The Cleveland Browns made the playoffs last season behind a hellacious defense and a run game that overcame mostly subpar quarterback play.
The subpar quarterback part of the equation remained in 2024, but the rest of the formula hasn’t quite stayed in place.
Using Pro Football Network’s playoff predictor, let’s take a look at the latest odds for the Browns to return to the playoffs after their Week 11 loss to the Saints.
Can the Cleveland Browns Make the Playoffs?
After all the action in Week 11, the Cleveland Browns are 2-8 and now have a 0.1% chance to make the playoffs.
They have a 0.0% chance for the 1 seed, a 0.0% chance for the second seed, a 0.0% chance for the third seed, a 0.0% chance for the fourth seed, a 0.0% chance for the fifth seed, a 0.0% chance for the sixth seed, and a 0.1% chance for the seventh seed.
Can the Browns Win the AFC North?
Here’s what the AFC North race looks like after all the Sunday action in Week 11:
- The Pittsburgh Steelers have a 53.7% chance to win the AFC North.
- The Baltimore Ravens have a 45.9% chance to win the AFC North.
- The Cincinnati Bengals have a 0.4% chance to win the AFC North.
- The Cleveland Browns have a 0.0% chance to win the AFC North.
Current AFC North Standings
- Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-4)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-7)
- Cleveland Browns (2-8)
Browns’ Super Bowl Chances After Week 11
Can the Browns win the Super Bowl? The PFN Playoff Predictor projects that Cleveland has a 0.0% chance to win it all.
Browns’ Remaining Schedule
- Week 12: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Week 13: at Denver Broncos
- Week 14: at Pittsburgh Steelers
- Week 15: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 16: at Cincinnati Bengals
- Week 17: vs. Miami Dolphins
- Week 18: vs. Baltimore Ravens
What PFN Predicted for the Browns vs. Saints Matchup
This matchup of seven-loss teams could boil down to which version of Browns quarterback Jameis Winston shows up.
Winston was spectacular in the team’s Week 8 upset over Baltimore, throwing three touchdowns and averaging 0.16 EPA per play. But he crashed back down to earth in Week 9 versus the Los Angeles Chargers, turning the ball over three times and averaging -0.38 EPA per play.
THREAD:
Jameis Winston took a step back in his second start for the #Browns, but former NFL QB @realshaunking thinks it was more about what the #Chargers did defensively than Jameis playing that poorly.
1/5 pic.twitter.com/N1K3dRvahm
— Mikey McNuggets (@MikeLucasTV) November 7, 2024
The Saints are an above-average defense at forcing takeaways, ranking 10th in takeaways per drive. That could make this a week to get Nick Chubb going. Chubb has struggled since returning from his gruesome knee injury, averaging 2.7 yards per rush over three games.
However, he’ll get a Saints defense allowing the second-most yards per rush (5.1). New Orleans has allowed four different rushers to post at least 100 yards and a rushing touchdown. That includes Bijan Robinson last week, as the Atlanta Falcons star posted 116 yards and two scores on the ground.
On the other side, the Saints are missing their top pass catchers everywhere, which will place the onus on Alvin Kamara to carry the offense. Cleveland ranks 19th in yards per rush allowed but ninth in rushing defense success rate.
This is Cleveland’s last game before a brutal four-game stretch (Weeks 12-15) that sees the Browns face opponents with a current combined record of 28-9. If they drop this game, the Browns are firmly back in contention for the first overall pick.
PFN Prediction: Saints 23, Browns 17