Cleveland Browns' Playoff Hopes Aren't Dead, Team Needs A Miracle To Win AFC Wild-Card Berth

The Cleveland Browns will head into Week 16 mathematically still alive in the playoff race. The chances of the team actually making the postseason are slim to none.

Cleveland was eliminated from the AFC North race Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New England Patriots. That means the team can only reach the postseason with the AFC’s second wild-card spot. The Browns are one of five teams fighting for the No.6 seed.

The Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans are all 8-6 after Week 15. The Ravens own the tiebreaker over both teams. They are all a game ahead of the 7-7 Miami Dolphins. Cleveland is 1.5 games out of the playoffs at 6-7-1.

How exactly can the Browns sneak into the postseason?

It starts with Cleveland winning their next two games. They can’t reach the playoffs without beating the Cincinnati Bengals next week and the Ravens in the season finale.

In Week 16, the Browns need Ravens, Colts and Titans all to lose. Cleveland needs Miami to lose one of their next two games.

Even if all of that happens, the Browns are still all but guaranteed to miss the playoffs. They would need the Colts and Titans to tie in their Week 17 matchup.

The Browns tied the Steelers in Week 1. The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings also played to a tie in Week 2.

Indianapolis is a heavy favorite over the New York Giants in Week 16, per OddsShark. Tennessee is expected to win at home against the Washington Redskins. Baltimore is an underdog on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers Saturday.

Cleveland essentially eliminated the Denver Broncos from the playoff hunt by winning in Denver in Week 15. The Browns have won four of their last five games.

Baker Mayfield is 5-6 as the Browns’ starting quarterback, and he led Cleveland to a second-half comeback when he made his debut in relief of Tyrod Taylor in Week 3. Since the Browns fired head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley, Cleveland has gone 4-2.

Mayfield has thrown 13 touchdown passes and five interceptions in the last six games.