. 8 now, getting leapfrogged by the Miami Dolphins. Miami squeaked out a victory in Arizona over the Cardinals when ex-Browns kicker Zane Gonzalez came up short on a 49-yard field goal attempt that would have tied the game.

The Dolphins have won four in a row to improve their record to 5-3, tying the Browns. But the Dolphins win the tiebreaker for having a better strength of schedule to this point.

The Las Vegas Raiders also jumped the Browns in the standings. Las Vegas beat the Los Angeles Chargers a week after besting the Browns to also improve to 5-3. They surged up and also passed the Indianapolis Colts, who fell at home against Baltimore and also fell below the Browns in the playoff chase.

There’s still a lot of football to be played, but the tightly packed playoff race shows how little margin for error there is for Kevin Stefanski and the Browns over the second half of the season.

Berry should insist on it. The playoff revision should get us there. Pretty sure this defense won't help the cause much. Our part time offense is unreliable. Turn the page after bye; it's a new day!

This defense isn't getting any help at Safety. Our *ONLY* hope to improve defensively would be for Greedy to come back and be able to play, but I wouldn't bank on that happening. Philips might help, but not enough to really matter, I'd expect.

Basically, the defense is what it is: a rusty sieve with no hope for repair this year.

Having the players get more comfortable in the scheme will help but it won’t make up for the massive talent deficit at safety and linebacker.

I’ll be interested to see if the coaching staff will throw out any new wrinkles after the bye week.

Two wrinkles I'd like to see are tackling and defending the pass.

j/c:

I think the issues on defense are real and that they are a factor. However, that seems to be all everyone talks about on here when it comes to the success or failure of the team.

Again, I think they are a significant factor, but the play of our qb is a bigger factor in my opinion. Seattle, Green Bay, Tennessee, LV, and Buffalo all have defenses who have struggled. A lot of defenses struggle in today's NFL.

I think the most important thing for the Browns is that Baker needs to play better. He is too inconsistent. He does okay to good against some bad teams, but lays eggs against good teams. It's not a new trend. The biggest issues are how he doesn't read the blitz pre-snap and exploit it and how he panics when pressured. His eyes go down and he doesn't see down the field. He was the first overall choice and has great weapons and protection. I don't think he has to be great, but he can't continue playing so poorly in meaningful games.

At first, I was wondering if there might be some more interchange at safety and linebacker, e.g. possibly moving to a dime, or hell, even a quarter defense, but that's not really a solution because we'd be substituting a position we're weak at with a position that we're also weak at.

I think the return of Chubb makes this Offense and Baker a LOT better, and it gets even better with the return of Hooper and hopefully Teller ...

Baker needs to play great consistently. No arguments there.

However were you aware the defense has forced I think 3 punts combined in the last 3 games?

You say you watch the games. You had to have noticed this.

The defense is what it is this season. I don't think we're going to see any sort of revelation in terms of their performance.

The offense, otoh, has the potential to be unstoppable. When good Baker is executing, that makes the whole team click. This defense does have some bright spots, and those are really allowed to shine when playing with a lead.

I am aware that the D has been bad and even said so twice in the post you quoted. I am also aware that the majority of posters concentrate on the D and ignore Baker's issues.

I am simply bringing some balance to the conversation. Also, I have not said Baker needs to be "great." I am just hoping he carries his weight.

He absolutely needs to play better with more consistency, but I'd say you're smoking crack if you are seriously suggesting that the guy who is part of the unit scoring 30+ per game is a bigger problem than the unit giving up 30+ per game.

It is absurdity like this right here that has people saying that you post with an agenda because you are absolutely of a one-track mind. At times, it seems like if someone claimed that Global Warming was the single largest issue facing mankind, you'd find a segue to suggest that Baker Mayfield is actually a larger threat... and then, you'd still expect to be taken seriously with it.

I don't smoke crack and I could care less if you take me seriously or not. For what it's worth, all this talk from some of you screams agenda to me. You guys make excuse after excuse for Baker and blame everyone else.

Folks around the country who aren't emotionally invested like you are see things the way I do. Your harsh criticism of me won't change that.

I don't think you would enjoy a Browns super bowl win if Baker was the QB.

Chubb, Teller and Hooper set to return. I'll feel better about judging our playoff chances after seeing an actual NFL roster vs the Texans.

If we get whomped I'll start to worry, if we lose a close one I'll wait one more week, if we win, then full steam ahead!

Offense will perform, better than our last game.

I think any "chase" we imagine ourselves to be part of, has its bar set by the defense's level of play. I do not believe the underperformance there is all explained (away) by injury. I would love to see Greedy contribute. They will dictate whether we go somewhere or no.

I have a bad feeling that raiders game will cone back to haunt us. If we miss the playoffs because we end the season with the same record as them but they own the head to head then one play, which will be the seasons biggest play will come to mind. It was the 3rd and 18 play that we gave up 17 on a screen and then the raiders converted on 4th and 1. After that they had the momentum for most of the game.

You could say the same for Njoku's drop or the dropped interception. I'll give Landry a pass on the TD drop. The 2 I mentioned were easy, "you gotta catch that" effups.

Even though our D was brutal to watch, the Njoku drop vs. Vegas still irritates me.

I have a feeling too. It was a big loss for our playoff chances. I mean, we still SHOULD get in ... but we all know our franchise haha

Bryant's fumble was a big shift in momentum. We were driving well.

No doubt losing to LV is a big hit to our playoff chances. The teams we are competing with for the wild card are (right now) Baltimore, Indy, LV, and Miami. We have lost to two of them, beat one. Another game left vs Balt but I do not see us winning that game. We do not play Miami but I read that they hold the tie breaker over us. Actually, they obviously do because today they are in and we are not. End of story, to get in we need to have better records than two of them, at least. I think 10-6 is our ceiling.

All true, Cap. But again, we have the easiest schedule. We should make the playoffs.

We’re also probably the worst team. Prior to last week Football Outsiders’ DVOA had us as the 22nd beat team in the league. Baltimore was 2nd, Indy 6th, and Miami 15th. Oakland (25th) was worse than us but will get a boost from winning last week.

It’s going to be an uphill climb. We can do it but the team has to improve in several areas.

I’m assuming these teams are IN the playoffs:

Pittsburgh
Kansas City
Buffalo
Tennessee
Baltimore

That leaves TWO spots for these teams: Miami, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Indianapolis

MIAMI SCHEDULE
LA Chargers
@ Denver
@ NY Jets
Cincinnati
Kansas City
New England
@ Las Vegas
@ Buffalo

INDIANAPOLIS SCHEDULE
@ Tennessee
Green Bay
Tennessee
@ Houston
@ Las Vegas
Houston
@ Pittsburgh
Jacksonville

LAS VEGAS SCHEDULE
Denver
Kansas City
@ Atlanta
@ NY Jets
Indianapolis
LA Chargers
Miami
@ Denver



We have the easiest schedule left IMO. Good news is Las Vegas/Miami/Indy all have games against each other and games against KC/Pitt/GB ... some of the better teams.

Houston/Phill games are toss ups for us ... gotta win both IMO

My 2 cents. I see possibly 3 more wins on our schedule. The 2 NY teams and the Jags and I'm not sure we will win all 3 of those games. I don't see us beating the Titans, Steelers or Ravens. The Texans will give us all kinds of trouble with Watson and I think the Eagles will beat us too. I see what I predicted at the beginning of season. 8-8 at best and I hope I'm wrong.

If someone had a gun to my head, I’d guess this:

Houston - LOSS
Philadelphia - WIN
at Jacksonville - WIN
at Tennessee - LOSS
Baltimore - LOSS
at NY Giants - WIN
at NY Jets - WIN
Pittsburgh - LOSS

That’s 9-7 ... and not in the playoffs

Dawgs we pretty much agree. I wasn't sure about Philly because we have them at home but they are physical and for that reason I give them a win over us. I just don't have much faith in out team probably because of our history. Again , I hope they prove me wrong.

Won't argue that we *should*.

I know nothing is a given. In my mind we beat NYJ and Jax.

I think we lose to Balt, Tenn, and Pitt. Tenn does lay an egg from time to time, like against Cincy. Do they have another one in them? We may be fortunate that Pitt is resting their starters when we play them the last game. Of course, last year their 3rd string QB sliced us up with lobs. Lamar seems to be quite human anymore. The game plan to beating them has been established. Do we have the LBs and safeties to pull it off? I don't think so. So, out of these 3 games, IMO, we may pull off a win. But I feel 0-3. This year. I have not yet seen the capability to play against this caliber of team, for even a half.

The remaining three games are the toss-ups in my mind. We never play well against Houston. It's easy to write off NYG and Philly, though both of them played Pitt for 4 quarters while we couldn't hang for 2. Injuries have hit Philly since, so they are not the same team as earlier in the season. Which was not very good. We should be able to win these 3 games, but if any of them can get close to the physicality that we saw from Pitt or LV, then we can lose any of these as well.

I may be soured by the LV game. Our D didn't get burned by the big play, and did not let the TEs rip us a new one (which was a pleasant surprise). But they did not get off the field, either. LV methodically went up and down the field in 4, 5 yard chunks.

I see other teams loading the box against us. Which they should. Any DC who does not should lose the title. I think even with Chubb and Teller back, running will be tough with an 8 man box. We need Baker to exploit that to loosen up the D, so we can do what we do best and run the ball. Defenses will load the box until that happens.

I will feel better about our chances if I can see a few things. Putting away the bad teams, which means not needing a TD w 11 seconds left to win by 3. Beating the middle tier teams, more often than not. And at least making the good teams work for a win.

The Raiders game was played in miserable conditions, or they might have thrown for 400 as well. Instead, neither team threw the ball well at all.

I doubt we'll be able to stop Derrick Henry. We couldn't the last time we played them and we're not any better on D now.

j/c:

This is an audio about the Browns w/Ken Karmen interviewing Zac Jackson. Here is the text highlights. I'll post a link to the entire interview. It's about 19 minutes long.

We do get shoved around some. It will say a bundle if half of the NFL makes the playoffs and we are not able to win in. Just not confident in what we are bringing to the field. This defense needs to be carried by an offense that can't put up enough.
Hopefully we get some real help with the players returning. Replace Njoku? Secondary?
I wish I could be realistically and emphatically convinced of our ability to win games left, but easy schedule is not a gimme for us.

Thanks Grateful for sharing

He's easily replaced.

And Berry and Co. are hopefully working on a plan to do just that.

For some reason I'm not picking up Gratefuls posts. Who can be easily replaced?

Apparently Baker Mayfield.

It's hard to keep up with this place at times.

Rish was being sarcastic. He thinks it would be impossible to replace Baker's stellar play.

Yes... I work part time for the Texans so see every home game and end up watching several away games... they are trash... I understand they have had stiff competition... but the team is a dumpster fire...

Never let a good emotion interfere with fact

So, by golly, be the dad burned BEST dumpster fire you can be. Inspiring words to live with, er, by.

Seriously think we can achieve more now to polish this lame season.

Our next three opponents have a combined record of 6-17-1. We should win all three; if we don't, it would seem our playoff hopes become much weaker.

Along those lines, facing the NFC (L)East is actually a curse. There aren't many tie-breakers that reward non-conference play. An NFC sweep with a 10-6 record means a 6-6 conference record. If that comes to pass, 10-6 will NOT (IMO) get us into the playoffs.

Bottom line, aside from record, we MUST win at least one of the tough match-ups remaining: Titans, Ravens or Pittsburgh. We would be better off losing to a crap team from the NFC and beating one of the above three AFC opponents as we would have a better chance in most tie-breaker scenarios.

Also, any three team (or more) tie-breaker, with both the Browns and Ravens involved means that we would have to win the tie-breaker with the Ravens first. That would mean beating them, and likely having a better record against common opponents. They've already beaten the Texans and Eagles, so those games become must-wins.

"10-6" would seem to be the bench mark for a playoff berth, especially with an extra Wild Card team added. It would be in the NFC, it may not be in the AFC. There are nine teams in our conference with at least a 5-3 record.

So if we go in to week 17 at 10-5 and Pittsburgh is sitting at say 14-2 with the division and the 1 seed wrapped up, do they sit their starters even though it is the Browns? I am wondering if I should start rooting for Pittsburgh just a little bit.

We had the tie-breaker with one team (IND) that was in the bunch that is sniffing around the wild card (IND, BAL, LV, MIA), and now they are no longer in the wild card chase. They are leading the AFCS as of now, and TEN is fighting for the wild card.

We need to beat TEN, as well as BAL. If we finish with a better record than BAL then that early season trip to the wood shed is a non-factor. No need for tie breakers.

Yeah, it appears like we are on the wrong end of a lot of tie breakers ... the Las Vegas game was a killer.

Couple that with Indy beating Tennessee and the Dolphins ON FIRE ... we are gonna have to beat Philly, Jacksonville, NY Giants, NY Jets and either Baltimore or Tennessee

I don't really see that happening unless they are banged up or have lost the #1 seed. With the expanded playoffs, only one team gets a first round bye.

So let's look at the options... If they have the #1 seed locked up, there's more of a reason to play starters since they're already getting a week off... don't want anyone getting rusty. If they don't have it, but still have a chance to get it (or need to win to protect it), starters won't be resting... they'll be playing to win. If they don't have the bye and a win won't help (or make any difference in upcoming opponent), they may rest some starters. I would think they would be starting the game though.

I don't think it's likely they rest any starters regardless of record or standing. We're a division rival, I don't see the Steelers throwing us a bone. I could see a scenario where they state that some starters will get rest... maybe only play the first half... in that case I could also see them coming out and trying to boat race us lol.

Moral of the story ~ NO. You never root for the Steelers.

Hopefully things become a lot clearer over the next two weeks. We need to take care of business against weaker teams, here's the picture with some of the tough match-ups for our playoff competition:


Next week:
Tennessee @ Baltimore
Green Bay @ Indianapolis
Kansas City @ Las Vegas

Week 12:
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh (Thanksgiving ~ Ravens have three days off between Titans and Steelers)
Los Angeles @ Buffalo
Tennessee @ Indianapolis

Tennessee, Baltimore and Indy all have two tough games. The only contender with none is Miami. I looked at their schedule... they finish the season with Chiefs, Patriots, Raiders and Bills.

Take care of our opponents, the rest will take care of itself.

GC.
The Eagles, are a 3-5-1 team, that is 2 and 2 in its' last four,
Fighting for a Division lead among 4 divisional teams in a Year, Effectively with NO WILDCARD SPOTS, circumstancualy; and they Hold the Playoff spot at the moment.

The Browns are a 6-3 team, that is 2 and 2 in its' last four, and currently out of a playoff slot (and about equal to its' best record at this point of the season for any time since 2007, and 2001, and 1994.)
Fighting for a wildcard spot or two among 4 remaining, rotating, clubs that'll shake out of the top 10 afc teams, if you include the Browns; Effectively with the division almost out of reach.(Circumstancualy)

Next weeks game, is as much like a playoff game as any interconference foes can have in a regular season matchup.

At years end looking back to next weeks game,
The loser may well be out!
and the Winner may well be in! because of it.

Myles Garrett for M.V.P.

I think it’s pretty clear in my mind. We must win these games:

Philadelphia
At Jacksonville
At NY Giants
At NY Jets

We must split these games:

At Tennessee
Baltimore


If we fail to do any of those, we won’t make it

But we're two years away!

