CLEVELAND — Thanks to a 47-42 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, the Cleveland Browns' four-game winning streak has come to an end.
But while the Browns' playoff odds took a small dip as a result of the defeat, they remain well-positioned to end the NFL's longest active playoff drought (17 years).
According to advanced analytics website Five Thirty Eight, Cleveland now possesses an 87 percent chance of qualifying for postseason play. And while that figure is down five percent from a week ago, the Browns' next victory will move their playoff odds to more than 99 percent.
Until it clinches, however, Cleveland will be keeping its eye on the rest of the league. With that in mind, let's take a look at where the Browns fit into the AFC playoff picture with three weeks remaining in the 2020 regular season.
AFC North
AFC North Standings
- Pittsburgh Steelers 11-2
- Cleveland Browns 9-4
- Baltimore Ravens 8-5
- Cincinnati Bengals 2-10-1
While the Browns' loss to the Ravens may not have seriously hurt their playoff odds, it did put a significant dent in the small chance Cleveland had left of winning the AFC North. Had the Browns continued winning, there was a chance that the division would be on the line in their Week 17 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Instead, Cleveland's only hope to play for the AFC North in Week 17 involves Pittsburgh losing to the Cincinnati Bengals this coming Monday night. For what it's worth, the Steelers enter the contest as a 12.5-point favorite.
In other words, don't get your hopes up, as it's likely that Pittsburgh will have clinched a division title by this time next week.
AFC Wild Card
Through 14 weeks, here's how the AFC Playoff picture looks:
Division Winners
- Kansas City Chiefs (12-1)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2)
- Buffalo Bills (10-3)
- Tennessee Titans (9-4)
Wild Card
- Cleveland Browns (9-4)
- Indianapolis Colts (9-4)
- Miami Dolphins (8-5)
- Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
- Las Vegas Raiders (7-6)
- New England Patriots (6-7)
- Denver Broncos (5-8)
Despite suffering a loss, the Browns remain in pole position for the top Wild Card spot in the AFC, thanks to their head-to-head tiebreaker with the Indianapolis Colts. With three weeks left in the season, Cleveland lays claim to a one-game lead over both the Miami Dolphins and Ravens and a two-game advantage over the Las Vegas Raiders.
With three games remaining, two wins would virtually guarantee a playoff spot for the Browns. And while it doesn't appear Cleveland will be able to clinch a postseason spot this coming weekend, a win over the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football would go a long way toward accomplishing just that.
What's ahead?
Here are the games left on the Browns' 2020 schedule:
- Dec. 20 at New York Giants
- Dec. 27 at New York Jets
- Jan. 3 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
In need of two wins to virtually guarantee a playoff spot, the Browns' next two weeks could prove pivotal. While the 5-8 Giants remain in contention for the NFC East, their unstable quarterback play has led to an inconsistent output. Meanwhile, the Jets are just three losses away from becoming the third team in NFL history to go 0-16.
In Week 17, the Browns will host the Steelers, who may or may not have an incentive to play their starters based on their own postseason situation. With three weeks remaining in the season, it would be tough to argue that Cleveland isn't well-positioned. Now it's time for the Browns to take care of business.