Browns Playoff Picture: Can Cleveland win the AFC North?

Just one time in the last couple of decades the Cleveland Browns have made the playoffs. During the 2020 season, the Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in a Wild Card game before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in what was a battle to the end. The Browns are trying to get back to the […]

Brandon Little — Ohio State Buckeyes & Cleveland Browns News Writer

Nov 7, 2023 2:32 PM EST

Just one time in the last couple of decades the Cleveland Browns have made the playoffs.

During the 2020 season, the Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in a Wild Card game before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in what was a battle to the end.

The Browns are trying to get back to the playoffs this season and sit at a pretty good spot to do so with a 5-3 record.

Playoff picture for the Browns if the season ended today:

Kansas City Chiefs (7-2) – 1st AFC West

Baltimore Ravens (7-2) – 1st AFC North

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2) – 1st AFC South

Miami Dolphins (6-3) – 1st AFC East

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) – Wild Card

Cleveland Browns (5-3) – Wild Card

Cincinnati Bengals (5-3) – Wild Card

In the hunt:

Buffalo Bills (5-4)

Houston Texans (4-4)

Los Angeles Charges (4-4)

New York Jets (4-4)

Indianapolis Colts (4-5)

Las Vegas Raiders (4-5)

Cleveland would be on the road to Jacksonville if the playoffs started today, where they would take on the Jaguars, who are just one game ahead of them. Cleveland is the No. 6 seed right now with all four AFC North teams having a spot.

Will the Browns make the playoffs?

Cleveland is in a good spot to make the playoffs but they’ll have to keep taking care of business. Head coach Kevin Stefanski needs to get back to the playoffs for the first time since he became a head coach, or he may not be around any longer. Just three of the Browns’ remaining games are against a team that would currently make the playoffs. Those three games just happen to be against divisional opponents. To answer this question, yes, I believe the Browns will make the playoffs.

Can Cleveland win the AFC North?

Right now, the Ravens have a 1.5-game lead on the division and they’re the only team that hasn’t had their week off. Pittsburgh holds the first matchup tiebreaker by beating Cleveland. Despite both being 5-3, the Browns are ahead of the Bengals thanks to their Week 1 win.

Winning the division is doable for any team in the north right now. It is a close race with the Ravens looking like the most complete team to this point. If the Browns can defeat the Ravens in Week 10, they would have the same amount of losses.

Week 11 will be just as important for the Browns with the Steelers coming to town. These two divisional games are a chance for the Browns to really help themselves. The second matchup with Cincinnati in Week 18 could wind up being for the division if the Browns can finish the season strong, you never know.

Cleveland’s most likely path to the playoffs is the Wild Card.