One game at a time...

our defense IS.
The weather played defense more than we did yesterday. It helps when Mother Nature covers your biggest weakness by taking the passing game down a few notches.

Saw part of the Steeler game and part of the Raven game.

Was surprised by how the Colts beat the Titans last week.

Coming from the perspective that all games are hard to win. I never take a game for granted.

However, for this discussion. We have the ability to beat all the teams we have left on the schedule.

*Except the Steelers. We would have to play above our grade to beat them.

Obviously, the Ravens and Titans are both good teams that will take a really good game in order for us to win.

The Eagles, Jags, Jets, Giants are all games we would be favored in. Which is great except meaningless.

10-6 is doable but I just can not feel that until we actually do it.

I think Miami and LV and BAL will be the wildcards...I think Miami and LV are better than us and I think the spot we need to shoot for is BAL.. They have looked pretty beatable lately

j/c here is what I said in the other thread:

we are still on pace to get into the playoffs from what I expected

We should win 6/8 of these games (4 more to go)

Houston/won
Philly
NYG
Jacksonville
Jets
Cin/won
Las Vegas/lost
Pitt

We will need to win 1 game against these teams to get in the playoffs. *accomplished

Indy/won
Pitt/lost
Baltimore


I would expect that 10-6 gets us in the playoffs as the 7 seed.

Raiders still have the Chiefs, Dolphins, Colts and even the Falcons are playing better ...

Dolphins still have Chiefs, Raiders and the Patriots are playing better ...

Ravens Still Have Titans, Steelers and Browns ...

Titans Still Have Ravens, Browns, and Colts ...

Colts still have Titans, Raiders, Packers, Steelers ...

Browns still Have Titans, Ravens and Steelers ...

It's hard to say who those 3 playoff teams will be at point although it looks really tough for the Colts ...

Went to NFL.com and there was an article about Balt losing to the Patriots. Buried deep in the article was a little stat that the Lamar-led Ravens are 0-6 when trailing by 10 or more at any point in the game.

I said a while back that Jackson is not good when he trailing, because he has to pass more than use his legs ...

Their overall offense is really built around their ground game. Their RBs are excellent, but once they go 1-dimensional, their weaknesses really become amplified.

Dolphins also have the Bills.
Titans also have the Packers.

So, to summarize, we need to win. Let each week play out, but we need to win.

The AFC is crazy this year. The closest team to "500" is the 4-5 Patriots.

9 teams are 6-3 or better.

6 teams are 3-6 or worse (and only one of them is 3-6).

Parity is dead in 2020.

There are a handful of teams that are sliding up/down the ranking. Tenn, Balt started hot but are looking suspect. Miami has gotten hot. I think it'll all balance out by the end.

That really depends on how we get to 10-6 because I can see more than 3 of the WC teams at 10-6 or better.

If we had to go 10-6, the ideal way for us to get there is for us to lose to the Eagles, Giants, and Steelers and beat Jags, Jets, Titans, and Ravens.

That gives us the most benefit in the tie-breaker.. head to head tie breakers over Colts, Titans, and tied with Ravens.. and second tie breaker is conference record, that would make us 8-4 in conference.... but if we do that and go 10-6, people will be screaming because we lost to the Eagles AND Giants.

It could get hairy if there's a group up at 10-6. We would have to beat the Titans to ensure whichever team between them and the Colts that doesn't get the conference championship doesn't take the wildcard instead.

We obviously have to beat the Ravens to create a split head-to-head. For that matter we'd probably have to beat the Eagles to ensure the common opponent tie-breaker in the event the conference records are the same.

We already lost the head-to-head vs the Raiders.

Miami is such a strange wild-card simply because they;ve already played all their non-conference games, but they also lost to Seattle so in order for us to finish with the same record as them and have a possible tie-break situation, one of our loses would have to come from the NFC East (the Giants?). I'm hoping Miami's hot streak ends just as suddenly and wildly as it began

We can't lose anymore than 2 more games. 11-5 gets us out of the Tie-breaker world that we would lose. We just need to stay healthy.

Correct. If it comes to tie-breakers we are out. We only get in based on record.

Not with all teams if we beat the Titans we hold the Tie Breaker over Them and the Colts whichever one doesn't win the division

Only one of them will be in the wild card chase, the other wins the division. If it were today, we would need to be ahead of two of BAL, LV, MIA, and TEN. Having the tie breaker over TEN is not enough. We get in on record, the tie-breaker thing is already over. BAL, LV and MIA already have it on us.

I understand Las Vegas and Baltimore but Miami bothers me is it strength of schedule or what exactly puts them ahead of us ??

Miami wins tie breaker because of strength of schedule, the raider have the head to head victory over us. Honestly I think to have a chance to make playoffs we have to be 11-5 . I dont think 10-6 does it

Frankly, a lot can happen the rest of the season, so I think it’s too early to make iron-clad determinations.

Thats what I'm saying ...

With all the uncertainty surrounding us we have to take it day by day one game at a time. Heck, in a normal year with 7 games left it's tough enough never mind with what's going on now.

Or we could just enjoy having a competitive NFL team for the first time in a long time. If we make the playoffs ... Bonus!

Meanwhile Baker is taking an absolute beating in the media today both locally and nationally because he didn't put up better numbers in a wind storm in a win.

He is easily the most hated guy in the NFL, maybe all of sports.

I don't think he looked good at all. I thought Watson made a couple more throws than Baker did, and that TD drive they finally got was all Watson.

I do agree with you, though, that there are PLENTY of folks that look way too hard to find stuff to criticize Baker.

Who do the Patriots still have?
Pats have the Cardinals, Rams, Dolphins, Bills,

and the Jets are going to be BHurt for a win the last two weeks, they have Cleveland Home, and Pats on the road,
I'd hate to see the final 2 weeks turn out OIC, (only in Cleveland), and the Jets put the Pats in the playoffs in the spot the Browns had achieved.

Looking at the schedules briefly, it’ll be tough to think Miami won’t be in the playoffs. Pretty easy schedule and playing well.

I’d say the Raiders should also make it.

The more I’m looking at these schedules, the less confident I feel about us making it. Unless we upset Baltimore or Tennessee, we probably won’t get in

Miami does not win a tie-break on strength of schedule.

We have the minimum 4 required common opponents.

Cincinnati
Jets
Jaguars
Raiders

Though hoping the Raiders and The Bengals beat them is a bit of an ask.

We are 2-1 vs. common opponents with 2 games to go
They are 2-0 with 3 games to go.

Admittedly, we'll likely end up 4-1 each and it will THEN come down to strength of victory/schedule (and they would win by a country mile)
But...they could lose 2 of them, sooo...

I don't think he played all that well either and said so during and after the game.

But the amount of abuse the guy takes is disproportionate to reality.

And let's face it, when it comes to Browns fans they'll never be happy unless you have a Mahomes type at QB. Browns fans would have run Brady out of town 10 years ago. In general, Browns fans are idiots.

The rest of the media is so fixated on the guy it's unhealthy.

“Generally” speaking... idiots....

Sometimes you talk too much.

I give up, ... there are some NFL Players that are only 23 years old, and I've been trying to study the NFL tie breaking procedures for at least 25 years, and I thought I understood it somewhat,

But I learned a concept today, so, I give up.

if 3 or more clubs have the same record in the wild-card,

1. (apply the division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2)

^ This from "operations.nfl. com not "nfl . com, soo-

Does that mean? If everybody is 10-6, that's 6-3 today, That the Browns are immediately slighted for being 3rd place in the afc north, while the colts, raiders, are 2nd place in their divisions, afc-south and afc west,
Even before the head to head is looked at.

Therefore meaning, as long as you're 3rd place behind Pitt and Balt, you'll never make the playoffs, in almost any year!

but if it's only 2 clubs that are tied, it's back to everything we've always understood.

Hmmm...didn't realize that either.

Guess we REALLY need to beat Baltimore and hope Pittsburgh does as well.

Even then it would come down to week 17. Yuck. Browns vs Pittsburgh and Baltimore vs Cincinnati.

I've brought this up a few times, because it is, in essence, a poison pill where the Browns are concerned.

However, it doesn't mean a second team from the same division can't get the Wildcard spot.

Here's the most important info that many confuse:


In other words, with two teams in the same division, the procedure (division rules are applied to two teams in the same division to resolve Wildcard eligibility and seeding) would eliminate one team for that round of tie-breakers only.

For the sake of making things easy to understand, we'll assume the Ravens hold tie-breakers over the Browns.


==================
Scenario #1: Baltimore, Cleveland, Vegas and Miami are all tied at 10-6... Cleveland is eliminated (because Baltimore wins tie-breakers vs Cleveland) from the discussion and procedures apply to other three teams.

The Ravens win tie-breakers and are granted first WC spot.

ALL THREE TEAMS then enter the next round of tie-breaking process. Cleveland was only eliminated from the first step and is still eligible in subsequent steps.

Cleveland wins tie-breaker over both Miami and Vegas and gets the second spot.

-OR- Cleveland wins tie-breaker over only one of these teams and gets the third spot.

-OR- Cleveland loses tie-breakers with both teams and misses playoffs (but at least not because to the stupid rule that defines best team in division in every round of determination).
==================


==================
Scenario #2: Here's how the Browns could get screwed...
Baltimore, Cleveland, Vegas and Miami are all tied at 10-6 (same teams and circumstances as above)... Cleveland is eliminated (because Baltimore wins tie-breakers vs Cleveland) from the discussion and procedures apply to other three teams.

Miami wins tie-breaker and becomes the first team to win WC spot.

NOW the cycle restarts with Cleveland again being eliminated by Baltimore.

Vegas wins tie-breaker and becomes the second team to win WC spot.

Cycle starts again with two remaining teams... obviously Baltimore wins the last spot as they hold division tie-breakers over Cleveland.
==================


IN ESSENCE Cleveland could conceivably own tie-breaker advantages over both Miami and Vegas and still miss the playoffs because of the "same division" poison pill.

Good stuff there ^

I'm going to root for the Browns and against anyone in contention for the WC...even if that means rooting for the Cheaters

I would guess I average less than a post a day.

OK, let me discuss your scenario #1, because I understand it differently.

Start with your line which reads, " The Ravens win tie breakers and are granted the first wild-card spot.

(All 4 divisions have 4 teams, the division winners were in first place in each division and got a Berth as division winners:
We then have 10-6 teams all in 2nd place in their original 4 team divisions except for the Browns, 3rd place-which equals out of consideration.

After Baltimore gets in, they again go back to the original,
faced with 3 other teams in 2nd place of their own division, and the Browns in 3rd place in the AFC north,
so step 1, before any others are looked at,
Browns 3rd place- equals removed from consideration,

Because the Raiders would be 2nd place for the Afc west behind the Chiefs, 2nd place 10-6
Dolphins 2nd place Afc east behind the Bills, 2nd place 10-6
and Colts or Titans that didn't already get in as division winner would be 2nd place 10-6 behind the other for the Afc south.

NFL: Tie Breaking procedures, 3 or more clubs, from different divisions,
#1. "apply the division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest," ((((where i point to 2nd place/3rd place, as i understand it)))), "ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step #2.

Still #1. " The original seeding within a division upon application of the tie breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two wild card participants."
(written before they expanded to 3 wild cards per conf: beginning this year)

(OK, So the Browns CAN get in as a 3rd place team, because each round only eliminates one team at a time,
BUT, As I understand,
The Browns must have at least a half game lead, in W-L-T percentage over the 2nd place team in either the Afc west, AFc East, or Afc South,
OR,
Be 2nd place or better in the AFC North besting Baltimore or Pittsburgh this year. (ehh Cincinnati)

To the part of the your post I made white, I think I get where our understandings differ:

As I understand it, "that stupid rule 2nd place vs.3rd place is still the first tie breaker as long as they are dealing with 3 or more teams, and doesn't go away until they are looking at only two teams. I understand it as applying to teams from different divisions,

I think I get where you are coming from that that stupid rule only applies inside a same division, but the part I read it off of at operations.nfl.com was the section on wild card tie breakers, 3 or more teams, different divsiions, and it's #1.

I may be wrong.
Whichever one of us is wrong, it's going to be Something to watch, if these Browns can get there!

edit: Another way I may be understanding this wrong is if you are saying...
That once Baltimore gets in:
The Browns original 3rd place in the afc north is equal to other divsions, original 2nd place in their divisions because all teams ahead of any of them, once in the playoffs are no longer considered ahead of of any of them, and all the teams divisional standings would be remaining div. leader, ... but that's not how it reads to me.

Well, there is at least 1.

THROW - I think our interpretations are different because you are overlooking the fact that the slate is essentially wiped clean once Baltimore is in.

Once Baltimore is in (and, again, we're just using an example that says they win the tie-breaker with the Browns) the same division tie-breaker no longer applies. There is still a three team tie-breaker process, but there is no longer a same division caveat.

I was only, referencing the three team tie-breaker process; which is outside of the same division tie-breaker process.

Now that I read your edit, that's exactly what I'm saying. There is no "second or third place" consideration once the division leader has been established. Doesn't matter that you finished third as long as protocol is being followed each time a WC team is established. Once one of the teams (from a division with two qualifying teams) is awarded a WC berth, the next is no longer subject to the "same divsion" caveat.

Think of it this way: If your theory were correct, it would be very rare for more than one team from a division to have WC berths. In fact, the only way it would be possible is if they both had better records than the other teams. Yet here is the history of multiple teams going from the same division... Notice the nice little nugget where the Browns were eliminated in 2007



History of multiple teams from a division receiving WC Berth
Since the change to 4 divisions per conference in the 2002 NFL season, this has happened 6 times, twice in the NFC East, once in the NFC South, and 3 times in 3 different AFC divisions.

2006 NFL season: NFC East (10-6 Philadelphia Eagles, 9-7 Dallas Cowboys, 8-8 New York Giants *Packers, Rams and Panthers were also 8-8)

2007 NFL season: NFC East (13-3 Dallas Cowboys, 10-6 New York Giants, 9-7 Washington Redskins *in this case, all other teams were no better than 8-8)

2007 NFL season: AFC South (13-3 Indianapolis Colts, 11-5 Jacksonville Jaguars, 10-6 Tennessee Titans *BROWNS were also 10-6).

2011 NFL season: AFC North (12-4 Baltimore Ravens, 12-4 Pittsburgh Steelers, 9-7 Cincinnati Bengals *Titans also had 9-7 record).

2013 NFL season: AFC West (13-3 Denver Broncos, 11-5 Kansas City Chiefs, 9-7 San Diego Chargers *in this case, all other teams were no better than 8-8).

2017 NFL season: NFC South (11–5 New Orleans Saints, 11–5 Carolina Panthers, 10–6 Atlanta Falcons *in this case, all other teams were no better than 9-7).

For an unrelated reason, I visited the 2020 browns season on wiki well known place, and if you want to see what they say,
Browns 2020 season, go to the very bottom, (I tried to copy and paste but, ehh I don't understand it, )

They explain every teams position, with a footnote, and there are 3 footnotes explaining each time the div, tiebreak is used to eliminate the Browns, round after round, before other teams were considered.

Because they are 3rd place in their division, so if you don't believe nfl.com maybe wikipedia displaying the process can spell it out

https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/nfl-tiebreaking-procedures/.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Cleveland_Browns_season

What you're reading on Wikipedia is a real life situation as I described in Scenario #2. That does not change any of the facts in Scenario #1.

