Playoff Hopes Cling On Desperately for the Cleveland Browns Squad

As the 2024 NFL regular season enters its final weeks, the Cleveland Browns squad finds their playoff hopes hanging by a thread—fragile, uncertain, and dependent on a perfect mix of wins, losses by rivals, and fixes to their ongoing issues. Sitting at 7-6 after 13 weeks, the Browns hold the 7th and final AFC wild-card spot, but they’re just one loss away from being overtaken by teams like the Indianapolis Colts (6-7) and Jacksonville Jaguars (6-7), who have more favorable remaining schedules. What makes their situation even more dire is the team’s recent form: they’ve lost three of their last five games, with each defeat exposing critical flaws—from a defense that can’t close games to an offense that stalls in key moments. Playoff Hopes Cling On Desperately for the Cleveland Browns Squad breaks down the precarious position they’re in, the obstacles standing between them and the playoffs, and the tiny window of opportunity they have to keep their season alive.

Playoff Hopes Cling On Desperately for the Cleveland Browns Squad starts with the team’s current playoff picture—one that grows more uncertain with each passing week. The AFC wild-card race is a logjam, with five teams (Browns, Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Broncos) separated by just one game. The Browns’ biggest advantage right now is their head-to-head tiebreaker over the Colts (a 39-38 win in Week 6), but that edge could disappear if they lose their remaining games. Compounding the stress is the fact that the Browns have one of the toughest remaining schedules among playoff contenders: they face the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5), Denver Broncos (7-6), and Cincinnati Bengals (9-4)—all teams fighting for their own playoff spots. “We know how tight this race is,” said head coach Kevin Stefanski. “Every win from here on out is a must. There’s no room for mistakes, no time to dwell on losses—we have to focus on the next game and nothing else.” The Browns’ recent struggles, though, have made even that simple goal feel unattainable at times—especially with their injury list continuing to grow.

Playoff Hopes Cling On Desperately for the Cleveland Browns Squad shifts to the injuries that have derailed their momentum and made playoff success even harder. The loss of defensive tackle Maliek Collins (season-ending quad tear) has gutted the interior of the defensive line, turning a already weak run defense (25th in the NFL) into a liability. Without Collins, the Browns have allowed 120+ rushing yards in two straight games, letting opponents control the clock and limit their offense’s chances. On offense, the absence of backup running back Kareem Hunt (rib injury) has forced Nick Chubb to carry the entire load—he’s played 85% of snaps in the last two games, up from 68fore Hunt’s injury—and left the Browns with no viable Plan B if Chubb gets hurt. Even the secondary, once a strength, is now shorthanded with Greg Newsome II (hamstring strain) sidelined, forcing rookies into critical roles. “Injuries are part of the NFL, but they’ve hit us at the worst possible time,” said defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. “We’re asking guys to play out of position and take on more responsibility than they’re ready for—and it’s showing in our results. If we can’t stay healthy, our playoff hopes don’t stand a chance.”

Playoff Hopes Cling On Desperately for the Cleveland Browns Squad delves into the offensive inconsistencies that have cost the Browns critical wins. While the offense ranks 12th in total yards per game (358.6), they’ve struggled to perform when it matters most—scoring just 17 points or fewer in three of their last five losses. Quarterback Deshaun Watson has been a mixed bag: he’s thrown 18 touchdowns, but he’s also had costly turnovers (8 interceptions) and failed to connect on deep passes (32% completion rate on 20+ yard throws) in key moments. The wide receiver corps, despite adding Jerry Jeudy in free agency, has been inconsistent—Jeudy has just 45 catches and 3 touchdowns, with drops in two of the last three games. Even the run game, the team’s biggest strength, has shown cracks: Chubb rushed for just 62 yards on 18 carries in the Week 13 loss to the Bengals, averaging a meager 3.4 yards per carry. “Our offense has the talent to be a playoff-caliber unit, but we’re not putting it all together,” said offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. “We’re leaving points on the field, making bad decisions in the red zone, and not supporting Deshaun the way we need to. For the Cleveland Browns, fixing these issues isn’t just about winning games—it’s about saving their season.”

Playoff Hopes Cling On Desperately for the Cleveland Browns Squad explores the make-or-break remaining schedule—starting with a Week 14 showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers at home. The Steelers (8-5) are fighting for the AFC North title, and they’ve dominated the Browns in recent years, winning four of their last five matchups. Pittsburgh’s run defense ranks 6th in the NFL (allowing just 98.2 yards per game), which will test Chubb and the Browns’ offensive line. If the Browns lose this game, their playoff hopes will dim significantly—they’d drop to 7-7, and the Colts or Jaguars could overtake them with a win. The following week, they travel to Denver to face the Broncos (7-6), who have a revitalized defense led by linebacker Von Miller. The season finale against the Bengals (9-4) could be a “win-and-in” game, but Cincinnati has already beaten the Browns twice this season. “Every game from here is a playoff game,” said Watson. “We have to treat Pittsburgh like it’s the first round—because if we lose, we might not get another chance.” For the Cleveland Browns, the schedule isn’t just tough—it’s a gauntlet that will expose every flaw if they don’t fix them fast.

Playoff Hopes Cling On Desperately for the Cleveland Browns Squad wraps up with the harsh reality: the Browns’ playoff hopes are not in their own hands. Even if they win all three remaining games, they still need help from other teams—like the Colts losing to the Falcons and Texans, or the Jaguars dropping games to the Titans and Saints. If they lose just one game, they’ll likely need two or three rivals to lose as well. This dependence on others is a stark reminder of their earlier mistakes—like blowing a late lead against the Bengals in Week 13 or losing to the lowly Arizona Cardinals in Week 8. “We should be in a better position right now,” Stefanski admitted. “We had chances to take control of the wild-card race, but we didn’t capitalize. Now we’re left hoping other teams do us favors—and that’s not a place any team wants to be.” For the Cleveland Browns squad, the next three weeks will define their season: will they find a way to win, fix their flaws, and cling to their playoff hopes? Or will they join the long list of Browns teams that showed promise but fell short when it mattered most? The answer will come soon—and for their fans, it can’t come fast enough.