Browns' Rooting Guide for NFL Playoff Implications of Week 16

The 2023 season has been a roller coaster ride for the Cleveland Browns, but it's a virtual lock that it's headed toward a playoff berth for just the second time in 20 years.

The club started the season with high expectations. Deshaun Watson was set to start the season and return to the version the franchise hoped they were getting when they traded multiple first-round picks to give him a five-year, $230 million contract.

Then he dealt with multiple injuries before his season was shut down due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.

Still, the Browns have rallied behind an elite defense and Joe Flacco to come into Week 16 with a 93 percent chance to make the postseason field, per Sumer Sports.

As it stands, the Browns are the fifth seed with a 9-5 record. However, there's still hope they can win the AFC North if the ball bounces their way or at least hold onto the fifth seed.

Here's a look at three results this week that would help them.

Chargers over Bills

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Josh Allen

Every team in the AFC right now should be rooting against the Buffalo Bills. A really talented team peaking at the right time is always a dangerous thing come the playoffs.

The Bills have had plenty of struggles this season, but the metrics tell the tale of a team that has played better than their record would indicate. The 8-6 Bills are fourth in offensive EPA per play this season with a defense that is just outside of the top 10.

The Bills were nearly written off earlier this season, but they have since ripped off back-to-back wins over the Chiefs and Cowboys, proving just how dangerous they can be.

If the Bills lose it would do two things to help the Browns: They wouldn't have to worry about the Bills catching up to them in the race for the fifth seed and it would keep a talented team out of the playoff field.

The Browns are one of many teams who are hoping a backup quarterback can guide them on a playoff run. Getting a team with a quarterback like Josh Allen in the field is counterproductive to that goal.

That being said, this is a longshot result. The Chargers are coming off a game in which they gave up 63 points to the Las Vegas Raiders. Their season is over and they are playing like a team who knows it.

Buccaneers over Jaguars

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Baker Mayfield

The Browns are going to be put in a familiar, uneasy spot. They'll have to root for Baker Mayfield on Sunday when the Buccaneers meet the Jaguars.

If the Browns continue to hold serve for the fifth seed, they will likely be facing the AFC South champions in the first round of the playoffs. The Jaguars now have a tentative grip on that distinction. They've lost three games in a row and Trevor Lawrence is trying to come back from a concussion.

That has allowed the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans to stay in the race for the division.

The best-case scenario for the Browns, if they can't win the AFC North, is to meet the Indianapolis Colts in the wildcard round. The Colts have continued to survive the season with Gardner Minshew at quarterback.

The Browns hold wins over both the Colts and the Jaguars. If they beat the Texans on Sunday they would have the tiebreaker over the entire division. Then it comes down to who they actually want to play.

The Browns were fortunate to escape Indy with a win in Week 7, but that was a bit of a fluky game. Minshew carved up one of the league's best defenses for 305 yards. The Colts are 17th in total DVOA while the Texans are 12th and the Jaguars are ninth.

Cleveland should be rooting for another matchup with the Colts so they'll be hoping Mayfield can guide the Bucs offense past the Jaguars to give them their fourth consecutive loss.

49ers over Ravens

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Kyle Shanahan

This is the big one. The Browns' slim hopes of winning the division hinge on the San Francisco 49ers beating the Baltimore Ravens.

Cleveland finds itself two games behind the current No. 1 seed in the AFC and have just a nine percent chance of winning the AFC North, per Sumer Sports. But a Browns win over Houston combined with a Ravens loss to San Francisco would nearly double those odds to 19 percent, according to the New York Times playoff machine.

The odds are stacked against the Browns, but its' really not a far-fetched hypothetical that gets the Browns back in the race. Cleveland has a winnable game this weekend against the Texans without C.J. Stroud. Then they get the New York Jets.

Meanwhile, the Niners are the hottest team in football right now. They've won six in a row and all six victories have come by double digits. The Ravens have won four in a row and are at the top of the AFC, though, so the Monday Night Football matchup should draw plenty of interest around the league.

After that, the Ravens draw the Dolphins who will be looking to prove they can beat one of the AFC's best teams.

The Browns have two games where they should be heavy favorites while the Ravens will have two tough non-division games that could halt their momentum.

The dream of the Browns hosting a playoff game for the first time since 1994 isn't dead yet.