I'm not making it up or misunderstanding the rules. Maybe it's too hard to explain, I tried my best with the above post.

You work through protocols and berths are awarded ONE TEAM AT A TIME. After each berth is awarded, you start over at square-one. Once Baltimore (or whoever holds tie-breaker in our division) "gets in", the stupid division rule no longer applies. Period. End of story.

The stupid division rule always applies as long as there are 3 or more teams still tied when they go back to square one as you call it. Period. End of story.

I don't think the Browns are getting in the playoffs.

I guarantee the Browns are not getting in the playoffs, this year unless, they either, (cincy gets back in, Not happening),
Achieve 2nd place above Baltimore or Pittsburgh in the Afc north,

Or have at least a half game lead in winning percentage over 2(two) of the other 3 divisions 2nd place teams. Look,

1, 2, 3, and 4, can = divisions
A, will = divisin winners, B=2nd place, C=3rd place, etc.
<1> <2> <3> <4> can = sequence or placing
X, will = a random division that has the highest win% of remaining divisions 1,2,3,or4,
(+ - 1/2 ) will = winning percentage.

There are <7> playoff teams, they will be filled in this order.
<first>,1A,...2A,...3A,...4A...
then XB (with the best record/tbreaker)... wins the first wild card

Then the next wild card spot will go to
... XB <2nd place> unless XC = greater than, we'll say at least (1/2 winning percentage over any other remaining "TWO" Xb's

because, in this case
if 2C is tied with XB...
and 3B= (-1/2 or more) and 4B = (-1/2 or more)...

Then XC, and XB, are only two teams, "tied and in the tiebreaker" ( and the division rule does not apply ) yay \0/

but... if...(whew) if, if 3 teams are still tied it will always apply.
All I was trying to do was make this chart.

1A... 2A... 3A... 4A...

XB...(2B)...3B(-1/2) ... 4B((-1/2)...

... 2C(+1/2)... is the only way C gets in,

Exactly

Too much to worry about right now.

Let's start by at least being 10-6 and see what happens with the Raiders, Dolphins, Colts, Ravens and Titans.

It could be worse. A 5 or 6 win team is getting in in the NFC over much better teams.

we will make the playoffs. We may lose in the first round, but, I'm pretty confident we will be the last seed. (barring injuries or mass covid issues)

Eagles, mathematically could get to 10-5-1.

I think the Eagles, can get to 7-8-1, if losing to the Browns,
or 8-7-1 if they beat the Browns.
Seahawks, saints, skins, Browns and ? Giants?,
I'll look again.

who cares

In week 7 the Browns were in position to be in the playoffs if they were that week.

Since then the Browns have been out of the playoffs.

I don't think the Browns get in the playoffs without a win over Baltimore at home, or Pittsburgh at home, at least one or the other.

I don't know how the Browns beat either of those teams without passing touchdowns to wide receivers.

(There are already injuries, Beckhams inury is huge.
Chubbs injury was Huge,

The same with Teller, Hooper, and Hubbard.

i'm thrilled were this far into the season and talking playoffs...

I wouldn't be suprised if we get to 10-6 and dont make it in (seems like a browns thing)... but i'd pretty pretty damn happy with that record regardless of if we get in or not... step in the right direction.

win your games and it will not matter.

1-0 this week.... You cannot count on other teams to lose.

Said it in another thread, but man this feels like a year where the Bronwns could win ten games and miss the playoffs, just like the last time we did.

whatever tho, it's fun to look forward to sundays now, and it should be a thrilling last month and a half of games. So many things can happen.

Thrilling to still be relevant! I had somewhat forgotten how good this feels.

Regardless, hope we win out for the most part. I want to win into the playoffs, not back in (but I would take even that).

Pretty grim outlook with a 5-way tie (record only) at 6-3 when 2 sports are available and we have the easiest schedule.

I would suspect that Ravens take the 5 and we take the 7 seed (barring any more injuries or Covid outbreaks)

we just did that a few years ago LOL

It's Over!


If, Myles Garrett, (Get Well Soon),

is out an extended number of games...


Browns will be hard pressed to stay ahead of New England in this years playoff race, and they have a 2 game lead with just 7 games to play.

Browns 6-3
Patriots 4-5

I would expect Garrett to play next week's game. Most recover from the virus in a day or so. Someone of his health, it shouldn't be an issue.

I have known 7 different people who were confirmed to have COVID. Not one single person amongst them recovered in a day or so. Who do you know that recovered in a day?

(please say Trump... please say Trump)

Trump You~!

Browns have to beat the
Titans,
Ravens,
Eagles,
and Jets,

Catch the Ravens, and it'll be a playoff year.

Agreed. About the only way I'd be mad is if there was a game that all we had to do was win, we're capable of winning, but somehow decide to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory.

KC vs LV
Indy vs GB
Ten vs Balt

Philly vs Cle

I lke our chances after this week to improve our playoff chances!

So, rooting for GB and KC. Who are we rooting for in the Balt game?

I would say Ten, since we have them shortly, and all the tie breaker stuff if we are tied Balt.

Whoa this is so freakin huge man... to study.
Wow,
If the Browns win today, and Raiders and Dolphins both lose, the Browns are back in above the playoff line for one week, because the Ravens and Titans can't both win their game.

So, If that happened, and .. The Colts somehow go ahead in the division race, (not sure where it is) they're tied with the titans, (important because the non chosen is the one the Browns would head to head tie break with for a playoff spot: So

Wow,
Playoff tie break if, today, before the games are played, if the 6-3 Browns and 6-3 Titans are compared head to head,

It's Browns! Head to Head? does not exist yet
Conf. vs. AFC, teams, record, equal 4-3 to 4-3

Then it goes to common opponents,(minimum 4) and Bam! Browns got em so far. (we actually have 4 common opponents, befor the Raven game, and the Titans Raven game will be a 5th.

Thank God the Bungles beat the titans. pfft!

Browns swept the Bengals, Titans only played em once, the tie breaker says best wlt, in common games minimum 4, so, I'm not sure how that would eventualy work out if one, (the Browns) sweeps the bengals, vs if the other, the titans) had won only once because they play only once, But!
The Bungles beat em and the don't get a chance to play again, the Browns Swept the bungles and they don't get a chance to play again, so (SO FAR) that helps the Browns tie break win over the titans,
So does the... Both Browns/Titans beat the Texans
Browns won, Texans, lost to the Colts BAM!

... Being that the Browns Titans play later in the year, all this goes out the window unless the Browns/Titans tie in that game.

If the Browns plan on losing to the Titans, they better root for the Ravens today.

I just realized,... the Browns got swept by the stee, wait, Sweeping the Bengals doesn't help the Browns common game win % against the tiebreak with the Titans if IF! the Browns get swept by the Steelers .. week 17

and, If the Browns don't split with the Ravens, if the Ravens beat the Titans today.

I think most signs point to root for the Ravens to win today, which won't matter at all until the Browns beat both the Titans, (which they have to,) and the Ravens, which they have to)

to get into the playoffs, where they can THEN,
Beat the Steelers in the Playoffs.

In Pittsburgh!
(Common opponents Browns, 3-1, Titans 1-3)

So, Rooting for the Titans, today. Is it easier to beat the Titans, or Ravens, or Both?

So, I'll root for,... Titans today!
Colts at home to beat the Titans next week,

Ravens to lose today,
Ravens to lose on the road at Pittsburgh next week,

Browns to Beat the Eagles Today,
Browns to Beat the Jaguars on the road next week!

Against the Raiders every week,
Against the Dolphins every week!

I just watched a highlight segment on Emmanuel Ogbah,
Who should still be a Cleveland Brown!

I earlier figured, the numbers 38%

32 of 84 players on the Browns website, from Top to Ps, to covid, come from non power 5 conference,
and I didn't count the obviously good players and players pulled from NfL experience,

So that, 1 in 3 players for the Browns are coming from non football, and or, division 2 schools,

So, Your Signature, "The harvard boys are doing..."
is a Joke IMO.

Any Winning the Browns are doing is IN SPITE of the harvard boys.
times a MILLION!!!
The Organization still doesn't GET IT!

You develop Talent!
You DON'T, ship off talent hoping to find 1 percent better.

It's why you've not won a playoff game since 94!
AND You can take that to the Bank! Whether anyone likes reading it, or not!

harvard boys? It's football not law!

IMO we have to win the next two weeks to maintain a chance ... with Miami, Las Vegas, Baltimore, Tennessee, and Indy that’s a lot of teams to overtake

GC. The Ravens Titans game today, looks more clearly that Browns fans should Root for the Ravens to win it today, because

Browns fans have to ask themselves whether the Titans or Ravens are more likely to lose more of their remaining games and i'll ask you to look specificall at weeks 16, and 17 the final two of the year.

the Ravens remaining schedule

Vs Titans today
At Steelers
vs. Cowboys
At Browns
Vs. Jaguars
Vs. Giants
AT Bengals

...

Titans remaining schedule.
At Ravens today
At Colts
Vs. Browns
At Jaguars
Vs. Lions
At Green Bay Packers
At Texans

So, if you think in the final two weeks, the mighty Bengals of Cincinnati, with Joe Burrow and the mighty Daniel Jones Giants without Saquan Barkely RB, are a tougher mountain for the Ravens to climb
and the Ravens will more likely fall to 8-8
NOT! ^^^ then root for the titans today.

If you think, the mity Packers of Green bay with Qb Aron Rogers, and there's a chance Deshaun Watson of the Texans waking up, and beating their division rival titans, both of those home games for the team we'd want,
is more likely to happen and more likely the Titans fall to 8-8

Then root for the Ravens today!

edit:
Browns remaining schedule
Vs. Eagles today
At Jaguars
At Titans
Vs Ravens. Monday Night iirc
At Giants
At Jets
Vs. Steelers.

So Root for the Ravens today.

According to a graphic showed in the game, the one team we do have the tiebreaker on is also not in a playoff position.

Here we go onside kick

Titans Beat the Ravens in OT with a touchdown, today.

Ravens did not help us out today.

But, good new is, Browns Achieve 2nd place in the division,

for the moment, with the Ravens falling to 6-4

http://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

ESPN's playoff machine is up and running.

Congratulations on overtaking the Ravens. I truly believe the Browns are playoff bound this season.

HACK

Beating the Jags, Jets and Giants on the road would only get us to 10-6. We have to beat a good team (either the Titans on the road of the Rats/Steelers in Cleveland).

We are 5-1 at home but still only 2-2 on the road. Gonna be tight.

11-5 is surprisingly "possible."

There's a reason they play the games. Any team, including the Browns, could have an injury to a top player, or have a top player or 2 or 3, or 4 have to miss games.

Agreed. It's way to early to be talking playoffs. Long way to go.

I agree but its nice being in the conversation

*updating again

we are still on pace to get into the playoffs from what I expected


We should win 6/8 of these games (3 more to go)

Houston/won
Philly/won
NYG
Jacksonville
Jets
Cin/won
Las Vegas/lost
Pitt


We will need to win 1 game against these teams to get in the playoffs. *accomplished

Indy/won
Pitt/lost
Baltimore


I would expect that 10-6 gets us in the playoffs as the 7 seed.

Go Packers and Broncos

and Chiefs.

Denver is leading Miami 13-10
Packers over Indy 21-14
KC win over LV


8this would give us the 6 seed with games left between Tenn and Balt and Pitt.

I'm also glad the Patriots lost today. that removes them from the dark horse convo

Tipping my helmet to the Titans. Thankee!

I think Denver should have kicked a FG the possession earlier

It's nice to not be 3-7.

3-7 would put us almost first in the eagles division.

GC.

Colts ust take a 3 pt lead on the pacers with 9 minutes to play

Dolphins are about to tie the Broncos with 2 minutes to go in their 4th.

Miami lost

Broncos Win

Looks like the Colts might pull this one out on the Packers...

We need LV to lose now

Every week, Vegas and Dolphins to lose every week.
Only possible change, if New England jumps up.

Here's what I'm dreaming about...

We are 12-3 or 11-4 going into the last week Vs Steelers, they are 15-0.

We beat them and prevent the perfect season while also knocking Baltimore out of the playoffs.

*drool*

(I know it's just a dream, but nice to still be able to dream going into December!)

We have the 6 seed folks!

Down go the Raiders

Playoff percentages going into Sunday:

Ravens (6-3): 86%
Colts (6-3): 73%
Raiders (6-3): 70%
Titans (6-3): 60%
Browns (6-3): 58%
Dolphins (6-3): 45%

After Sunday:

Titans (7-3): 84%
Colts (7-3): 78 %
Ravens (6-4): 71%
Browns (7-3): 69%
Raiders (6-4): 67%
Dolphins (6-4): 30%

I like our odds. I would love to get the 5 seed.

Looking at next week and am realizing that there is a buttload of football still to be played

Steelers v Ravens
Colts v Titans

are both next week. This whole playoff picture has a bit of time to get sorted out.

Just win baby. The only way to know for sure....

Browns had a very nice day. Had the packers not collapsed to the Colts it would have been perfect.

Gotta beat the Jags now

Now that we seem to have the bad weather games down, I'm hoping for some more nastiness next Sunday.

Long range forecast is 77 and cloudy, slight chance of a shower with a typical 11 MPH Florida wind. Pretty ideal conditions.

The team probably wants to leave today, lol.

Spring break LOL!

Hope we are more eager to get after it harder. Some people stepped up large. Others did not. I would not want to wake up and be Went this morning. He has been soaking up a bundle of hits, sacks, and abuse.

Glad to be part of it. Wondering what kind of day that MG might have had.

haha good point

J/c

Also, kinda looking at the upcoming schedule. There’s a chance our game at Tennessee gets flexed to either 4:25 or SNF. That’s a pretty big game for both us and the Titans ... and for the AFC playoffs

Got to survive Jag game without Garrett.

That Raider loss if we could have that game back again!

Beating the Colts is big time for us.

Teams have the Ravens # as outside of us and Chiefs last year they ran over everybody literally! This year not so and could end up 8-8 if we beat them at home!

I think our Defense is the key. We got to keep getting Better. We know if our D plays well the running game will take over and control the games for us!

I think there’s a slight chance Garrett is back for JAX .. but I won’t hold my breath

Rather have him rest another week and then come on stronger than ever!

Well, that's pretty much the Kiss of Death for us in most years.

haha, or we usually say “we control our own destiny for the #1 overall pick guys!”

I think theres a helluva (it's a cheese brand) lot more chance the Ravens Win Out and go 12-4
than Fall to 8-8.

Ravens are NOT out of this, 1, I don't know if the Steelers wouldn't mind taking a dive on thanksgiving just to hurt the Browns case,

Then, the Ravens have the Cowboys at home, (QB unknown Dalton or Gilbert, "which team is more motivated?"

Then at the Browns, (from a Ravens perspective, they beat you 38-6 opening day with all the Browns healthy, Beckham won't suit up, and the Browns look 1 dimensional, easy win, from their perspective

Then The Ravens play the easiest, (at this point) final 3 games I can find
Home for the Jaguars and QB Luton
Home for the Giants, and Qb Daniel Jones and
At the Bengals and Qb 1-800-Ryan Finley.

12-4 in the bag, on to the playoffs,

Browns, prepared to keep pace?

