Divisional round score predictions Cleveland Browns vs. Chiefs

We head into mid-January and the Cleveland Browns are still alive as they will hit the road to play the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

Last week, the Browns shocked everyone as they knocked off the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card Round, securing their first playoff win since 1994. Now, they face an even larger challenge heading to Arrowhead Stadium to play the defending champions.

While there might not be any major history between the Chiefs and Browns, there were some fireworks between Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes back when they faced off in college.

Mayfield, who once lost his job at Texas Tech, got his revenge when he led the Oklahoma Sooners to a 66-59 victory that saw the two combine for 1,708 yards of offense.

Clearly, this game won’t be as wide-open, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be exciting. Here, members of the DPD crew look ahead to the showdown and predict who will come away victorious.

Divisional Round score predictions

Writer: Randy Gurzi

Summary: Baker Mayfield once lost his job to Patrick Mahomes. Now Mahomes loses his life to Baker. Well, at least his playoff life. Browns continue to shock the world in a major upset.

Prediction: Cleveland 37, Kansas City 35

Writer: J.T. Soderlund

Summary: The Browns don’t have quite the start they had last game but nevertheless Baker Mayfield goes toe to toe with Patrick Mahomes. In a back and forth game, the Browns are sent home as time expires.

Prediction: Kansas City 44, Cleveland 42

Writer: Eddie McDonald

Baker Mayfield and company didn’t set out to just win a single playoff game, they set out to win it all and it starts with the Chiefs.

Prediction: Browns 34, Chiefs 27

Writer: Dan Gilinsky

The Browns hang tough here, and that ode to Herb Brooks by Kyle Brandt of the NFL Network was well-executed. This Chiefs offense, led by one Patrick Mahomes, is so incredibly difficult to go score-for-score with, though, and the Browns run out of gas after largely controlling things through three.

There’s just too much Travis Kelce and speed on the perimeter, and Denzel Ward/Kevin Johnson coming off COVID-19 is a tall order against that offense/tempo.

Prediction: Kansas City 41, Cleveland 31

Writer: Elliot Kennel

Summary: The prevailing theme is that the Chiefs will flip the switch and jump into playoff mode without really having a great offensive line or a healthy running game. But the Chiefs have only played five teams over .500 all season and though they have won each time, the margin has been getting smaller recently.

Yeah, I’m a homer, but the Browns are trending up and the Chiefs are trending down. Look for the Chiefs to throw the switch and not find the juice. Browns win a shootout as KC has no answer for the running game of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.

Prediction: Cleveland 31, Kansas City 30. 

Writer: Casey Kinnamon

The Browns roll into Arrowhead Stadium and do the unthinkable, eliminate the defending Super Bowl champions on a last-second touchdown.

Prediction: Cleveland 41, Kansas City 38