At the end of Week 15, the 10-4 Cleveland Browns are the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff standings, and here is the way they can way win the AFC North division in 2020:
If the #Colts beat the #Steelers in Week 16 and the #Browns beat the #Jets….
Week 17: Browns vs. Steelers for the AFC North title.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 22, 2020
After the Pittsburgh Steelers began the 2020 season with an NFL-best 11-0 record, they dropped each of their last three games.
The Week 15 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals was a very surprising one, as Pittsburgh was more than a two-touchdown favorite heading into the game.
Although the Steelers lost three straight contests, the Browns still need some help from the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16.
Here is how the fight for the AFC North divisional title will conclude in 2020:
- Week 16: 10-4 Browns at 1-13 Jets and 10-4 Colts at 11-3 Steelers, each at 1:00 pm eastern time
- Week 17: Steelers at Browns, 1:00 pm eastern time
Browns Fans Should Be Very Excited to Watch Week 16
Browns fans, what feels better?
A) Being 10-4 for the first time since 1994
B) Watching the once 11-0 Steelers drop 3 straight
C) Knowing you're still in the AFC North hunt
D) YES#DawgPound 🤔 pic.twitter.com/6yCv392PEz— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) December 22, 2020
All of the above feel amazing for Browns fans, as Cleveland heads into Week 16 in a very strong position.
Here is the current playoff picture for the Wild Card Round in the stacked AFC:
- No. 1 Chiefs (13-1) bye week
- No. 2 Bills (11-3) vs. No. 7 Dolphins (9-5)
- No. 3 Steelers (11-3) vs. No. 6 Colts (10-4)
- No. 4 Titans (10-4) vs. No. 5 Browns (10-4)
The Browns defeated the Titans, 41-35, in Week 13.
That victory was a part of Cleveland’s second four-game winning streak this season.
Browns fans are also happy that there is a commonality currently between the AFC North and AFC South.
The Steelers and Browns are separated by two playoff spots, and the Titans and Colts are as well.
Therefore, Indianapolis will be hungry to defeat Pittsburgh since the Colts are searching to clinch a playoff position.
The only AFC teams that have clinched playoff berths through Week 15 are the Chiefs, Bills, and Steelers.
How Can the Browns Clinch a Playoff Berth in Week 16?
Although the Browns have yet to clinch a playoff berth in 2020, they have a chance to do so in Week 16.
If the following scenarios happen, then Cleveland will be able to break its lengthy postseason drought:
- The Browns defeat the Jets in Week 16 AND
- The Dolphins lose/tie against the Raiders OR the Ravens lose/tie against the Giants OR the Colts lose to the Steelers
Yes, unfortunately, the Browns require some help in Week 16.
In what is such an odd scenario, a Steelers victory can lead to a Browns playoff berth this season.
The Browns do “control their destiny” though.
How Else Can the Browns Clinch a Playoff Berth?
Cleveland does not need any help in the following scenario, which leads to the franchise’s first playoff appearance since January 5, 2003:
- The Browns defeat the Jets in Week 16 AND
- The Browns defeat the Steelers in Week 17
(Reminder: two Browns wins and two Steelers losses lead to a Browns divisional title)
Cleveland is in a strong position, as the Jets got their one win out of the way.
The dismal New York squad is nowhere near as talented as Cleveland’s, so the Browns are in for a great performance.
In addition, the Steelers have been playing terribly recently.
Pittsburgh has scored fewer than 20 points in each of the last four games.
However, Browns fans understandably should have some caution.
The Jets won their first game of the season in Week 14 and could be riding momentum.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are not alone with their three losses after an 11-0 start:
The Steelers are the 17th team in NFL history to start a season 11-0 or better.
They are just the 3rd team among that group to lose 3 straight games immediately following an 11-0 or better start, alongside the 1969 Rams and 2009 Saints.
The 2009 Saints won the Super Bowl. pic.twitter.com/G2Eud1bkT6
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 22, 2020
There are a lot of factors that go into the end of the season for the Browns.
While different probabilities are swirling around all of these final two games of the season, the Browns are looking strong.
They are playing better football than most teams.
No one said it was going to be easy, so Browns fans should be enthused for a very exciting finish to the 2020 season.
And hopefully a divisional title.
NEXT: Who Is Browns OL Nick Harris? (His Road To The NFL)