Since 3 catch Beckham is out, the Browns pass game has imploded not exploded, targets to Landry, Higgins, Hooper and the like have been
Consistent, or inconsistent? Find your own answer.

Browns prepared to keep pace? Musical Chairs, 9 teams, 7 spots, you might edge out the Dolphins,
Browns are Neck and Neck with the Titans and Raiders,??

The Ravens aren't going anywhere, don't even mention the Steelers, 3rd place in the division would hurt your case.

Are the Browns prepeared to keep up? 12-4 that's the pace, you'd better plan on winning out.

A passing game is necessary; and a defense that doesn't get rag dolled.
blowing smoke won't help.

I remember in the 1980's and 90's hearing that line,
"X controls their own destiny" NO! it was like a black cat crossing your path,
like telling a pitcher he's got a no hitter going, in the bottom of the 7th,
or, "Browns only have to win one of their next 3 to win the division" Duh! lose two in a row first time all year, . something like that.
Just don't say it!

Garrett ruled out for Jacksonville

ugh ... both he and Ward possibly out ... not great

Lots of rumblings with the Ravens from Lamar Jackson saying a week or so ago that the other team was calling out their plays.. now this week saying that the Titans seemed to just want it more.

My guess is that they will not go 12-4 or 8-8 but somewhere in between, which is why we need to beat them.

We will see how they respond.


The Steelers are competing for home field through the playoffs with a 1 loss Chiefs team. If you think they would jeopardize that just to spite the Browns, you are delusional.

And I think they would much rather hurt the Ravens chance at the playoffs than ours.


In the 3 games since OBJ has gone out we have played Wentz, Watson, and Carr... 3 QBs all of the haters would gladly trade Mayfield for, especially the last 2... In those last 3 games..


............. Mayfield.... Others
Attempts........67..........89
Completions.....36..........56
Completion %....53.7........62.9
Yards...........458.........478
TDs.............0...........3
INTs............0...........2
Rating..........75.35.......78.77

Browns are 2-1..

As for the Ravens schedule, they will probably lose to the Steelers, making them a 5 loss team... then we have a chance to beat them ourselves and if you think they are looking at week 1 and thinking this is an easy win, I hope you are right.. could be 10-6, maybe 11-5.. Doubtful 12-4..

Dolphins are a 4 loss team, still have Chiefs, Patriots, Raiders, and Bills. Pulled their QB last week, going back to him this week... 10-6 (or worse) is highly possible

Raiders are a 4 loss team, still have the Chargers, Colts, and Dolphins.. could potentially be 12-4 though odds of them slipping to 11-5 is more realistic. But they own the tie-breaker on us.

Colts are a 3 loss team, still have the Raiders, Titans, Steelers and Texans twice.. Could easily be 11-5.. We own the tie-breaker on them.

Titans are a 3 loss team, still have Colts, Browns, Packers, and Texans. Could be 12-4, possible 11-5. Tie-breaker is TBD.

I think 11-5 puts us in pretty good shape and it would come down to tie-breakers.. oddly enough, if we go 11-5, it would benefit us for us to beat the Ravens and Titans and lose to the Steelers and Giants..

What we need is for somebody to beat the Chiefs, Steelers go into week 17, 15-0 with home field secured and pull their starters..

If there is going to be a log jam where tie-breakers rule, it's going to be at 11-5, not 12-4...

What we needed was for either the Colts or the Titans to separate in their division and that just hasn't happened.

And, on a personal note, if we go 11-5 and somehow miss the playoffs.. Would suck but I guess I can live with that all things considered.

One game at a time...

Seeing that ward had to have a mri tells me he will probably be out for at least 3 weeks if not more. Pass defense is bad enough, with him gone I would say our chances drop dramatically. I swear its like there is some unknown entity that is bound and determined to make sure we never make the playoffs

If I don't respond to the other parts of your post yet, do get understand,
I'm not against Baker, I'm against him not being used.
No, No, that's not correct,
I'm against the team, not chosing to continue the passing enough to keep the rust from forming; in the hopes they can overachieve, one win over their heads, one at a time.

Why is the sky always falling,every post???????

Browns version of SNL's Debbie Downer!!!!!

When asked, Zegura said he didn't see anything drastic or noticeable at the end of the game. For now, lets hope it's precautionary instead of writing him off for a chunk of the playoff push.

Try holding your water for once!

Because you need me that's why lol. I AM YOUR BALANCE LOL. I never let you get to high, so if the bottom does drop out the fall wont hurt as bad. I provide a service lol

Saddened to learn this about MG. Also hope the Ward MRI is just being overly cautious and taking care of the lad. Our secondary without him is reduced. I don't expect Greedy to take up the slack.

Have a full recovery soon, MG. We need the wolf back for this run.

GC. The ONLY reason to root for the 6-4 Ravens to beat the 10-0 Steelers on Thanksgiving, if you're a Browns fan,

is if you believe the then 7-4 Ravens and 7-3 Browns would BOTH, overtake the then 10-1 Steelers in the rankings, with only 6, 5, and 5, games to play, respectively.

So there is basically NO reason to root for the Ravens in that game, if you hope for help for the Browns.

Root for the Steelers, on this Thanksgiving game.

I don't care about any implications. I would never root for steelers, and I couldn't even fathom the weight of that bandwagon if they went 16-0. BAL, BUF, INDY are the last hopes to ending this.. BAL has half their offense on COVID so doubt they would win anyways without their 2 starting running backs.

Never ever. I hate on two of them. While I watch, I root for whoever is on defense. Can't stand any success.

I will root for the ground to open up under the stadium and swallow both teams whole. Never to be seen again.

Not like who any of us root for really matters anyway... but it serves the Browns playoff chances better if the Steelers win.


Well, ,they still have to play the Browns too... so there is that.

j/c

If Pitt beats Ravens it helps us much more than vice versa.

Go Steelers!

Ewww

Playoff Watch 1.0: In the driver’s seat
Franchise is hot and should finish the season with a winning record

By Barry Shuck Nov 25, 2020, 4:33am EST


https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2020/11/25/21611873/playoff-watch-1-0-in-the-drivers-seat


The Cleveland Browns are currently 7-3-0. No, that is not a misprint. Don’t touch that dial. The lunatics still are not in control of the asylum.

Not only are they 7-3-0, but they will control their destiny from this point on. Read that again: they control their destiny with an eye on the playoffs. This season, along with four division winners in the AFC, there will also be awarded an extra Wild Card spot for a total of three.

Before Sunday’s 22-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland was slotted in the eighth position. That is eighth out of seven spots. However, quite a bit happened on the field to assist the Browns’ quest of finally getting back into playoff mode. The Baltimore Ravens lost which owned the sixth spot, and now are slotted eighth. The New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins all lost. Each one was Cleveland’s competition for the post-season bids.

Will the Browns make the playoffs? Let’s examine what the other teams are doing, and who has the best chances of making the post-season.

AFC North Division

Pittsburgh Steelers 10-0-0

The Steelers defeated one of the worst clubs in the league this year, the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Browns have the Jags on their schedule next week. Pittsburgh was up 17-3 at the half and limited Jacksonville to just 73 yards rushing.

Pittsburgh is 3-0 in the division and 7-0 in conference play and will come down to themselves and the Kansas City Chiefs for that elusive Number 1 seed. It is doubtful the Browns nor Ravens will catch them for the division crown. The Steelers play the Ravens Thanksgiving night in a must-see game. It is difficult to imagine rooting for Pittsburgh, but another Ravens loss would only help the Browns.

Remaining games are the Football Team, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Colts then Browns so there are some games they could definitely lose.

Last five games: 5-0. Toughest opponents remaining: Ravens, Bills, Colts, Browns

Post-season probability: 99%

Cleveland Browns 7-3-0

Beating the Eagles was expected. Wins over the Jaguars and both New York clubs are assumed .The problem games are against the good teams which Cleveland has had issues with this season. The good news, however, is that the Browns have the tie-breaker against Indianapolis and also play the Steelers the final game of the season. This may be a game that Pittsburgh doesn’t care if they win or not right before the playoffs and may prefer to rest their starters. So a cheap win is possible.

Baltimore Ravens 6-4-0

With another Baltimore loss Sunday 30-24 to the Tennessee Titans, the Ravens dropped from the sixth seed to the eighth slot. Their game this Thursday against the Steelers is critical. At 2-1 in the division race, a Ravnes win would bring Pittsburgh and Baltimore into identical 3-1 division records. Where they are hurting is their conference win-loss record currently at 4-4. This alone may prove to be their biggest hurdle because best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference is the second tie-breaker right behind head-to-head games.

Division Leaders
AFC East
Buffalo Bills 6-3-0

Last five games: 3-2. Toughest opponents remaining: Steelers, Patriots, Dolphins

Post-season probability: 90%

AFC South
Indianapolis Colts 7-3-0

Last five games: 3-2. Toughest opponents remaining: Titans, Raiders, Steelers

Post-season probability: 69%

AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs 9-1-0

Last five games: 5-0. Toughest opponents remaining: Buccaneers, Dolphins, Saints

Post-season probability: 99%

Philadelphia Eagles v Cleveland Browns
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
Wild Cards
#5. Tennessee Titans 7-3-0

Sunday: beat the Ravens 30-24. Last five games: 2-3. Toughest opponents remaining: Colts, Browns, Packers


AD
Post-season probability: 82%

#6. Cleveland Browns 7-3-0

Sunday: beat the Eagles 22-17. Last five games: 3-2. Toughest opponents remaining: Steelers, Ravens, Titans

Post-season probability: 74%

#7. Las Vegas Raiders 6-4-0

Sunday: lost to the Chiefs 35-31. Last five games: 3-2. Toughest opponents remaining: Colts, Dolphins

Post-season probability: 87%

On the Outside
#8. Baltimore Ravens 6-4-0

Sunday: lost to the Titans 30-24. Last five games: 2-3. Toughest opponents remaining: Steelers, Browns, Cowboys

Post-season probability: 54%

#9. Miami Dolphins 6-4-0

Sunday: lost to Denver Broncos 20-13. Last five games: 4-1. Toughest opponents remaining: Chiefs, Patriots, Raiders, Bills

Post-season probability: 39%

#10. Denver Broncos 4-6-0

Sunday: beat the Miami Dolphins 20-13. Last five games: 2-3. Toughest opponents remaining: Saints, Chiefs, Panthers, Bills, Raiders

Post-season probability: 2%

Final thought
NFL clubs who have a better win-loss record than the Browns:
Pittsburgh 10-0-0
Kansas City 9-1-0
New Orleans 8-2-0
Cleveland 7-3-0
(tied with six other 7-3 teams)
Looking Ahead: results that could help the Browns
Thursday

Steelers over Ravens

Sunday

Falcons over Raiders

Titans over Colts

Cardinals over Patriots

Jets over Dolphins

Saints over Broncos

Every game is pretty much a playoff game from here on out for the Browns.

If the Browns lose one more, Their Done, pretty much,

They are barely hanging in there, and looking around, not only,

Not only can the Titans and or Colts kick them out,
But the Bills and Chiefs, being out front, means the Dolphins or Patriots wouldn't be a div winner, and That could kick out the Browns.

Then, the Raiders, are probably ahead of the Browns unless they lose one spot in the W-L column.

Even the Patriots, could kick the Browns out eventually if they overtake the Dolphins, and the article didn't talk of them, (The Pats lost to the Texans last week, helped)

What's helping the Browns? (from the past?) Sweeping the Bengals, and the Bengals beating the Titans,

The Browns two closest adversaries, (aside from being behind the Raiders, and forgetting the colts a second, and hoping bad luck continues in baltlimore; if you forget those 3, the Browns two closest adversaries are the Dolphins, and the Titans)

So on that above note of sweeping the Bengals, let's hope the Dolphins, ... lose at the Jets, so they can split w/their 4th place team and hope the Bengals beat the Dolphins the following week.

(In the same way the Bengals beating the Titans helped the Browns,... The Browns beating, and not losing to the texans, did Not help the titans.)

Texans are a 7 loss team, they play the colts two more, and the Titans last game of the year, nice if the Texans win all 3 of those.

If it would come down to minium 4 common opponents with the Dolphins, they would be Bengals, Jets, Raiders, and "Jaguars". (Dolphins play at the Raiders week 16, the next to last week)

If the Dolphins win out,(get the div title and put the bills in the wild card race) and Browns and Bills are tied... after the clubs records vs the afc,, (today the Bills hold a 5-2, over 4-3, records vs the afc tiebreaker over the Browns 1 v 1. with more games to play.

j/c

We're 7-3 for the first time in forever ... I'm happy to take the rest of the season exactly like Stekanski - one game at a time and see where it goes. I didn't expect to make the playoffs before the season started and that isn't the be-all end-all for me this year. GREAT if it happens but ... Happy to just enjoy the ride.

Agreed I said earlier I had 3 Goals going in :

1. 8-8 Non Losing Season First Since 2007

2. 9-7 First Winning Season Since 2007

3. 10-6 + First Playoff Since 2002

Whose done?

They just have to have that attitude going into it, because there are so many chances for the team to miss out.
Whose? Who's, their, they're, hmm? The team in general.

(He caught! me.)

Who’s on first? Haha had to

I would bet a lot of money that a 12-4 team makes the playoffs.

11-5 would probably make it as well.

10-6 is anyone's guess.

I’m going to guess that there will be 1-2 teams that are 10-6 that won’t make it this year

It looks that way early, but we gotta remember a lot of the teams at 6-4/7-3 still play each other. Dolphins play Raiders and Bills. We play the Ravens and Titans. Raiders play the Colts. etc and so on.

Not to mention most of them play the Chiefs and Steelers still, so that will be some losses tossed in.

I can see maybe one 10-6 team missing (only cuz we're the Browns and that's the type of thing that would happen to us), but it's not likely, and super highly improbable for 2 to miss.

Consider how 2-3 weeks ago all the "experts" had the Ravens going 14-2 (or better lol)

We're still at a point where this is maybe not so far fetched. Playoff spots would be, seeded,

1, Steelers 13-3, lose to ravens Browns Bills
2, Titans 12-4 or chiefs, just a guess as the same record, beat colts jags lions packers Texans

3, Chiefs 12-4, lose to Broncos, dolphins, saints,

4, Whomever shakes out as winner of the AFC east is the only 10-6 that makes it, I'll guess, Dolphins, 10-6 division winner. (lose to Raiders, lose to patriots

5, Ravens 12-4 they win out, first wild card

6, Browns 11-5, they ("beat") the titans, and Steelers Jets and Jags, lose to Ravens Giants

7 Colts, 11-5 they sweep the Texans beat the Raiders, Jags, lose to titans and steelers.

Out, Raiders, 10-6 lose to colts and broncos

out Patriots 10-6, they beat the Cardinals, dolphins bills, chargers, rams, jets,

out, Bills 10-6 they beat the steelers, 49ers, Chargers, lose to Broncos, Dolphins, Patriots

out, Broncos 10-6 they beat the Saints, Chiefs, Panthers, bills, chargers raiders.

Four 10-6 teams out, Just One in.
Still possible, for a day or so.

Browns should beat the Jags today and move to 8-3. I like their chances of making the playoffs.

We not only should we have to. Losing today would be devastating to our playoff chances. Winning today with 2 against the Jets and Giants, whom we should beat, will give us 10 wins. That should get us in, hopefully. I don't think we will beat the Steelers, Titans or Ravens although the Ravens have looked beatable the last few weeks.

