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Cleveland Browns are in good position to make playoffs by winning division

By John Suchan

Nov 7, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) and fullback Andy Janovich (31) during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) and fullback Andy Janovich (31) during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah (87) tries to maintain possession as Cleveland Browns middle linebacker Malcolm Smith (56) strips the ball near the end zone in the first quarter during a Week 9 NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cleveland Browns lead the Cincinnati Bengals 24-10 at halftime. /

Cleveland Browns rival: Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers made a big comeback in their win against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday when they won 19-13. They now stand at 7-6-1 for the season. The Browns and the Steelers still have a game to play against each other and will have implications on the division title.

First, the Steelers head west to face the always dangerous Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are playing some excellent football of late and will likely play well in defending their home turf when these two teams meet up next Sunday.

The following Monday on January 3, Pittsburgh will host Cleveland. If the Browns win their game against the Steelers and then the Steelers lose to either the Ravens the last week of the season or the Chiefs next weekend then the best Pittsburgh can finish is 8-8-1 and not enough to win the division at 9-8.

Cleveland Browns rival: Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals escaped Denver with a win 15-10 as they won a big game on the road against the Broncos. That leaves the Bengals at 8-6 right now.

They’re scheduled to play the Ravens next Sunday at home. Cincinnati soundly beat Baltimore the last time they played in October. Let’s give that game to the Bengals. That would leave the team at 9-6 and seemingly the outright lead in the division and certainly a playoff game.

But hold on because the Bengals have to finish the season by playing the Kansas City Chiefs at home and then fishing the season in Cleveland to face the Browns on January 9. If the Bengals lose those two games, then they’d be at 9-8 on the season and likely 4-2 in the division. But the Browns hold the tiebreaker with the Bengals because they would have beaten them twice.

The goal for the Browns then is finishing at 9-8. If two of those next four games are victories against their divisional opponents, then the road to the title of the AFC North is theirs.

Any more wins at this point, either against the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday or the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day next Saturday would be icing on the cake. The key for Cleveland is to get the two divisional wins against Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.

Next. So you’re saying the Browns still have a chance?. dark

With this rash of players out for the Browns this week due to Covid protocols, it might not necessarily be the worst timing for the fact that the last two games of the season in January will be the most important for the team.

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