Playoff Picture: Cleveland Browns rooting guide for week 12

And, of course, the Browns get the win in Jacksonville

The Cleveland Browns head down south to play the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday. This should be, on paper, the easiest opponent the Browns have faced this season. The best thing that the Browns can do to help their playoff chances is to keep winning.

They are going to face a team in Jacksonville that has lost a whopping nine-straight games. They have been playing their last few games with backup quarterback Jake Luton who underperformed last week against the Steelers. Starting quarterback Gardner Minshew II has been out with a thumb injury but may be able to return to the field in time to play the Browns.

Cleveland has been taking care of business over the past couple of weeks in tough weather games against Houston and Philadelphia. Last week they were without their defensive player of the year candidate Myles Garrett due to COVID-19 and will be without him again for this game. Pass rusher Olivier Vernon stepped up in his absence last week recording three sacks. The Cleveland defense will need Vernon to continue to step up in Garrett’s absence.

The running game for the Browns has also continued to be uber-productive. Nick Chubb has returned to the field from his injury and has not missed a beat. Between Chubb and Kareem Hunt, the ground game is flourishing and continues to be the backbone of the team.

Cleveland has what seems to be a cupcake on the schedule in their matchup against Jacksonville, but this game cannot be overlooked. The Browns are notorious for losing games that they should win and a loss here would be detrimental to their playoff chances.