It’d be awfully nice if Atlanta or the Jets could win, though I doubt both

Atlanta demolished the Raiders today, you got your wish.

*updating again

we are still on pace to get into the playoffs from what I expected


We should win 6/8 of these games (2 more to go)

Houston/won
Philly/won
NYG
Jacksonville/won
Jets
Cin/won
Las Vegas/lost
Pitt


We will need to win 1 game against these teams to get in the playoffs. *accomplished

Indy/won
Pitt/lost
Baltimore
Tenn

I would expect that 10-6 gets us in the playoffs as the 7 seed.

we're currently fifth... if playoffs started today we'd play the Bills...

I'm disheartened.
Playoffs don't start today.

Ravens, remaining
schedule looks easy as fudge!

Browns, if the Browns lose to the Ravens, that's 5,
5 gimme wins for the Ravens who are 6-4

After the rescheduled pittsburg game,
they the ravens have Cowboys at home,

then the Browns, (if the Browns are planning on losing this one they may as well kiss any playoff berth good bye)

because that's 2 winnable, games and the Ravens are set to win their final 3

jags, Giants, Bengals, final 3 weeks,

Anyone know the Qb of any one of those teams?

Where are the Ravens losses going to come from? If the Ravens have a better record than the Browns then the 3rd place in the div. poison pill would put the Browns right back on the outside looking in.

It's why I say, the Browns, Don't have any more they can lose,

Browns have to, approach all remaining games as, if you lose you are out!

Incidentially... Browns, Mathmatically eliminated the jaguars today from the playoffs, according to the website I look at.

That Ravens at Steelers game is huge!

If the Ravens beat the Steelers.. the Ravens, could end up 11-5, even IF! The Browns BEAT the Ravens.

Which would put anything less than 11-5 for the Browns as Browns 3rd place in the div.

If todays game is any indication. Nothing is guaranteed.

The Jags are playing people down to the wire.

The Giants are playing for their playoff lives.

Its not that much of a cake walk.

Honestly, the Jags with Glennon looked way better than the past few weeks. He’s at least serviceable

Yes, I will not be donning the black and yeller and actively cheering for the Steelers.. but quietly, subtly, I will be hoping they win.. then I will shower and feel better about it.

I'm confused, while finishing 2nd in the division ahead of the Ravens would be great, the goal is to make the playoffs, correct?

So the teams still in the race who can mathematically catch us:

Browns 8-3
Dolphins 7-4
Colts 7-4
Ravens 6-4
Raiders 6-5
Patriots 5-6

Browns have Titans, Ravens, Jets, Giants, Steelers... three tough games, Browns need to win 1 of them (preferably the Ravens) and not lose to the NY teams. Likely finish, 11-5.

Dolphins have the toughest road, still have to play Bengals, Chiefs, Patriots, Raiders, Bills... Very likely they will lose at least 2 or 3 more games. Likely finish 9-7.

Colts have Texans twice, Raiders, Steelers, Jags.... Probably good for at least 2 more losses. Likely finish 9-7, maybe 10-6. We hold the tie-breaker over them.

Ravens have Steelers, Browns, Jags, Giants, Bengals... Pretty easy finish after the Steelers and Browns. Likely finish, 11-5.

Raiders have Jets, Colts, Chargers, Dolphins, Broncos... A couple games there but not a real hard finish. Likely finish 10-6. Out

Patriots have Chargers, Rams, Dolphins, Bills, Jets... Still a good chance they lose at least 1 or 2 more games. Likely finish, 8-8.

So we finish:

Browns 11-5
Ravens 11-5
Colts 10-6
Raiders 10-6
Dolphins 9-7
Patriots 8-8

And the 3rd wild card is whoever has the tie-breaker between the Colts and Raiders.

don't be confused any longer just get this,

The loser of the Ravens at Browns game, has a
HUGE MONGOUS probability to miss the playoffs, altogether
55%,

Because the best most likely, for the Loser of the Ravens Browns Monday Night game, is 10-6,
and 10-6 3rd place, loses all 3 way tie breakers,

and after the winner of the Ravens at Browns MNF game gets in, 5 of 7 playoff spots are used up, 2 remain,

and There is almost no probabilities that that loser of the Ravens at Browns MNF game is either behind 9-7 or worse,
or Tied, in a 4 way tie at 10-6 with two spots to go
and the other 3 teams would be the 2nd place teams in the AFC West, AFC South, and AFC East,

Which means that head to head and other tie breakers won't even come into play until spot #8.
There are only 7 Spots.

And I know the Titans and Colts split, head to head, for fisrt place in the AFC South, but the week 1 win by the jaguars means the Colts best div. record by the end is 4-2, the Titans, 3-1 in the division could still end up 5-1 in the division.
only chance we have of the colts being the div winner if they catch the titans is if
the titans lose to one of the jaguars or Texans.

... forget all that,

The question was,
" While finishing 2nd ahead of the Ravens would be great, the goal is to make the playoffs, correct?

I'll answer, Read it this way..

"While breathing is great, the goal is to stay alive, correct?"

Read it that way.

At 8-3, the #Browns now have a 74.0% chance to make the playoffs, according to ESPN FPI

https://twitter.com/Jake_Trotter/status/1333429914108825601

Never give this organization an excuse to say "Hold My Beer".

You got that right. I am looking at the two games against the New York teams no differently as those against the Titans, Ravens, & Steelers.

I'm Sure, I convinced myself in 1999 that there was a greater than 74.0 percent chance I wouldn't have to watch the Browns lose to the steelers 29 of the next 31 times.

I'm sure Fans were convinced there was >74.0 percent chance The Browns would win more than one game with new, accoladed head coach Hue Jackson in 2016, but there were so many injuries.

I'm sure after the injuries went away and the Browns were healthy, few thought there was a greater than 74.0 percent chance that they'd follow that up with a(n) 0-16 campaign with a 2nd year of the same plan,

and that He would be head coach on opening day of 2018?

I'm sure there are Browns fans who historically know how much an overcoming feat beating the Steelers the final game of this year is going to require?

And the same for Beating the Titans on the road this week,

And the same for Beating a semi healthy Ravens team on Monday night football in Cleveland Browns' fan mostly empty stadium.

And I'm here to tell Browns fans, that, if the Browns only plan on beating the Giants and Jets, and if there is a log Jam of teams in the AFC at 10-6 which there likely will be,

That 3rd place teams in a division, (loser of the Ravens Browns MNF game), and (Patriots today)

Won't get in, because, this year, The Dolphins and Bills are, "both good"

The Raiders and Chiefs, are "both good"

The Colts and Titans are "both good"
and
The Steelers and (Ravens at Browns MNF winner) are "both good"

So when there is a log jam at 10-6, with the
Bills, Colts, Raiders, Dolphins, Ravens, Browns, and Titans, (7 teams) at 10-6 or better, and only (2) of them can be division winners, (Chiefs and Steelers the other 2)

then a 5 way tie with 3 spots to fill
means still a 4 way tie with 2 spots to fill

and means still a 3 way tie with only 1 spot to fill,

which means any team 3rd place in it's division, (only the "loser" of the Ravens at Browns MNF matchup,

will still be eliminated from playoff contention of all ties involving 3 or more teams from different divisions of the same conference, before any other, 1 team v 1 team tie break is considered.
before head to head
before AFC record
before, anything else, except overall record.

So unless you plan to have at least a one game lead on all those other teams, (11-5) then the log jam at 10-6 would put the, (Ravens at Browns Monday Nigh Football; loser)
On the outside looking in, start to finish,
Even if it's the Colts who you beat, head to head.

because 2nd place in the AFC South, -colts
is by rule the winner over 3rd place in the AFC North (-ravens vs browns on MNF loser.) .. if the tie is 3 or more teams.
Which is trending very likely.

exactly. I actually think the Giants are dangerous .. they have decent weapons on offense. Jones being out would hurt them of course.

If we can’t beat the Jets to make the playoffs (which may be the case at the time) then we would have to own that one

Actually , quick thought, Browns vs. Ravens Mathup MNF in two weeks
will be

The Single Biggest Regular Season matchup for the Browns
since the 2nd steeler game of the 1994 playoff year,

(not remembering the details of the 2001-2002 playoff year) I'm still confident in that statement.

Huh? Did I miss a rule change? There is no preferential treatment for finishing second in your division. You either win the division or you go into the WC pool with everybody else.


We haven't played the Titans yet but it benefits us if the Titans win more games (excluding against us) and win the division pushing the Colts into the WC race. We already own the first tie-breaker against the Colts, which is head to head.

It may have been the different thread (remaining schedule) where we discussed this two weeks ago, but you are wrong,
we all looked at the rules and as long as the tie for a wild card selection involves 3 or more teams,(from separate divisions) the very fist thing that happens is all but the highest ranking (division ranking) i.e.2nd place before 3rd place) are removed from the discussion in each round of discussions involving 3 or more teams.

https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/nfl-tiebreaking-procedures/
(^look at, 3 or more teams from not the same division)

if it's just 2 teams tied at a certain record, you are right, but if its' 3 or more teams, each time they look, then the 3rd place teams vs 2nd place teams in their respective divisional races will instantly be taken out of the picture.

I didn't learn this until last month and I've been thinking I knew for at least 25 years.

Thanks for clearing that up. I had not heard of this rule.

That said, I still believe that if we win any 1 of the tough games left and BOTH of the NY games, we get to 11-5 and we are probably in. Even if we don't beat the Ravens. I just don't see 2 of the 3, Raiders, Dolphins, Colts getting to 11-5.

Whoa! This just might be the first time that's ever been said in response to a TL post!

Mike Tyson, is that you? lol

Well if that's the case then we might be screwed. Still at least a 50 percent chance the ravens wind up with a better record than us. If we win the second game and split with them but end up with the same record then it comes down to division record. If our division record is the same as theirs then it comes down to strength of schedule, which I believe we would lose because thier schedule was not as weak as ours. I believe having the Patriots and chiefs on thier schedule would be the difference. Figures the one season we have a chance at making the playoffs the AFC is ridiculously competitive. Besides us the colts, raiders, dolphins, Bills, ravens and titans are all heavily immersed in the wild card race

JC

Still too many variables to really try to figure this out.

Just win as many as we can and see where the chips fall is my attitude.

Win out. Always need a goal. Might as well.

This division is murder compared some of the others out there.

Mine likewise. I don't think we have the juice to beat a surging Titans team or even a COVID-infected Ravens team...even if at "full" strength. We just aren't that team yet.

I'm not saying we don't have a chance here...I just think that those teams will out-physical us and when that's happened this year, we've really struggled.

I agree with you. Keep the 1-0 approach going.

Which is the right attitude to have.. I'm just an analytical nerd, I like to play with the numbers and the possibilities.

LOL! this is the equation everyone has been dreaming about

NO Shoot! hey I just figured out something,

Not sure which poster, because I've got the rule I wrote down right in front of me,

wow just figured this out,

Which poster 8 posts before said... " if we split with the ravens then they look at division record.

And if the Ravens and Browns have the same division record the next thing ' ( this part is not next on the tie break list) is strength of schedule and the ravens had a tougher schedule so the Browns won't get in.

NO, the next tie breaker, of inside the same division 2 teams, is common games.

and in this version of common games there is no mention of 4 games minimum but wouldn't matter,
So I pick up my paper of the Ravens schedule, and my memory of the Browns year and start counting common games,
(now assuming AAAHHH! Eeeek, The only way it reaches here is if the BRowns do the same vs the steelers in week 17, that the Ravens do against the Steelers, TOMORROW!

UGH. but, if the Steelers beat the ravens tomorrow, then the Steelers can beat the Browns in week 17 and if the Browns beat the Ravens next week having both been swept by the
swept by the steelers,
swept the bengals
and split with each other ravens and browns, then common games is the next here is the list from ravens schedule, (so awesome)

they beat the Texans week 2, (we beat the Texans
they beat the Washington, (we beat the WFT's)

eagles, we didn't play the eagles, doesn't matter

they beat the colts, (we beat the colts)...

they lost to the titans, ( We still get play the titans this week!!!)
that's what's so cool,

they still have to play the cowboys, We beat the cowboys

they still have to play the jaguars, (we beat the jaguars

they still have to play the giants, ( We still have to play the giants,

they would still have to beat the bengals week 17, (we've already swept the bengals.

Wow, Joe Burrows injury hurt the Browns playoff chances, oh well.

So,

If you beat the titans, and the Ravens, you will only have to beat the Giants to make the steeler game not even matter in a tie break w/ the ravens
vs. all other teams 1 v 1 it's still a complicated.

Rule: in the same division...
Two clubs...
tie break....
1, head to head
2, in the division W-L-T
3, Common games W-L-T, < that's where my post is at, strength of schedule comes in later, sometime after #4 which I stopped writing at because it shouldn't get that far, but after (3, common games W-L-T)
4, Vs the conference, (afc) W-L-T

The oh shoot moment, is, if you split with the Ravnens, and Beat the Titans, who the ravens already lost to,
And if the Steelers beat the Ravens tomorrow,

Then, if you beat the giants... you locked up the tie break and the record, so far as matching up with the ravens, at that point,
if all that happened, and you beat the giants, then
the Browns could sit their starters for the steeler game,

ehh, it's fun as long as the Browns keep winning.

Bottom line, Beating the Titans, and Beating the Ravens on MNF,

and then equaling in week 17, what the Ravens outcome vs the Steelers tomorrow is,

Sigh. The Titans game is the tie breaker,

THE TITANS, GAME, IS, THE , TIE BREAKER. Oy Vey. (not strength of schedule) (I know, until the giants kickoff, but)

The TITANS GAME IS THE TIE BREAKER.

At the risk of being a Blow hard, the next two games on the Browns schedule, are definetly the biggest two games the Browns have played since 2007.

On a scale of 1-10 the Titans game is an Eleven.

on a scale of 1-10 the Ravens game on MNF is a Sixteen!

and
depending on the remaining schedules outcomes the final regular season game vs the steelers on week 17,

on a scale of 1-10 the Steelers game may end up a Fifteen!

"eagles, we didn't play the eagles, doesn't matter"

We just played the Eagles 1 week ago

I forgot, they must be a really forgettable team, Ravens and Browns both beat the eagles.

Why not root for the Ravens?

Browns win the next 4 games.
Steelers lose to Ravens and Colts.
Browns beat Steelers final week of the season.
Browns are division champs.

Shoot for the stars man! We need to drop the loser mentality.

I think we have a good chance to beat the Ravens. We looked really bad against them in the first game of the season. But that was KS first game as a HC, the first game the team played using (yet another) new system, the first game of Hooper, Conklin, Wills, and Bryant being part of the offense, along with a myriad of defensive players, and all this after a truncated pre-season with no pre-season games. The Ravens, on the other hand, had fewer personnel changes, were playing for the same coaches in the same system coming of a very good season. They were MUCH better prepared to compete. This is no longer true. Throw in that the Ravens have been beaten 4 times since then, the Browns have been beaten twice.

The Browns have, in my view at least, improved on several fronts over the course of the season. The defense, as flawed as it is, is playing much better in the last several games than the first several. The offense has forged an identity. Baker is stepping up into the pocket, reading the field better, and not making turnovers. The image of the Ravens out-classing the Browns on all fronts, an image prevalent at the beginning of the season and reinforced by that first game, is, I think, no longer valid. We will see next week, but I think the teams are more even than most people recognize.

