What needs to happen Week 15 to help Cleveland Browns playoff hopes
By Dan Justik
With only three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Cleveland Browns need help to reach the playoffs. Here’s what they need to happen in Week 15.
After having expectations of winning the AFC North and reaching the postseason for the first time since 2002, the Cleveland Browns are hanging onto dwindling hopes of winning the final AFC Wild Card spot.
In order to do so, the Browns will have to win the final three games of the season, plain and simple. Winning the final three games will be a tough task in itself for the Browns. That will not be enough, however, as they are going to need help in multiple games in the final weeks of the season.
The main teams to watch and important teams for Cleveland’s playoff chances are the Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Most of the outside focus for the Browns will be the top-two teams in the AFC South: Texans and Titans. Both teams are battling to win their division, but how that race ends will help determine the scenarios the Browns need for their playoff hopes.
In Week 15, the Texans and Titans play in their first of two matchups this season. Whoever loses this week will be the team the Browns would need to lose the rest of the season, as unlikely as it sounds.
Using the New York Times playoff simulator, here is a look at what needs to happen in Week 15 and the scenarios following Week 15 the Browns need to happen to improve their playoff hopes.