After the Baltimore Ravens’ 47-42 victory over the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh had some glowing words for Kevin Stefanski:
John Harbaugh to Kevin Stefanski: “Hey, that was one of the greatest games in history right there. … Maybe we’ll see you in the playoffs, if we can win some games.”
(via @NFLFilms)
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) December 15, 2020
The winning coach of Monday Night Football’s incredible contest said the following:
“Hey, that was one of the greatest games in history right there. You guys are awesome.”
With the loss, the Browns fell to 9-4 on the season and are currently the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs.
Harbaugh continued by saying that the Browns and Ravens could meet in the playoffs:
“Maybe we’ll see you in the playoffs, I think if we can win some games.”
It would be very interesting if these two impressive AFC North squads face off in the upcoming playoffs.
If so, that would mean that the AFC playoffs include three AFC North teams:
- Pittsburgh Steelers 11-2: current No. 2 seed
- Cleveland Browns 9-4: current No. 5 seed
- Baltimore Ravens 8-5: currently out of playoffs (No. 8)
The Steelers have clinched a playoff berth while the Browns and Ravens most likely would enter the playoffs as wild card teams.
How Do Kevin Stefanski and John Harbaugh Compare in Terms of Playoff Experience?
Last year, Stefanski made the postseason as the Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator.
His Vikings were victorious in the Wild Card Round against the New Orleans Saints.
However, they fell to the eventual NFC champion San Francisco 49ers in the next round.
Stefanski is looking for more postseason success but as a head coach this time around.
His leadership showed with his comments regarding the moral victory:
#Browns HC Kevin Stefanski wants nothing to do with moral victories. pic.twitter.com/h2WiWo7tgY
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 15, 2020
With words like these, Browns fans should be very happy.
Stefanski is ready to lead Cleveland into the playoffs and hopes to impress in his first postseason as a head coach.
On the other sideline of Monday night’s contest, Harbaugh has a lot of playoff experience as a head coach.
He has brought the Ravens to the postseason eight times, including each of the last two postseasons.
When Harbaugh took over the head coaching gig in 2008, he was a very frequent visitor to the NFL playoffs.
The Ravens’ five consecutive seasons in the postseason culminated in Baltimore’s Super Bowl XLVII championship.
Cleveland will need a better defensive performance if the Browns meet the Ravens in the playoffs.
How Can the Browns and Ravens Face Off in the Playoffs?
Harbaugh said that Cleveland and Baltimore may see each other again in the upcoming postseason.
If the Browns and Ravens are taking on each other in the playoffs, here is the best chance of it happening:
- Wild Card Round: the Browns and Ravens win road games as two of the AFC’s three wild card teams
- Divisional Round: the Browns and Ravens win on the road again and move onto the AFC Championship Game
- AFC Championship Game: Browns vs. Ravens
There is also a scenario in which the Browns enter the playoffs as the No. 5 seed while the Ravens enter as the No. 6 seed.
If all three AFC wild card teams win in the Wild Card Round, then the No. 5 Browns would face the No. 6 Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium again.
This contest would be played in the Divisional Round.
With the seventh wild card team added to each conference, there is a much better chance that a division can have three playoff teams.
The AFC North should do just that, and the Browns and Ravens might be able to play another exciting game this postseason.
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