Because it is much less likely that you are going to knock off a team out of the division lead who is already 2 games ahead of you with a short span of games left,

then that that other team in your division is going to finish winning out their easier schedule and knock you out of the playoffs altogether.
and The steelers just winning any one of those would also knock you out altogether,
Basically,it is, Who is easier to shove into 3rd place, the Steelers right now, or the Ravens right now?

But believe as you wish

The Ravens are in a covid nightmare.

In addition the league has adjusted to their offense.

It would be so wild to run the table. The Titans and Ravens are for sure beatable.

The Steelers have played great. They are very good. But no team is invincible. They can be beaten.

Wins are often determined by how teams matchup. Meaning player matchups and scheme matchups.

Because of the way our team is made. We can be trouble for any team.

When you have a great OL and we do have a great OL.
And when you have two running backs of the quality of Chubb and Hunt. You can control the clock.

So we have ways to cause any team problems.

Agreed. Now if Baker could just hit those open receivers a little more we would really have something!!

if the Browns win 2 of the last 5 games we have an 81% chance of making the playoffs and win 4 of the last 5 100% chance.

i bet that 19% comes in when those 2 wins are just against NYJ/NYG

Guaranteed.

I bet that math assumes the Cowboys, Giants and Bengals all have their original opening day starters at qb when they play against the ravens,
and Bengals against dolphins,

assumes the Texans though out of it, are still as motivated as opening day for their upcoming games twice against the colts, and against the titans,

or math assumes the steelers, undefeated, are no more motivated than on opening day

and doesn't take into account how teams like the Raiders and Patriots are going to put up a valiant effort when faced with elimination during their final game of contention.

Same as math probably thinks snow will stick to the ground or pavement without regard to the previous days temperatures, whether that ground was frozen the day before or retaining the suns heat.

I've seen ice melting, have drivin over puddles of melted ice when it's 1 farenheit outside with a little shunshine in January.

Browns and Ravens have definitely trended in different directions since their first meeting (not even taking the COVID situation into account). Ravens are beatable, Titans are similar... but both teams have the mentality of eating our lunch. First thing's first... we have to get as healthy as possible.

The league might have adjusted to the Ravens O, but I'm not so sure the we have the horses to do so. As we've seen so often, the Browns could be just what the doctor ordered for a faltering Ravens team.

Yeah, I think mentality is our biggest challenge over the next two games. Do we expect to win the game and conduct ourselves in a confident, yet focused way? This part really seems to be that last glass ceiling we need to break.

Agree with the last 2 posts here. Big challenges.

I actually think we are more likely to beat the Titans - we are coming in as underdogs, the band wagoners are all lumping on teh Titans.... when we play the Ravens there is a good chance we'll be favored or talked up because of the Ravens covid issues and struggles to win, and that'd be when we are typically ripe for being punched in the mouth and lose.

I think by the time we meet up with the Ravens they'll have this COVID disaster behind them (unless it keeps going a little longer). We'll be getting them as full-strength as we could expect at this point in the season.

I believe so too. But Lamar and those having gone through Covid protocol/sit outs will only have a very very short time back at practice before the game. I think 'the media' will think that's a huge disadvantage but I think the Ravens are such a well coached team I think they will be ready and fresh ... and desperate.

Steelers just did us a major solid. If they lose a game prior to week 17, they will rest their players and could give us a second gift.

Ravens are 6-5 ... they’ll be 7-5 coming to our place and we’ll be 8-4. That’s a massive game

Why would they rest their players with either 0 or 1 lose in week 17? Unless KC already has 3 by then, they would either be forgoing an undefeated season (ha) or risk losing out on the 1st place conference and the following by week.

O ye of little faith.

Thought Pittsburgh really struggled against a depleted Ravens.

Why do you state as fact we'll be 8-4?

because I bet on us and I never win my bets m

I hope the Cowboys beat the Ravens too.

It seems more likely we will be 9-3 and they will be 7-5 when we play --- barring the rona, injuries, or weather

Ok, so playoff site, which has all these numbers, last week I looked at only 3, it was the dolphins "no playoffs" prob percentage and colts "no playoffs' prob percentages
they were like 51% and 53% but the Browns was way low, but if you add up the Browns and Ravens it was like 58%

So that's the level of setback the Browns vs Ravens loser will face as things go toward 3 way ties at 10-6, For what it's worth
after, the steelers Ravens game ended the others I think stayed the same
51%, 53%, but the Browns and Ravens added together went from 58% to 60%

The further the season goes along, and fewer chances for 2 win teams to beat 10 win teams, I think the real odds against both the 2nd and 3rd place teams of the AFC North getting in is more like 85-90% my guess.

not sure where you are looking for this info.

the browns are between an 81-83% chance to make the playoffs.

We really struggled against a depleted Jacksonville.

Glennon was an upgrade at QB imho.

We were depleted also.

For the last 20 years when the Steelers would come back from a deficit to beat us by 1-3 points nobody said they really struggled.

All that matters is 1 more point on the board at the end of the game.

Nobody will look back at history and see that teams struggled, refs messed up, teams cheated, etc. all they see is Ws and Lombardi Trophies.

For once I'm happy to be on the good side of "struggling"

I get a win is a win. It's just that struggling to beat the likes of JAX, PHI, CIN does not give me a lot of confidence for playing good teams.

If it is a case of playing down to lesser opponents while being able to rise up to better ones, then fine. I want to see the second half of that.

it's Playoffstatus com, does every sport,

It doesn't matter too much to me if the Browns are 81% to get in, because I know how much that can shift with just one bad week.

And I think we saw how good Baltimores defense looked against Pittsburgh yesterday,

But the Browns didn't have Nick Chubb on the field when they played Pittsburgh last time,

And ( I REALLY wish they would bring up Willies off the practice squad) if the Browns could find a passing game,
( I'm losing all faith to support Jarvis Landry anymore, it's just missed expectations game after game in my opinion)

I'm starting to think, If the Browns had a passing attack, they could beat anybody, they could win the freaking super bowl.

In the Opening day game loss to Balt.
The Tight ends were almost 100% on catches per targets and they didn't throw very often too them.

The Browns Offense, is like MC Hammer, with his first million dollars? (didn't he lose all his fortune real fast)

So, my point is, I'm starting to feel better that the Browns maybe, coulda woulda, could beat ONE, of the 3 tough teams,

Or , that maybe the Colts, dolphins, Patriots, stop at 9-7 or worse.

The question at this point becomes are we playing to the level of our opponents? I mean there are cases where no matter who you play, you only play well enough to beat them. That could be a poor team, a mediocre team or a good team.

I know we were throttled by both Pittsburgh and Baltimore but that was very early in the season. I also know we have beaten poor teams by slim margins.

But we are well into the season and I think we have to see if we have risen to the point that we win against good opponents. I'm not extremely optimistic about that quandary but it remains to be seen. Sometimes teams tend to find a way to win no matter the level of their opponents. Sadly that seems to be a trend the Titans have had to a large extent this season as well.

What I'm saying is there's no such thing as struggling to beat a team.

The Patriots are indisputably the best franchise of the last 2 decades in any sport, and maybe of all time, and they won a TON of games by 3 or less, and even lost to the lowly dolphins a few times along the way.

Each week is different. Every team in the NFL has world class talent. Matchups, mistakes, injuries etc.

You can't really compare each game week to week. Even if we TORCHED the Jags it would have no bearing on the Ravens pass rush flustering Baker the next like they did week 1.

The Titans are completely different style and will be completely different gameplan to beat them, not to mention hopefully Myles is back.

No use worrying about how much we won by, just that we found a way to win that week.

Gotcha

I could be wrong tho LOL, I'm always open to that possibility.

Good point about playing to the level of the competition.

People look at the jags game and wonder why so close against a bad team. Because Mike Glennon played well. He made a bunch of good throws.

We beat them because in the end we had to much talent.

Every game takes on it's own character. Sometimes it seems all goes wrong. Players fumble. Receivers drop balls. Quarterbacks miss wide open throws. Tipped balls fall into wrong hands.

Other times those plays go you way.

When you look back at wins. You think oh well we beat that team. Then play the same team and get beat.

Teams are way closer than most think. Teams that win 7 to 10 games are really very close. Games can go either way.

Right now KC, Steelers, and the Saints are top dogs. All the 8 win teams are pretty close and the 7/6 are not far behind in talent. You play those teams; it can go either way.

We should handle the Jets and Giants. Because we can play average and win. Only lose if we play really bad.

The Ravens and Titans we need to play well to win.

Against the Steelers we have to be really on. We have to play are best game to win.

The Browns have reached the point that we can beat anybody if we play our game. But we are not yet to the point that we can win when we have to overcome a lot of mistakes.

I am really looking forward to the remaining schedule.

I think outsiders look at our games, and they see that we've played some close games against bad teams. Our point differential is horrible for an 8-3 team.

But, if you really watch most the games we have won, you know they follow a pattern: we are usually up 2 scores in the 4th quarter, then we let the other team score late to get within 1 score, and then we salt the game away with Hunt and Chubb.

I know the score looks close, but I've felt we've been in pretty good control of all the games we've won (the exception being the 2nd Bengals game). Heck, if Chubb scores at the end of the Texans game, we probably win that game by 2 scores.

If we win the turnover battle, and we can run the ball, we can hang with any team in this league. Once Berry gets the defense to an elite level next offseason, we will be very "dangerous," in the words of Baker.

When you lose 2 games by a combined 76-13.. you are never going to overcome that.

Devil's advocate would say that we could have beaten any two of the cupcake teams we faced by the same combined score to overcome it...

Perhaps. Two games stand out, the Cowboys and the Colts as games where we had 3 or 4 score leads but then allowed the games to get much closer toward the end.

Our defense isn't good enough to hold many teams to 1 or even 2 scores.. the only times we did was when the weather was so bad that it was difficult for us to score a lot of points. And our offense is pretty conservative when we play with a lead..

This team has taken a giant step this year in just learning how to win, we will learn how to build and hold big leads next year.

Yep. And I'm good with all of that. Would love to be the underdog all the way to the Superbowl. Took a trip over to the Titans message board this week and read about the point dif and our suspect defense, over and over...

After we beat the Titans it will be "yeah, but that's just one team", "every dawg has it's day", etc, etc...

After we beat the Ravens: "Yeah, but they've been decimated, blah, blah, blah..."

Keep winning ugly and let the detractors detract -- until they can no more.

As long as we can keep winning I don't care how ugly it is. Woody Hayes won with three yards and a cloud of dust. I was fine with that then and I'd be fine with that now.

I agree ... the good news is, with Chubb it’s more like 11 yards and a cloud of dust haha

And that "left hook" intimidation factor, was it a left or a right?
What times, a 60 year old could beat up a 20 year old and call it, discipline.

(anyone who doesn't know, see, Woody Hayes got mad that another teams player was returning a turnover or similar play, along the sidelines, right in front of Coach Hayes who was built like Lou Holtz, or Mike Dewine, but with stones, and reached out and grabbed the guy and punched the football player right in front of all, as the play ended, or to end it; And that's how he lost his job.

( I probably have this all wrong as I was somewhere between negative 4 and +4 years not born yet/old, at the time.)
(But I saw it later, twice or once in history specials, and Man did the locals talk about it back then,

to them losing Woody Hayes as coach would be like losing a general in wartime.

The guy was on the other team - discipline - LOL.

The Clemson backer should have pounded his sorry old ass.

Woody should have punched his QB for throwing the pick.

The media covering football have to talk.

So endless digging into stats goes on. It becomes like playing fantasy and letting a computer pick your team.

Everybody looking for an angle to appear smart.

All that has happened in the games before doesn't mean boo to what will happen going forward.

Ok the Ravens and Steelers beat us up. That was early. covid has taken players. Injury has taken players. Teams improve. Other teams trend down.

Games played are determined by how the team performs that day.

It doesn't matter how you are 8-3. You won 8 games. wins do not come easy in the NFL. We have been proof of that.

I heard a narrative that we have won despite Baker. That is a load. Could he have played better? Yes of course.

But if you look at the games and the completions made and when they were made. Baker is as much of a part of the 8 wins as anybody. He was told that he had to protect the ball. He has done that. He has improved. And the team has won.

The Browns are finally a contending team. Yet for many that is not enough. Now we have to win by 14 or else we stink.

I am ecstatic to be in the thick of things going into this weekend.

I love this team. I am wearing Brown's gear all the time. I am proud of our record. Have no idea how this will go from here out. But I will be there yelling.

And lastly no matter where we end up at the end. We will be better next year.

Kevin and Andrew are going to continue to build this team. We are building a real team. It has been a long time coming so I will savor this time.

I think the LB's name was Charles Beaumont. I'd have to look it up. It was Charles Bauman. Close

*updating again

we are still on pace to get into the playoffs from what I expected


We should win 6/8 of these games (2 more to go)

Houston/won
Philly/won
NYG
Jacksonville/won
Jets
Cin/won
Las Vegas/lost
Pitt


We will need to win 1 game against these teams to get in the playoffs. *accomplished +1

Indy/won
Pitt/lost
Baltimore
Tenn/won

I would expect that 10-6 gets us in the playoffs as the 7 seed.


Seems like we can lock up a playoffs spot with a win over Balt now that we have the advantage over Tenn

As of during the broadcast today, we can clinch a spot Week 14.... so, yeah, I think that would be a win over Baltimore clinches a playoff berth for us.

and as things currently stand, that first playoff game would be @Tennesee, lol

Can clinch? "Can?"

If Balt loses Tuesday and to Cleveland.
If the Raiders, Colts and Dolphins lost toady (they did not).

We cannot clinch next week. There was a moment (about 15 minutes) where the possibility existed. But even if e win next week, the Titans and Colts could win out and go 11-5. Raiders could win out and go 11-5 (even at 10-6 they tie-break Cleveland). The Dolphins can still lose another game and go 11-5.

Earliest clinch is now week 15.

The Raiders play the Colts next week, so all three (Colts, Raiders, Titans) teams cannot win out. Three teams have to jump ahead of us for us to not clinch a spot.

A thought just occurred to me...

what happens if we win our next game and PIT loses their next game? We're 10-3... they are 11-1...

I know a lot unlikely things would still have to happen, but there's enough football left. I think the possibility of making a push for the Division Title is worth keeping on the back, back burner.

I just want to beat the Ravens next week and have Baker play well doing it.

If Pitt starts to lose games, it becomes a real possibility.

I'd say that we need to win out for it to matter, BUT it could be really interesting on the tie breakers if they have two losses going into Week 17 and then we beat them. I think they'd still get it on Division record, though, so we need them to have the same number of losses as us by Week 17.... I don't think that can happen.

yeah they have beaten the Ravens twice

Go Colts we have the tie breaker on them not the Raiders

if the Raiders lose to the Colts, they still have the tie-break on us.

That's a terrifying thought...what if the Raiders tied the Colts, lol.

Just playing around really, but we can't clinch until week 15.

Then, in week 17,

Just before kickoff?

2 MILLION Browns fans storm Cleveland Browns Stadium to demand attendance, and make the Oh. St. Hwy. Pat. bring them each out in handcuffs, for trespassing, 1 by 1.

