PITTSBURGH — At 7-8, the Cleveland Browns enter the final two weeks of the 2021 season having already been eliminated from postseason contention.
But that doesn't make the Browns' final two games of the 2021 campaign meaningless.
From draft position, to its future schedule, to roster clarity, how Cleveland finishes the 2021 season will have a significant impact on its 2022 outlook. With that in mind, let's take a look at what's on the line for the Browns in their final two games.
Draft position
Entering their matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, Cleveland is currently slotted to pick 13th in the 2022 NFL Draft. Ending the season with a pair of consecutive losses, however, could catapult the Browns into the top 10 by the time the draft order for non-playoff teams is finalized following Week 18.
While ending the season on a four-game losing streak would hardly be ideal, one could argue that missing the playoffs has already rendered Cleveland's 2021 campaign a disappointment. Furthermore, a top 10 pick could prove to be a significant asset for the Browns' front office, which will undoubtedly spend the upcoming offseason looking to improve its passing attack.
At this point, Cleveland could find itself picking in the top 10, closer to 20, or anywhere in between. How the Browns finish the next two weeks will ultimately determine how long they have to wait to make their pick this spring.
2022 schedule
Much like their draft positioning, winning now could come to Cleveland's detriment later. In the NFL, three games on each team's schedule are directly impacted by where in the standings they finished the previous year.
Still having the ability to finish as high as second and as low as fourth in the AFC North, Cleveland's final two weeks of this season will determine three of its opponents for the 2022 season. According to Zac Jackson of The Athletic, here are the scheduling scenarios still in play for the Browns:
- If Cleveland finishes second: at Philadelphia Eagles, at Indianapolis Colts, vs. winner of Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers Week 18 matchup
- If Cleveland finishes third: at Washington Football Team, at Houston Texans, vs. loser of Raiders vs. Chargers
- If Cleveland finishes fourth: at New York Giants, at Jacksonville Jaguars, vs. Denver Broncos
Roster decisions
While the next two weeks will simply be two weeks' worth of data points in a 17-week season, they'll be data points nonetheless. And heading into an offseason in which the Browns will face several key personnel decisions, that might not ultimately be insignificant.
Most critically, Baker Mayfield's injury-plagued 2021 season has led many to already speculate that Cleveland could look to make a change at quarterback in 2022. Make no mistake, Mayfield's performance in the final two weeks of the season will be under the microscope -- just as his play has been since the Browns drafted him in 2018.
Additionally, the Browns could find themselves making roster decisions on the contracts of a number of key veterans, including Jarvis Landry, JC Tretter, Jadeveon Clowney, Austin Hooper, and David Njoku. At a minimum, how Cleveland finishes the 2021 season will help inform how the Browns approach the 2022 offseason.
Consecutive winning seasons
Since returning to the NFL in 1999, Cleveland has had a winning record in just three seasons. Furthermore, the "new" Browns have yet to put together consecutive winning campaigns.
Winning its final two games against the Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals would change that and give the Browns an impressive 4-2 record in the ultra-competitive AFC North. While momentum rarely carries from season to season -- look no further than this year -- it would be tough to argue that Cleveland (and its fans) wouldn't be able to take more positives away from a season in which the Browns won their final two games than one in which they lost their final four.