What Would Have To Happen For The Browns To Miss The Playoffs?

Thursday presents a fun win and you're in scenario for the Browns as they look to clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2020 and it would take an epic collapse for Cleveland not to make the postseason

All of Cleveland knows what's at stake on Thursday night for the Browns. A win and they'll earn a playoff berth for the second time in four years under Kevin Stefanski. The stage is also set for them to do it in front of their hometown fans as well.

Pulling it off would be the fever-pitch of a season marred by an exuberant amount of injuries for the Browns. But given the franchise's propensity to find ways to lose over the last two decades and the general cautious optimism that has become part of the identity of this fanbase, it's worth taking a look at everything that would have to happen for Cleveland to end up missing the playoffs.

Currently situated as the five seed in the AFC but in a tight AFC Wild Card race, a scenario where the Browns miss the playoffs starts by them losing out with losses against the Jets on Thursday night and then in Week 18 in Cincinnati.

From there, it would take four other teams going undefeated to knock the Browns completely out of the tournament. 

Pittsburgh needs to win out against: Seattle and Baltimore

Jacksonville needs to win out against: Carolina and Tennessee

Indianapolis needs to win out against: Las Vegas and Houston

Buffalo needs to win out against: New England and Miami

How Browns Win Over Texans Affects Playoff Odds

There's also a scenario where Houston would make it over the Browns if the Steelers, Jagaurs and Bills pull off their part of this scenario, and the Colts beat the Raiders this weekend then lose to the Texans next week. Even though Cleveland holds the head-to-head tiebreak over Houston, the Steelers would eliminate the Browns based on the division record tiebreak making the head-to-head win over the Texans a moot point.

Essentially there are five different teams that can still make it over the Browns if things really went awry for them over the next two weeks, but it also takes a lot for those respective teams because their margin for error is zero. 

Cleveland on the other hand has a little wiggle room. It also has a path to still win the division as well if the Ravens – fresh off a statement win over the 49ers on Christmas – were to lose out to the Dolphins and Steelers and the Browns win out. That scenario would also mean the Browns walk away with the No. 1 seed in the AFC.