Cleveland Browns playoff clinching scenarios for Week 17
The Cleveland Browns have several ways to clinch a playoff berth in Week 17
The Cleveland Browns squandered a chance to clinch their first playoff berth in 18 years, after losing to the New York Jets on Sunday. While the loss looks embarrassing on paper, the fact that the Browns were forced to play the game without any notable receivers due to Covid-19 contact tracing is what ultimately led to the defeat.
Whether or not the game should have been played or postponed isn’t important, as the Browns still failed to clinch a playoff spot in their last truly “easy” game on the schedule.
The Browns face the AFC North champion Pittsburgh Steelers this coming Sunday, and still have a few different scenarios in which they can make the playoffs. Here are the three possible scenarios in which the Browns can clinch a playoff spot in Week 17, ranked in order of simplicity.
Scenario 1 – Win against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Although Cleveland lost against the Jets and failed to clinch a playoff berth, they do still control their own destiny in Week 17. A victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers puts the Cleveland Browns in a wild card spot. Final seeding will be played out depending on other games, but the Browns still hold their fate in their own hands.
While the Browns have struggled against the Steelers in recent years, this week’s contest may be a bit easier. With Pittsburgh already locking up the AFC North, and almost certainly securing the second overall seed in the AFC as well, they may be inclined to rest some key players for the playoffs.
Pittsburgh resting players, as well as the potential return of several Covid-19 contact tracing in actives that missed the Week 16 contest for the Browns against the Jets, could be just what they need for a “win and you’re in” scenario to play out in favor of Cleveland.
Scenario 2: Indianapolis Colts lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars
While the Cleveland Browns do hold their own playoff fate in their hands, they could lose and still make the playoffs. The easiest scenario for that to happen would be for the Jacksonville Jaguars to defeat the Indianapolis Colts.
Sure, you can laugh at it, but the 1-14 Jaguars’ lone win this season came against this Colts team. Granted, that was in Week 1, and the Colts have improved drastically over the last three months. But with Jacksonville clinching the top pick in the 2021 draft, they may just win this one for the heck of it.
The Browns would get into the playoffs over the Colts in this scenario because of the head-to-head tiebreaker when the Browns won 32-23. While the Colts losing to the Jaguars is a long shot, especially with a playoff berth on the line, crazier things have happened. That’s why they play the game.
Scenario 3 – Titans lose to Texans, while Ravens and Dolphins both win
Yep, that’s a complicated scenario. It can all be avoided with a Cleveland Browns victory on Sunday. However, if the Browns do lose, and the Colts win, the Browns need a few other things to happen.
If the Titans lose to the Houston Texans, they would likely lose the AFC South to the Colts, who should defeat the Jaguars easily on Sunday. Crazier things have happened, but neither the Jaguars nor Texans are that good, and neither have anything to play for as far as to draft position — unless you ask J.J. Watt. Jacksonville has the top selection locked up, and Miami owns the Texans’ top pick this year, which is slated to be in the top five.
If the Titans lose to the Texans, however, Browns fans may have to do the unfathomable: root for the Baltimore Ravens. A Ravens win against the Cincinnati Bengals, as well as a Dolphins win against the Buffalo Bills, will create a scenario that allows the Cleveland Browns to sneak into the playoffs.
If this situation plays out, Cleveland would be 10-6, as would the Titans, Ravens, and Dolphins. Because of tie-breakers in each division, the Browns would claim the last wild-card spot in the playoffs, likely drawing the Pittsburgh Steelers again in the first round.
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While the Browns can make it easy on themselves and all their fans by just winning, there are other scenarios in which they can still get in and break their playoff drought. Even if they don’t win, their chances are still alive with a little bit of luck. There’s always a chance for madness in the NFL, especially in a year like 2020.