Playoff Preview And Prediction: Can Browns Make A Super Bowl Run?
The playoffs are officially here and the Browns are in the dance with a chance to make a memorable run to Super Bowl 58. The path to a championship is a grueling one though and there are plenty of teams that will test Cleveland along the way.
The test begins in Houston tomorrow afternoon, with a chance to earn just the second playoff win since the team returned in 1999. No one knows what awaits after that, but with the best defense in football and the unflappable Joe Flacco leading the charge on offense, Cleveland has as good of a shot anyone.
Will this magical season continue for the Browns? Our team makes their playoff predictions.
Team That Makes An Unexpected Playoff Run
Anthony Moeglin: Green Bay Packers
Not enough is being said about how well Jordan Love is playing the quarterback position. There are certainly shades of Rodgers in Love's game and his decision making has steadily improved throughout the year. Their defense leaves a lot to be desired but the Packer offense is clicking, if they get hot, why couldn't they make a run?
Anthony Poisal: Los Angeles Rams
It wouldn't be surprising to see the Browns make a run as well, but the most slept-on team in the playoffs might be the Rams. They ended the season on an incredible hot streak with wins in seven of their last eight games, and their only loss in that stretch was an overtime defeat against the Ravens. If the Rams beat the Lions, there's no reason to believe they couldn't hang with the 49ers or Cowboys, either.
Spencer German: Los Angeles Rams
Let me be clear, the Lions are one of my favorite stories and teams in the playoff field this year, so I hope they make a run themselves here. But if they get knocked off by the Rams this weekend...watch out! They've won seven of their last eight games, Matt Stafford is back to playing really solid football, averaging nearly 300 yards a game over his last five games, with 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions. They've also got weapons galore in receivers Cooper Kupp, rookie Puka Nacua and running back Kyren Williams. Do not sleep on the Rams.
How Far Will The Browns Advance?
Anthony Moeglin: AFC Championship
The magic is too much for the Cleveland Browns this year for it to fizzle out in the Wild Card or Divisional Round. The ideal scenario is to face the Miami Dolphins at home in Cleveland Browns Stadium for the AFC Title, but that seems far-fetched. Cleveland's road will roll into Buffalo for the AFC Championship game and we'll let the chips fall as they may.
Anthony Poisal: Divisional Round
It feels inevitable the Browns will play the Ravens in Baltimore at some point if they win Saturday in Houston, right? Unless the Dolphins and/or Steelers pull off upsets, the matchup will happen in the Divisional Round, and I don't see the Browns defeating the Ravens in Baltimore for a second time this season — not with the way the Ravens have rebounded after losing to them in Week 10.
Spencer German: AFC Championship
Maybe I've come down with Flacco Fever, but I truly believe this Browns team has a chance to stick around for a while in these playoffs. Based on how I'm picturing things will play out on Super Wild Card Weekend, it looks like the Browns are on a collision course with Baltimore in the Divisional Round. Talk about storylines in that one: Joe Flacco's return to Baltimore to face his former team, playing for one of its divison rivals now. I'm here for it. It feels like the Browns are here for it to. I've talked a lot about the overwhelming sense of belief this team has. They truly believe they can beat anyone and they've already taken down Baltimore once in their house. I think it's possible.
Dec 28, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Juan Thornhill (1) celebrates after the Browns beat the New York Jets at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
© Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Super Bowl Matchup & Prediction
Anthony Moeglin: Buffalo Bills over Dallas Cowboys
A revenge Super Bowl of sorts for the city of Buffalo. Wouldnt this just be the perfect Buffalo storyline? Out of all the years they have been hyped to be the Super Bowl favorite but they come up short. Then in a year where they have losses to the Jets, Patriots and Jaguars, they hoist the Lombardi? It'd be a heck of a story, especially to do it against the Dallas Cowboys.
Anthony Poisal: Ravens over 49ers
The Ravens' success against the top teams they've faced is impossible to ignore. Yes, they did lose to the Browns, but then their defense held the 49ers and Dolphins to 19 points each in their last two meaningful games, and they also crushed the Lions and Seahawks earlier in the year. Lamar Jackson has been the hardest QB in the NFL to defend, while the defense has created successful blueprints against the league's top offenses to win critical late-season games. It's hard to pick against them right now.
Spencer German: 49ers over Bills
I agonized over this because the AFC feels so wide open. I could truly see five different teams making it to the Super Bowl, including the Browns. When I'm having this much trouble making picks I tend to look at the quarterback position and while I think Patrick Mahomes has reached that Tom Brady status of "bet against him at your own risk," the idea of Kansas City having to go to Buffalo next weekend with an offense that has struggled this year feels a little too daunting. I think Buffalo finally supersizes their playoff demons against that team, but fall short to a juggernaut 49ers team that feels due.
Super Bowl MVP
Anthony Moeglin: Josh Allen
Josh Allen is my favorite player in the NFL to study. His games are the perfect balance of equal parts incredible and equal parts dumbfounding. Last Sunday Night was the perfect example, he threw for nearly 400 yards but paired that with three red zone turnovers. He is so fascinating but has led the Bills back to the playoffs. If they make the big one and win it, Allen will be the reason why.
Anthony Poisal: Lamar Jackson
Jackson has been at his best in the Ravens' most important games this year, so he's the obvious MVP pick for anyone who has the Ravens winning it all. He's 20-1 as a starter against NFC teams in his career, so if the Ravens make it to Las Vegas, it's going to be a monumental task for the opponent to stop him.
Spencer German: Christian McCaffrey
At one point this season, the do it all back tied a record for consecutive games with a touchdowns scored. If the 49ers make it to the Big Game and win, I think he helps lift them to victory over Buffalo with a pair of touchdowns.
