AFC Playoff Race: Important Game for Browns

The AFC Playoff Race is no clearer now than it was when the season started. As we move into Week 13 the Cleveland Browns are right in the thick of things but so are a ton of other teams. Right now NINE teams in the AFC have 6 or 7 wins, including the Browns. Based on tie breakers the Browns are actually in 9th place in the AFC, with a 7 – 4 record. That is astounding. Right now we are focused on just making the playoffs, we won’t worry about seeding for a little bit.

So there are quite a few games that we we want pay attention to and specific sides that the Browns will be rooting for:

Browns Vs Bills

Rooting for: Browns

The Browns need to beat the Bills. It will be a tough game.

Titans Vs Texans

Rooting for: Titans

The Browns lost to the Texans and are only one game ahead of them. A loss by the Texans, to an AFC team is very helpful to the Browns.

Chargers Vs Ravens

Rooting for: Chargers, but barely

This game is tough as both teams have a 7 – 4 record. The Browns path to the playoffs is most simple by winning the division and not the congested Wild Card, where the Browns lose to most tiebreakers right now. So the Browns are rooting for the Chargers, at least for now.

Bengals Vs Buccaneers

Rooting for: Bucs

Like last week, when we were rooting for the Raiders to somehow pull off a win, we have another very unlikely win we are rooting for. The Bucs beat the Steelers so there is some hope but Andy Dalton and the Bengals tend to play well when there is little pressure.

Saints Vs Steelers

Rooting for: Saints

The Steelers are also 7 – 4 and the Browns have already played them twice. A loss here at home might be difficult for the Browns to get as the Saints are reportedly in fighting between Sean Payton and Rob Ryan. We can hope that somehow Drew Brees snaps out of it and pushes the team past our rival.

Panthers Vs Vikings

Rooting for: Vikings

This game has zero impact on the Browns this week but could for a future game. We are rooting for the Panthers to lose as much as possible so they might decide to sit Cam Newton in Week 16. Since he has been hurt and getting hit a ton this could be realistic.

Broncos Vs Chiefs

Rooting for: Broncos

We want the Broncos to pull away and help de-clutter the Wild Card race by beating the Chiefs. The Chiefs are coming off their terrible loss to the Raiders and are at home. the Broncos have been struggling a bit as well.

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Dolphins Vs Jets

Rooting for: Jets

We wanted the Jets to win last week against the Bills but it was not to be. Hopefully at home the Jets can help keep the Dolphins at least a game, and hopefully two back of the Browns in the Wild Card chase.

It is new for Browns fans to be rooting for teams related to playoff positioning instead of Draft pick positioning. For the next few weeks it will be important to keep track of all of our different competitors. Winning the AFC North is the easiest way, as there are only 3 teams fighting for a spot there versus the 6 or 7 for the WC spot.

Have you been able to track all of the important games for the Cleveland Browns in the AFC Playoff Race?