The Browns next face the Ravens at home Dec. 14 on Monday Night Football. Cleveland lost to Baltimore in the season opener 38-6. With a victory, Cleveland would boast its best record in 51 years.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/3046...-winning-season

I'm pumped.

With the never-ending two weeks of delayed games, Baltimore should have Lamar Jackson back Tuesday (who says a positive covid tests means you have to miss two games).

I want our revenge against a full-strength Ravens squad.

I don't care if the Ravens are full strength and certainly don't hope for it.

Browns don't have Odell.

and in 2014, week 17 the Ravens didn't exactly care the Browns were playing Connor Shaw at Qb? Browns almost won that one.

Just let the Ravens fall out of the playoff race, maybe the Cowboys will beat them, the Cowboys will be fighting for their only playoff hope in that game.

With the Giants winning it's the last chance for the Cowboys to control their own destiny for the chase to win that worst divisions' division title.

Some other AFC Teams remaining schedule

Indy Colts (4 games remaining)
Raiders, Texans, Steelers, Jags

Raiders (4 games remaining)
Colts, Chargers, Dolphins, Broncos

Ravens (5 games remaining)
Cowboys, Browns, Jags, Giants, Bengals

steelers (5 games remaining)
Washington, Bills, Bengals, Colts, Browns

Dolphins (4 games remaining)
Chiefs, Pats, Raiders, Bills

If we beat the Ravens or Steelers we’re probably in.

If we lose to both we’re gonna need some level of help

Despite what ESPN Radio keeps telling me, the Colts did not take back control of the division from the Titans today, the Titans still lead the division.

Both teams are 8-4

First tie break head to head they split.

next tie break, division record against the AFC South.

Colts improved to 2-2 today with a division win.
Titans remain the same today not playing a division game with a 3-1 record.

Each have 2 remaining division games, each play the Jaguars and the Texans one more time.

The Difference occurred in week #2 where the Jaguars got their only win so far on the year, beating the Colts.

8-4, 8-4, The Titans still lead the division.

edit: This particular tie break occurs because it's a tie involving Two Teams Within the SAME division.

As of right now, Kornacki stated PFF said we have a 97% chance of making the playoffs

Some other AFC Teams remaining schedule

Indy Colts (4 games remaining)
Raiders, Texans, Steelers, Jags - I see 2-2

Raiders (4 games remaining)
Colts, Chargers, Dolphins, Broncos - I see 2-2

Ravens (5 games remaining)
Cowboys, Browns, Jags, Giants, Bengals - I see 4-1

steelers (5 games remaining)
Washington, Bills, Bengals, Colts, Browns - I see 4-1

Dolphins (4 games remaining)
Chiefs, Pats, Raiders, Bills - I see 1-3

Browns (4 games remaining)
Ravens, Giants, Jets, Steelers - I see 2-2

Titans (4 games remaining)
Jaguars, Lions, Packers, Texans - I see 3-1

Would look like this:
Steelers 15-1
Browns 11-5
Titans 11-5
Ravens 10-6
Colts 10-6
Raiders 9-7
Dolphins 9-7

Just how I see it.

Anyone else notice that the NFC #4 seed is the 5-7 NYG?

Beat the Ravens, assures us of finishing 2nd in the division. Big first step.

Jets tanking on the final play by a coach basically begging to get fired didn't help.

The Giants game isn't the gimme it looked like it was 5 or 6 weeks ago. They are playing pretty good football at the moment

None of them are gimme's... but, holy smokes, we have us a COACH that can game plan.

Everyone came into this game expecting a showdown of the best runners in the NFL and instead Stef dialed up a fireworks show through the air, and the Titans were so focused on shutting down our run game and selling out so hard on it, that we tore them a new one. Stef knew that the Belichick tree goes to take away your strength, so he used it as bait


So, I think that as we continue to grow the offense we will see us be able to dictate more to teams like the Giants, and hopefully the Ravens.

Spot on.

The coaching is very competent.

I agree w/you guys ... the coaching is such a breath of fresh air. We aren’t perfect, but we have a sound plan and attack.

Titans!
Bills !!
Raiders !!!
Saints !!!!
Parade!!!!!

Say it!

I can't believe the Steelers lost.

I'll take it and it keeps them less interested in rolling out their first team for the last game of the season. Maybe, we will lock up the 5 seed and we can rest our players too.

I worry about the raiders still. This week the colts have to travel to Vegas to play them. If raiders win, the rest of thier schedule is a cake walk. They could end up 11-5. Which means we need to be 12-4. Raiders own the tie breaker on us.

Joe Burrow, and the hapless brush fire of the Cincinnati Bengals not having a quarterback; is really hurting the Browns chances of making the playoffs.

I think for us to overtake the Steelers (barring a complete collapse by the steelers?) Then they need 2 losses prior to the finale against us (duh) but one needs to be against the bengals.

I think that is the only way for us to win the tie breakers.

I wondered how the tie breakers would work with PIT. Granted, seeing us tied w PIT is really looking ahead. I can see them losing to BUF. Then if we run the table, we would have the same record.

I think point differential comes into play at some point. We have won 75% of our games, and our point differential is still negative.

Unless Pitt loses to Cincy, they’d the tie breaker over us due to division record. We’d need them to lose 3 more times

Found out, If the Browns plan to just win once more, only 1 more,( even if it is the Ravens, or even if it is the Jets, and no others, but if the Patriots win out 10-6, the patriots hold the tie breaker in "common games" either you win twice and get 11(10.5) or risk the patriots, among others, taking your spot.
Pats hold tie breaker over Browns,... AS IF.

I was very happy we won on Sunday and I couldn't believe my eyes especially in the 1st half. However, being a Browns fan for over 50 years I've learned not to get too excited. I want our Browns to do well and win a Super Bowl as much as anyone but let's take it one game at a time. The Titans game was only 1 game. Let's see if we can string 3 or 4 games like that together before we anoint them Super Bowl bound. I believe there is a bright future here with Andrew Berry and our coaches and players but let's see how it all plays out. JMHO

onto Baltimore...

yes, buffalo, indy, and us!

I'm not sure we have the roster in place (on defense) to do so, but the thing I'd love to see this team learn how to do is to finish games when we're up. We tend to bleed the scoreboard more than the clock to finish out games. Not poo-pooing our wins, just saying that that's a critical milestone in this team becoming a contender.

I agree Oober. Maybe with a healthy Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams, Ronnie Harrison, Grant Delpit and if Andrew Billings was playing we would have a better chance. Unfortunately they're not.

The only 2 real fails in the second half, in my view, were the first TD, where we let them score in 3 plays, 1 minute off the clock, and Baker's fumble. Should've had 3 turnovers from Tenn, turned into 1 from bad luck. Should've had holding calls on MG. Should've not dropped 2 3rd down conversions. If even half those things went right, it's a 20 point win.

We need to beat the Ravens, which would almost guarantee us finishing ahead of them in the division, which, as I found out recently, would be huge.

the Jets tanking on the final play to the Raiders certainly didn't help but we control our own destiny and we just need to keep winning.

If we beat the Ravens, even if we lose to the Gmen and go 11-5, our odds of making the playoffs are still really high. There isn't a game on our schedule we can't win.. we could also lose about 3 of them if we don't keep the intensity up... so just keep playing.

Oh, if we beat Baltimore we all but clinch it I’d assume. How sweet would it be to beat them on MNF in December to clinch the playoffs

Go to nfl.com right this moment, they have a graphic up on the front page of what the playoff picture would look like right now and they have the "C" for the Chicago Bears where the Browns should be..

No respect I tell ya.

I couldn't find it

It's been replaced. I have a screenshot of it but I have no idea how to put that on here. Or if you go to Twitter @Browns or @NFL, I tagged them when I tweeted it.

NFL Power Rankings

Browns:
ESPN - 8
Yahoo Sports - 6
Bleacher Report - 6

I hope they're not letting all the love go to their head.

If Freddie Kitchens was still the coach he'd have rented out pedal bar wagons for the team to get tanked on and ride around town by now.

Stefanski won't allow them to smell themselves.

Notice the Browns have not had any of the usual dumb distractions that seems to come out each year? Hell, last year a member of the team threatened to kill a member of the Browns media (Dustin Fox) in a tweet immediately after a game. Ha!

Did you use a hashtag? If not I can’t find it without knowing your Twitter account name.

Funny I just had that conversation with my son.

However, this year has taken a toll on all the teams.

Adapt and overcome. Every team will be weakened by the playoff time.

This post season may be about which teams handle the loss of starters.

Agreed. The only other coach we've had since we came back that there was discipline like this and no nonsense was Eric Mangini. Oh and a good rushing attack and a physical O-Line. There are some strong similarities. Mangini didn't have a QB that could throw and leadership skills like Baker.

If we beat the Ravens (6-5) Monday that pretty much eliminates them from going ahead of us, all we need is one more win: Ravens havens weak Schedule Besides Us: Vs Cowboys @ Browns Vs JAX and NYG @ Bengals: We have a 2 1/2 Game lead on them:

Other Teams Chasing us for the Playoffs:

Browns: (9-3): Vs Ravens @ NYG and NYJ Vs Steelers:

Bills: (9-3): Vs Steelers @ Broncos @ Pats Vs Dolphins: We are tied with them:

Miami (8-4): Vs. Chiefs and Patriots @ Raiders and Bills: We have a 1 Game lead on them:

Las Vegas: (7-5): Vs. Colts, Chargers and Dolphins @ Broncos: We have a 2 Game lead on them: They have Tie breaker:

Tennessee: (8-4): @ JAX Vs Detroit @ GB and Houston: We have 1 Game lead on them: We Have the tie breaker:

Colts: (8-4): @ Raiders Vs Texans @ Steelers Vs. JAX: We have a 1 Game lead on them: We hold the tie breaker:

NE: (6-6): @ Rams and Dolphins Vs Bills and Jets: We are 3 games ahead of them:

Out of these 8 teams 2 will be Division Champs leaving 6: NE is a long shot leaving 5: Miami has the toughest Schedule and only 3 can make the Wild Cards: I think we are setting in a good spot, but a win Monday Night would go along way to us getting in and depending on a couple games Sunday we could clinch a spot: GO COLTS and GO CHIFS

sigh, heavy breathing, whew,

Bottom line,

BEAT THE RAVENS!!!! and that win, ...

whew, (scared myself because they tied in the tie break I was counting on, and I got worried, so 4th tie break, and WHEW!!! Browns win it, if they beat the ravens, .

Beat the Ravens, and the Browns are P-Owning the Ravens in common games
9-1 with 2 games to play,
and ravens 5-3 with 4 games to play,

worst case it's a tie, goes next to overall afc record.
Browns 7-5 vs afc, (thanks to BEATING BALT. you MUST, BEAT THE RAVENS!)

And bad guys 6-6 vs the afc.

(Do you know how hard it is to GET, to the afc record being the tie break between two teams in the 'same' division)
even overall record 10-6
4-2, - 4-2 in the division equal
9-3 9-3, even in common games
7-5 to 6-6 vs. the afc, Whew!
Wow. ,
Browns Ravens common games, + equals win, - equals loss, and tbd equals not played yet.

Browns Vs. Ravens, common games tie break,

Steelers, Ravens? R -2, Browns? B -1
Bengals, R, +1 ... B, +2

Wash.FT R+ ... B+
Dallas R(tbd) ... B+
Eagles R+ ... B+
Giants R(tbd ... B(tbd)

Colts R+ ... B+
Texans R+ ... B+
Titans R(loss) ... B+
Jaguars R(tbd) ... B+

Tally, Ravens 5-3 with 4 (tbd)

Tally, Browns 9-1 with 3 (tbd) Worst case scenario, is a tie which means

go to next tie break, AFC record,
Ravens vs AFC, would be 6-6
Browns vs AFC would be 7-5,

BROWNS 2nd place, Ravens suffer the 3rd place poison pill.

BEAT THE RAVENS, and secure no worse than 2nd place in the AFC North. Worst case scenario it goes to 4th tie break (tie breaks among two teams, in the same division

If you Lose to the Ravens they swept you head to head and it doesn't matter,
If you tie, they beat you first time and it doesn't matter.

BEAT THE RAVENS!

BEAT THE RAVENS, and the Cowboy vs Ravens, .. and the Browns at Giants, doesn't tie break anything, still counts for overall record.

BEAT THE RAVENS, and if the Steelers beat the hapless Burrow less bengals, and don't lose to the Bills and colts then the week 17 Steeler game won't ...

BEAT THE RAVENS,

On a scale of 1-10 the Ravens game is a SIXTEEN, of importance

and I won't go above 16.9-, or less than 7 on that 1-10 scale.

If this happens

Pittsburg loses to bills wins division 14-2 one or two seed
Kansas City beats the dolphins, better than 12-4 1 or two seed.

3 seed Titans 11-5. 8-4 afc, 5-1 div. (lose at packers, win division own tie breaks with Bills head to head and Dolphins 4-1 vs3-2 common games

4 seed Bills, 11-5, 8-4 afc, 4-2 div. (beat Steelers and Broncos, lose to Patriots and Dolphins) in this scenario they win the div. in by a week 15 win over Broncos to tie break them ahead of the Dolphins

In this scenario there is a 6 way tie at 11-5

Remain for fist wild card spot.
Remove Browns from3rd place poison pill , 4 way tie at 11-5 becomes 3 way between, Ravens, Colts, Dolphins,
Nobody swept or lost sweep,
Conf. record goes Dolphins 8-4, vs others 7-5


5 seed, Dolphins 11-5, 8-4, 4-2 (Dolphins lose to chiefs only)

6. After the Dolphins go in there is a 3 way tie Ravens, Browns Colts, all 11-5, 7-5 vs afc, Browns lose 3rd place in div poison pill and head to head goes to the Ravens beat the colts.

6. seed, Ravens 11-5

7.seed. (If Colts lose to pittsburg go 11-5

7 seed Browns head to head over colts.

In this scenario the Colts will know that beating the Steelers gets them in the playoffs, and the Steelers won't have that much incentive to win that colts game anyway.

Bottom line, Lose the Ravens game and the Browns are probably OUT.

If the Browns Beat the Ravens but nobody else, finish 10-6,

They will not have a tie break against the Dolphins, or the Patriots,

My last post showed how the Raiders, Patriots, and Colts would be out, and the Dolphins, Ravens, and Browns could be in,

I'll seek a way to show how the whole 3 group could vice versa.

and the Patriots Colts, and Raiders would all get in, and the Ravens Browns and Dolphins would all be out.


There probably will be an 11-5 AFC team, not in the playoffs.

Browns are going to be sitting there
11-4

week 17, and Needing a win against the Steelers and Ben R. who carves you up like thanksgiving turkeys' nearly every year,

and if you don't win you are out of the playoffs.

DON'T LET IT COME TO THAT, Must Beat the Ravens and then the Giants and jets to get to 12.

The Browns are NOT making the playoffs.
Not with Lamar Jackson back on the rat birds and Ben throwing in Pukesburg.
And you can cash that, it'll still be good in 4 weeks.

Shame. epletative wasted year.

The Browns aren't trying hard enough, save a couple

and Chubb? not getting into the end zone? stepping out at the one, and then the next week,
all next game, when the Browns player was loose in the open field, they couldn't get around Anybody.

We're 9-3! Enjoy it while it lasts, worry about the losing if it happens later!

