How Were The Browns Playoff Odds Impacted By Win Over Bears?

A thrilling and improbable win over the Chicago Bears in Week 15, has the Browns one step closer to clinching a playoff berth over the final three games of the regular season.

Per the New York Times' playoff simulator – which calculates the percentage chance all 32 teams have of making the playoffs, winning its division, earning the No. 1 seed and winning the Super Bowl., Cleveland's percentage to make the playoffs has jumped up to 88-percent.

Browns vs. Bears: Postgame Observations

That figure is the highest its been since the Browns earned a back-to-back wins over division foes, Baltimore and Pittsburgh in Weeks 10 and 11. Back then, their chances of making the playoffs sat one-percent higher. 88-percent is still the fourth highest mark among AFC opponents to make the playoffs. They maintain the fifth seed in the conference as of today.

Meanwhile, Cleveland's chances of winning the division are down to just four percent after the Ravens beat Jacksonville to improve to 10-3. They're the first team in the AFC to clinch a playoff berth and are in the drivers seat to win the division as those odds sit at 96-percent.

#Browns chances to make the playoffs now back up to 88% according to the NYT Playoff Predictor. Highest it's been since the team's Week 10 win over the Ravens. pic.twitter.com/MGFe7f5w7k
— 𝚂𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚛 𝙶𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚗 (@Spencito_) December 18, 2023

The movement in the bottom half of the division is perhaps even more intriguing that what's happening at the top half of it. The once mighty Steelers have lost three straight and suddenly find themselves on the outside looking in at the postseason and in last place in the North.

Cincinnati, on the other hand, continues to shake up the AFC's playoff landscape after winning three straight with backup, Jake Browning under center. When the Bengals lost Joe Burrow to a season-ending wrist injury back in Week 11, many believed they were destined for the basement. Instead they've managed to kept things afloat and now have a 36-percent chance to make the playoffs.

They've be the six seed in the AFC if the tournament started today, meaning three teams from the division still have an opportunity to make the playoffs.