How Browns Win Over Texans Affects Playoff Odds
With their 36-22 win Sunday over the Houston Texans, the Cleveland Browns are now officially in near-lock territory to clinch a playoff berth.
The soonest they can do it is Thursday night against the Jets — a win will officially put the Browns into the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and second time since the franchise was revived in Cleveland in 1999.
With just one more victory to go, the Browns’ playoff chances are above 99 percent, according to The New York Time Playoff Simulator.
Even if they lose their next two games, the Browns are set to have exceptional odds at cracking the playoffs in the remaining two weeks of the regular season. The odds should never drop below 96 percent the rest of the season even if the Browns lose their last two games, and they would still have a myriad of ways to crack the playoffs based on other results around the league.
In Week 17, the Browns can still clinch the playoffs even with a loss Thursday night if any of the following scenarios occur:
- PIT loss or tie
- BUF loss
- JAX loss or tie
- HOU loss or tie + IND loss or tie
Dec 24, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski looks at the clock as the Browns play the Houston Texans in the second quarter at NRG Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland extended its win streak to three games behind another brilliant day from 38-year-old Joe Flacco, who tossed three touchdowns and went 27-for-42 with 368 yards, marking the third straight game Flacco has thrown for over 300 yards and the first time he’s ever achieved that feat over his career.
Cooper also compiled the best performance ever by a Browns receiver, totaling a franchise record 265 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Check out every highlight from his historic day here.
The Browns are most likely to play the Jaguars on the road in the AFC Wild Card round, but a path still exists for them to win the AFC North in Week 18 if they win out and if the Ravens go 1-2 — Baltimore has the second hardest schedule remaining in the league with matchups against the 49ers, Dolphins and Steelers.
The Brown can also secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC and secure a first-round bye if they win out and if the Dolphins go 1-1 (vs. Ravens and Bills) and if the Chiefs go 2-1 (vs. Raiders, Bengals and Chargers).
