NFL playoff picture: Cleveland Browns make up little ground despite beating Detroit Lions
Despite a win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, the Browns didn’t gain much ground in their attempt to return to the playoffs.
The Browns (6-5) are currently in the 10th spot in the AFC. With six games remaining this season, the Browns will have to win most of their games, especially against AFC North opponents.
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Currently 1-1 in divisional play, the Browns have two games against the Baltimore Ravens coming up with a bye week sandwiched between on the schedule. The Browns close the season with divisional games with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17 and Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18.
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Every team in the AFC is looking up at the 8-3 Tennessee Titans after 11 weeks. That's despite the Titans losing to the 2-8 Houston Texans on Sunday.
Here's a look at the current AFC playoff picture, and the schedules of the teams the Browns are competing with for a spot in the postseason:
Current AFC playoff picture
- Tennessee Titans - 8-3 - AFC South 1st place
- Baltimore Ravens - 7-3 - AFC North 1st place
- New England Patriots - 7-4 - AFC East 1st place
- Kansas City Chiefs - 7-4 - AFC West 1st place
- Cincinnati Bengals - 6-4 - wild card
- Los Angeles Chargers - 6-4 - wild card
- Buffalo Bills - 6-4 - wild card
- Pittsburgh Steelers - 5-4-1
- Indianapolis Colts - 6-5
- Cleveland Browns - 6-5
Cleveland Browns schedule
- Week 12: at Baltimore Ravens
- Week 13: BYE
- Week 14: vs. Baltimore Ravens
- Week 15: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
- Week 16: at Green Bay Packers
- Week 17: at Pittsburgh Steelers
- Week 18: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Indianapolis Colts schedule
- Week 12: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Week 13: at Houston Texans
- Week 14: BYE
- Week 15: vs. New England Patriots
- Week 16: at Arizona Cardinals
- Week 17: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
- Week 18: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Los Angeles Chargers schedule
- Week 12: at Denver Broncos
- Week 13: at Cincinnati Bengals
- Week 14: vs. New York Giants
- Week 15: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 16: at Houston Texans
- Week 17: vs. Denver Broncos
- Week 18: at Las Vegas Raiders
Buffalo Bills schedule
- Week 12: at New Orleans Saints
- Week 13: vs. New England Patriots
- Week 14: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Week 15: vs. Carolina Panthers
- Week 16: at New England Patriots
- Week 17: vs. Atlanta Falcons
- Week 18: vs. New York Jets
Cincinnati Bengals schedule
- Week 12: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Week 13: vs. Lon Angeles Chargers
- Week 14: vs. San Francisco 49ers
- Week 15: at Denver Broncos
- Week 16: vs. Baltimore Ravens
- Week 17: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 18: at Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers schedule
- Week 12: at Cincinnati Bengals
- Week 13: vs. Baltimore Ravens
- Week 14: at Minnesota Vikings
- Week 15: vs. Tennessee Titans
- Week 16: at Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 17: vs. Cleveland Browns
- Week 18: at Baltimore Ravens