PLAYOFFS??!! You want to talk about PLAYOFFS??!!

Those were good times indeed!

 

The Playoffs through orange colored glasses: If Cleveland wins out. 8 / 7 / 1

Mia, Ind, Den, Ten: all 6 & 6: if they split 2/2 end up 8/8 and we jump them. Good probability.

The fun is with Pitt, Bal, and us. Either Pitt (75%) or Bal (25%) get the Division. For Cleveland to be in the equation, Pit has to win, or lose all 4 (unlikely). Baltimore is the main target.

Bal plays KC away this week (loss), then TB at home (win), then away to LAC (loss), and then we get to determine who stays in the hunt, playing in Bal.

If one of the 6 / 6 teams can win 3 all bets are off, but IMO only Ten and Ind have a legit shot at that. So let the games begin, and reconvene on a "victory monday".

 

I'M HAPPY TO REPORT, WE ARE STILL IN THE HUNT....FOR REAL!!!



So, with 3 games to go, we are currently 1.5 games out of the playoffs...On to Denver, we win and we jump another team in front of us!

Week 15:
Browns @ Broncos - We could move to #10, simply by winning this week
Titans @ Giants - The resurgent Giants get the Titans at home, if they can pull of the upset, we could be within .5 game of them with two to go.
Colts vs. Cowboys - The Cowboys defense has come to play the past few weeks now..This will be a tough game for the Colts... I EXPECT to make up a .5 game here.
Dolphins @ Vikings - on a short week, Thursday night IN Minnesota... It's games like this I wish the Vikes played outside, supposed to be around 21 degrees at game time.
Ravens vs. Buccaneers - I wish this one was in Florida! I'm hoping Jameis can pull off an upset, but I don't feel cozy about it. Still, it could come down to week 17 for the playoffs if/when they lose to the Chargers week 16 in Los Angelos.

Finally...I better add one more...
Steelers vs. Patriots - I seriously thought the Steelers would have clinched the North by now, but with their 3rd loss in a row to the Raiders, we are still in the running to WIN the division. They get the pissed off Patriots this week at Heinz Field...if Brady can work some magic, the last two weeks could be REAL interesting!! We could ultimately go into week 17 tied with the Steelers, after they also have a tough week 16 game against the Saints in New Orleans.

Go BROWNS!!!

 

Allow me to expand on this, Irish.

Here are the current AFCN standings after week 14:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers 7-5-1
2. Baltimore Ravens 7-6-0
3. Cleveland Browns 5-7-1
4. Cincinnati Bengals 5-8-0

Start there and project forward with reasonable expectations on remaining games:

• Steelers
  • Week 15 - Patriots (L)
  • Week 16 - Saints (L)
  • Week 17 - Bengals (W)
• Ravens
  • Week 15 - Buccaneers (L) <---------
  • Week 16 - Chargers (L)
  • Week 17 - Browns (L)
• Browns
  • Week 15 - Broncos (W) <----------
  • Week 16 - Bengals (W)
  • Week 17 - Ravens (W)
• Bengals
  • Week 15 - Raiders (W)
  • Week 16 - Browns (L)
  • Week 17 - Steelers (L)

As you can see, Week 15 is the key. A Browns win at Denver combined with a Ravens loss to the Buccaneers puts us in a position to potentially WIN the AFCN title!

1. Cleveland Browns 8-7-1
2. Pittsburgh Steelers 8-7-1
3. Baltimore Ravens 7-9-0
4. Cincinnati Bengals 6-10-0

Admittedly I didn't dive into divisional tie breakers but I believe we would win the division based on the better division/conference record. (I could be wrong here.)

An old man can dream, can't he?

 

Unfortunately, the first tie breaker is Head to Head, so the Steelers have that one on us....Any way Hue can WIN ONE GAME for the Browns over the Steelers????

Be pretty damn cool to see the Steelers end the year on a 6 game losing streak to lose the division to the Browns!

