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Cleveland Browns can move into first place in AFC North with win over Las Vegas Raiders

The Browns will host the Raiders at FirstEnergy Stadium on Monday at 5 p.m.

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CLEVELAND — What's at stake on Monday when the Cleveland Browns play host to the Las Vegas Raiders at FirstEnergy Stadium? Plenty.

Despite a season of injuries, inconsistancy, and a recent surge in COVID-19 cases among the team, the Browns can move into first place in the AFC North and essentially control their own destiny the rest of the way with a victory over the Raiders.

RELATED: Cleveland Browns vs. Las Vegas Raiders: Preview, point spread, how to watch

Right now, here's how the AFC North standings look heading into Monday:

Cincinnati: 8-6
Baltimore: 8-6
BROWNS: 7-6
Pittsburgh: 7-6-1

As my colleague Nick Camino tweeted after the Ravens lost to the Packers on Sunday, the door is open now for the Browns to snag the top spot in the AFC North.

So, a #Browns win tomorrow over the Raiders, would now put Cleveland in first place atop the AFC North Division.

Wild.
— Nick Camino (@NickCaminoWKYC) December 20, 2021

Here's what Nick is talking about:

If the Browns beat Las Vegas, they would move to 8-6 and own the tiebreaker over Cincinnati and Baltimore due to a better record head-to-head against the two teams. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division is the No. 2 tiebreaker. You can see the NFL's tiebreaking criteria here.

This was also laid out beautfully by Dennis Manoloff from WTAM 1100 on Twitter:

If @browns win tomorrow, three teams in AFC North at 8-6. As I read https://t.co/S1eY6SmTeb first tiebreaker among three teams, Browns would be in first place because of 2-1 record vs. Cin/Bal, as opposed to Cin 1-1 vs. Cle/Bal and Bal 1-2 vs. Cle/Cin pic.twitter.com/6uLjboZCHR
— Dennis Manoloff (@dmansworld474) December 20, 2021

However, if the Browns lose to the Raiders, they would fall back to last place in the division with just three games to play.

Talk about a narrow margin!

What about an AFC Wild Card spot, you ask? It's much more complicated.

The Browns come into Monday in 9th place in the conference with their 7-6 record. Get a win over the Raiders and they would do some leapfrogging over some of the teams in front of them, including the Bengals. But keep in mind that teams like the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, and Los Angeles Chargers all own tiebreakers over the Browns by virtue of head-to-head wins.

So it's simple: The Browns win Monday and they'll take over first in the AFC North. It won't be an easy finish with the Packers, Steelers, and Bengals to close out the season, but at least the Browns will control their own destiny. Otherwise, Cleveland will have to hope for lots of help from other teams in order to stay in the playoff chase.

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