They won't... but it'd be awesome if they flexed the NY v Browns game into Sunday night...

That sunday night game that week is Dallas and the 49ers... not a huge game in the scheme of things now.

But you're still swapping an NFC East team for another.. they love airing NFC east teams...

....

The right thing to do honestly is to flex the Saints and Chiefs to that game....

There's still a LOT of football to be played.

Cleveland: Ravens, Giants, Jets, Steelers
Baltimore: Browns, Jags, Giants, Bengals
Steelers: Bills, Bengals, Colts, Browns


The final games for the Steelers are no cakewalk. That Bills game is going to be tough, And the Colts are a tough team... they beat the Packers. There's going to be a lot of teams beating up other teams that are in contention these next 4 weeks.

Nothing is certain at this point. There is even a chance the Browns could become the 2nd seed. So lets just hold onto our hats.

We just have to go 1-0 this week.

we have 3 tough games left all 3 of the teams have won a lot of games the last 2 months.

1. Baltimore
2. Giants (we will know if they are legit or not after the AZ game)
3. Pittsburgh (they could mail this one in unless we are tied with the same record)

We only have the New Browns (Jets) as a gimmie.

If we are lucky, we will split the last 4 games and end up 11-5. We could also end up 13-3.

If I had to put my wager for the remainder of the season, I'd bet 9-4 this week. 10-4 next week. 11-5 against the Jets and Pitts could end up giving us an early Xmas present if we need it to get to 12-4 or stay at 11-5 and rest our starters for the playoffs.

Why is it so important to you to keep repeating this stuff post after post? Is there some need you're getting met by doing this? Do you want someone to agree with you? What is it?

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Never seen anyone so negative as you and that's saying something.

Goodbye and GO BROWNS!

Now you'll just see large stretches of empty posts. :-p

Who peed in your Wheaties this morning?.....

Not saying one way or another (because if this team has taught us anything over the last decade it's that the disappointment can only be truly devastating when you begin to have hope), but I will say that this rematch against the Ravens (and the Steelers later on) could be a nice confirmation of this team's (and Baker's) growth through the season. The bar was set fairly low in those first games, but coming out and just playing well will be confirmation for me that we're headed solidly in the right direction.

THROW,
I think you're broken. I'm sorry man. So many things wrong with your rants, unless you are simply trolling. But I'll just poke 1 hole in your blanket of doom...maybe it'll let in some air so you can breathe.

The Dolphins will not go 11-5. They do not have the offense to keep up with the Chiefs. They're at best 50-50 in the Raiders & Bills games, and given what Belicheck does to rookie QBs, the Patriots game is not a given either. I give them an equal shot of 1-3 and 2-2 in the final quarter.


Like the rest of you, though, I do hope the Browns can eliminate remaining uncertainty by winning on Monday night.

Bleep That!!!!!!

( I was watching a movie a Christmas story, there was this one part in it.)

This kind of chance to make a run hasn't come around for the Browns for TWENTY SIX YEARS!!!!!

any you want to live with close fought defeat when your #1 scenario probablility is you are going to Miss the Playoffs,

Miss the Playoffs at 11-5!!!! And it is going to happen because of THIS GAME!!!
vs. the Ravens.

And I'm NOT overreacting, because Losing this game and then missing the playoffs, is going to Suck on a level,
we've never seen before. (Cleveland has never seen before)

We've gone 1-31.

We went from Baker's rookie year right into the year of Freddie.


We've seen it.

The Browns missed the playoffs going 10-6 in 2007.

Hey, Kansas City plays Saints, Dolphins, Chargers (who play shockingly well against the Chiefs every time for some reason), and Falcons.

It's POSSIBLE we take the #1 Seed :-P


I know I know, that's insane, I'm just enjoying the fact that it's DECEMBER AND WE'RE NOT MATHEMATICALLY ELIMINATED FROM THE #1 SEED YET!

They've never missed them going 11-5 but they will this year. Watch! (Diam's ~L~) that is the thing we've never seen before.

That's the cherry on top of the icing of devastation that the league plans to heap on Cleveland's history of woes;
a 68.75 winning percentage and no playoffs.

Back in 1985 we made the playoffs with an 8-8 record because we won the division. Denver finished 11-5, 2nd place in their division and didn't make the playoffs. You can look it up.

You are completely overreacting because this is Cleveland.
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.

Enjoy the journey; things are just starting to get good.

And we damn near beat the Dolphins in those playoffs behind a monster game from Ernest Byner!

All we needed to do was pick up one more 1st down and we couldn't do it. We had like next to nothing for a passing game. Bernies 1st year. Saturday afternoon game as I remember.

I wasn’t even a browns fan then but I remember that game.

And then we would have a hosted a Patriots team (that we had earlier defeated in their house) for a trip to the SB!

There are only 3 AFC teams that can remove doubts about a playoff berth by the end of the night Monday night, maybe a 4th, (and they already don't have doubts)

1. Chiefs or Steelers take your pick
2. Steelers or Chiefs take your pick

3. The Bills,
4. Maybe the Ravens.

Everybody else I didn't name is fighting for a less than 50% chance to get ANY of the 3 spots with 6 teams.

Once I saw lamar Jacson come back, I knew the Browns were out of the playoffs for the year.

People may not understand, this Ravens Browns matchup is the last meaningful game of the season for the Ravens

They have no other adversity to contemplate until they reach their playoff game so,

Ravens, we know, on MNF, are going to bring 20 different types of blitzes and Baker is going to be in the terf 6 times at least.

The Browns, don't have a possesson passing game that can move the ball by 30 short passes, (quick hot reads that end up complete)(not, mostly, screens) in the meat time of the game, which is necessary.

The Browns haven't beaten the Ravens in 20 years,
and they haven't beaten the Steelers with Ben in 20 years, and even though they'll be 11-4 they'll lose and miss the playoffs,
because that's what the league wants, the league wants week 17 to be some magical science experiment where the Patriots get a berth and the Browns don't

Ohio against the world. The East coast is an unjust, untrustworthy pile of back room deals

The referee calls in the upcoming new jersey games are going to make that earlier game, Philly or Jax, I forget, look like childs play.

The winless Jets are going to beat you because it's 3 days after Christmas and you beat the chargers on Christmas for your only win.

If, you lose to the Jets, you watch the Dolphins and or Patriots take your spot with the same record because that would be the tie break.

I suspect it is why they delayed the Ravens season for 16 days approx.

Because we live in Bizarro world where only Ohio gets poured on every year, unless they're not involved and it is some other midwest town.

I'm having a melt down because I realize the Browns are going to get screwed out of the playoffs.
Probably others will have their melt downs later, when it occurs.

Browns are too good of a team this year to get screwed like this.

The division alignment helps perpetrate it.

It may be another 25 years before they have a similar opportunity.

Yes because we were a division winner and they a wild card. That game was another in a long line of tough playoff losses.

we won't get screwed. just enjoy the ride.

The Browns haven't beaten the Ravens in 20 years

We are 2-3 against the Ravens since 2018 so be careful painting with such a broad brush

09/13/2020 Cleveland Browns 6 Baltimore Ravens 38 L

12/22/2019 Baltimore Ravens 31 Cleveland Browns 15 L

09/29/2019 Cleveland Browns 40 Baltimore Ravens 25 W

12/30/2018 Cleveland Browns 24 Baltimore Ravens 26 L

10/07/2018 Baltimore Ravens 9 Cleveland Browns 12 W/OT

We are literally the team that showed everyone the blueprint for beating Lamar Jackson. We've split with Baltimore each of the last two seasons, and we're going to split with them this season, too.

Playoff Machine says a Steelers loss to Bengals and Browns winning out means Division winner for Browns (same record, same division record, better record against common opponents).

"In 87 of today's 20,000 FPI simulations an 11-win AFC team missed the playoffs. Happened to the Colts 57 times, Browns 21 times and Ravens 9 times.:

That was from ESPN. I'm going out on a limb to say that the Browns end up at 11-5 in roughly half of the 20,000 simulations. So, IF we get to 11 wins, we have a roughly 20 in 10,000 chance of not making the playoffs, or 1 in 500.

I like those odds. Stop being a "Chicken Little."

Hey guys! I'm new to your board. Hope you all can appreciate a friendly Jets fan. I'm an active poster on a Jets board and I wanted to ask you dedicated Browns fans a question.

While all of you are celebrating a playoff hunt--we are competing for a first overall pick. So here is my question regarding our game with you coming up and your playoff hunt:

Would there be any scenario where you guys would sit starters for our week 16 game?

Our fear is if you guys have locked in seeding that early, why play guys like Baker, Chubb, Landry etc.? Especially if the division wasn't a consideration either.

I know how exciting it is being in your position from our Rex Ryan early years, happy for you guys! Feel free to ask me Jets questions as we get closer to the game--I know my team too well!

Here is to you guys beating the snot out of us!

I don't feel the Browns will be in any position of sitting players to prepare for a playoff run. That sounds Twilight Zone to me.

Sorry you got Gased.

Welcome to the forums.

Welcome bud ... no chance we’d sit starters. We won’t have anything clinched yet, plus we’d never risk having that 7th seed.

I expect the Browns/Jets to be a good game. We have trouble beating anybody by a lot, even if we’re up (as you saw last week).

For you guys’ sake, I hope Gase is gone and you get Lawrence

In other words... pretty much like now, right?

Thanks!

It's reassuring to hear we should get your guys best for our game--my thinking was if you beat Baltimore and Giants, you might be able to get away with resting some players our game if it was needed.

And yes, been a fan since 1997 and Gase has pissed our fan base off more than any coach in memory. Greg Williams saved the day this weekend--ha!

Thanks!

Yes, I'm expecting a tough, blue collar type of ball game. Our Dline is very formidable, but your Oline is playing at an elite level right now. If you guys stay healthy, that Oline is a handful for any team.

Our secondary is a bunch of undrafted free agents--except for Marcus Maye. So you will have chances for explosives in the pass game as well.

Hopefully we get a tough Browns teams that day that wants to give the winless ball club title to a new team--

We will need 0-16 for Lawrence--the Jags won't win another.

If you can appreciate, No, because my low tech paperwork,
Clearly shows, The Browns are competing with the Patriots for a playoff spot who did not sit their starters in a week 9 game against the Jets and won't in week 17 either. (In fact, the Jets are a big contributor as to why the Browns don't hold a tie break against either the Pats OR the dolphins.
but the Browns are looking up at the Pats AND dolphins if in a tie break situation, partly because of the jets, and them being winless. So NO, No way, Never.

If Pittsburgh loses two more games, or just this week against Cinci, then we will be looking to win EVERY game so that we play them for the Division in Week 17.

Every single week, we will look to go 1-0. That includes against the Jets. Bank on it.

No way we sit players. Nothing will be clinched in week 16. Also, most tiebreakers for seeding (even if we have a playoff spot locked) have conference record high on the list, and we're actually a little behind the eight-ball in that regard, mostly because we've been feasting on the NFC (L)east...

All signs say Gase is out after the season, your future will certainly be brighter once that happens. Good luck in the draft and 2021.

Personally I'd take Sam Darnold over Trevor Lawrence, at least today.

2. The Jets are not the worst team in the NFL to hope wins, I think it's the Chargers, at least today.

It has to suck facing the Patriots twice the last 20 years.

From an outsiders perspective, it also seems you guys are getting healthy at the right time. For the most part roster looks pretty much back at full health--

The Chargers are not the worst team. They are just stuck with a crappy clueless coach. They do have talent and a lot of their losses have been by 1 score.

My bestie is a Chargers fan, so I have to watch a lot of their games.
They got so lucky picking Herbert on their first try at finding a new QB after Rivers. Herbert is legit.

Also, Ekler is good, and Bosa. They have a lot of pieces. Just need a better coach.

How can anyone believe the Steelers would lose to the Bengals, when the Bengals went all in on Burrow, who had a devastating injury.
Replaced the back up, Finley, with a Forgetable player, within one week of facing the prospect of Having Finley as the starter,
and then the Forgetable player got hurt, almost immediately, and they are back to Finley.

While on the other side, Ben is healthy. I mean. He is like Jason from Friday the 13th. (Even Mason, and Duk would be the greater Qb that day.)

The pats final 4 are the Rams, Dolphins, Bills and Jets...

And that dolphins game is at the Dolphins... where belicheck is notoriously terrible at.

The pats aren't getting to 10-6 this year.

The Phins have the Chiefs, Pats, Raiders and Bills

I doubt they get to 11-5

The bills play the steelerd Broncos Pats Dolphins.

The dolphins, bills and pats have to beat each other up to end the season.

The bills also have the most difficult remaining 4 games of the season.


I still think it will could be 3 in the north playing in the playoffs.

Truly - this is all anyone would ever need to read alongside the hysteria over the Browns play off chances to decide not to pay attention to your hyperbole.

1. Browns are 9-3. Enjoy that because looking at every negative post you write before every game, you NEVER in a MILLION years expected to be 9-3.

2. There are literally 100's of permutations that get the Browns to a playoff birth after losing to the Ravens. Why have an aneurism over it?

3. As Purp said - there have been and will be way, way, way more sucky things the Browns can acomplish than missing the playoffs this year.

Thank you for the new sig.

This week I keep thinking I will wake up and this is all a dream.

Looking at the schedule when it came out. I for certain would not have looked at this coming game and thought
"oh yes we will be 9-3 and the Ravens will be 7-5."

We can really hurt them if we win.

Think of the implications on the AFC North for 2021 when this season ends?

The Steelers are riding a aging Ben. Next year Ben's future and the Steeler's future are tied together.

The Ravens? We beat them and they are not in the playoffs?
Whoa. The Greg Roman offense now becomes a question? Lamar may be doubted. The Ravens offensively will be doubted.

The Bengals. I hope Burrow comes back ok. I don't wish any player harm. Joe is a quality person and a fine young player. They are still lacking in areas and 2021 will still be a year of trying to improve as a team.

The Browns. 2020 will be the year when we look back and say "that was the beginning." Who knows how it will end?
However, no matter what happens we will be trending upward.
Baker will start in 2021. Andrew and Kevin will have their first year behind them. They will know this team. They will know what needs to be fixed. Where improvement is necessary. They will have a full normal camp. We will add talent to a solid roster. We should be a better team.

The future looks bright for the Browns.

But wait. We still have 2020 and we could shock the system.

Don't forget this year there are 3 wild card teams not two...so the extra playoff team increases the odds why they are at 97% for us to get in! One more win should clinch it...Of course I want us to WIN OUT meaning beat Ravens and Steelers. who if the Steelers lose out to Bills and Colts will have that last game as the Division Champ game!

But the two wins against Jets and Giants should make it a sure thing for us. 11-5 at worst. I think all we need is 10 wins and we got the playoffs at 100% (we are at 97% now so ASSume one more gets 3% points

a win over Baltimore does clinch a playoff berth for us.

It would be too easy for us to just win Monday night and be in plus hurt a hated rivals playoff chances. Too easy. That's not the way we do things. I'd love to be wrong!!!

It would be weird territory, for sure, but it would also be a GREAT test for this young team and coach... can we remain focused and keep grinding even after we clinch a spot? If we can't now, we certainly won't in the playoffs.

So, basically, our Playoffs already started. Just keep grinding, don't look ahead; just go 1-0.

#@norespect

Do you have a link to your tweet?
And embed code, maybe?