1. Cleveland Browns 8-7-1
2. Pittsburgh Steelers 7-8-1
3. Baltimore Ravens 7-9-0
4. Cincinnati Bengals 7-9-0

The thing is, just winning these last 3 games would put the Browns in a pretty good spot to get a Wild Card, IF the Steelers manage to lose all 3 of these games even better.

 

If he can . . . Maybe that would put an end to the Hue bashing?

 

It's easy to figure out the path to wind the AFCN.

1. Steelers lose all 3
2. Ravens lose 2 of 3
3. Browns win out.

For a wild card (assuming PITT wins at least 1 game) it gets a lot more complicated, but I think we're looking at a heck of a hill to climb. BAL,IND, MIA, and TEN all needing to lose 2 of 3 and I believe the Broncos just need to lose 1 of 3 along with the Browns winning out.

 

Or get him hired as the Bengals new HC for 2019 thus giving the Browns a 2-0 start for next year in the division.

 

{sigh}

 

C'mon Lyman......he didn't win his one game yet....

 

If the Browns win out...The Broncos one loss is in the books
Baltimore only needs to lose one other game, as their second loss would be to us.

The other teams are the ones we need to worry about I believe.

Indy's opponents: vs. Cowboys, vs. Giants, @Titans
Dolphins opponents: @Vikings(TNF), vs. Jaguars, @Bills
Titan's opponents: @Giants, vs. Redskins, vs. Colts

I am going to be a HUGE Giants fan the next two weeks!! They could be our saving grace!

Best case scenario NFC East are big winners this week! If the Colts lose to the Cowboys, it would set up the perfect scenario. Giants beat both the Colts and Titans, allowing the Colts to win their final game, sending division rival Titan's home without a playoff birth. I don't see any way the Redskins beat the Titans...so if they beat the Giants this week, it's probably over for us as well.

The Dolphins have an easier road, imho. I think they lose on Thursday, but beating both the Jags and Bills wouldn't surprise anyone. We really needed the Patriots to win that game yesterday!! Belichick gets us again!!

 

Realistically, Denver is also playing for their playoff life as well as their coach's job. It's their home field. They lead the series with the Browns 23-5, 11 straight, and only three times have they lost at home (1970, 1972, and 1990). This week is going to be TOUGH.

Lose to Denver and beat Baltimore, Cincinnati, but miss the playoffs... end of the world?

Well, Browns would be 4-1-1 in the Division. When's the last time they won four games in the AFC North?

 

Playoffs or not (I'm in the have to see it happen to believe it at this point as I'm sure one of the requirements for other teams' losses won't happen) I'll be extremely satisfied with winning at least 2 more games which I think is highly possible. The difference in offensive team play since the coaching change has just been night and day for the better. The team still has its flaws and weaknesses and lack of depth here and there but they are now competitive and will give anybody a run for their money. Next year I do have playoff expectations.

P.S. Hey Tim, how come we don't have Browns orange in the font colors?

 

The scenarios discussed may or may not be realistic. But, DAMN it feels good just to be able to have these discussions at this time of the year !!!

The last time I recall this happening is the year the Colts tanked the last game of the season to the Titans allowing the Titans to get into the playoffs over the Browns on a tie breaker.

 

That’s why you don’t want KC to beat the Chargers. If the chargers lose they have nothing to play for against the Ravens.

 

I didn't take any of the psychological voodoo into consideration. Just straight up won/loss records.

 

Agreed. This is soooo much better than talking about April in Nov/Dec.

 

The last time I recall this happening is the year the Colts tanked the last game of the season to the Titans allowing the Titans to get into the playoffs over the Browns on a tie breaker.


My guess is 2007 Lyman........if memory serves me right the Titans were 10-6.....Browns were 10-6.

 

The scenarios discussed may or may not be realistic. But, DAMN it feels good just to be able to have these discussions at this time of the year !!!


I agree Lyman.........Really nice and I go way back too AFC Central Days.....Oilers and Browns.