Although the Browns are 11-6 and hold one of the top records in the AFC, they will start their 2023 playoff journey on the road. Whether you like it or not, division winners get the nod for home games in Round One of the playoffs.
For the Browns, the order of business is simple, go 1-0 this week and take care of business. That has been their mantra all year and it now stands true as they are four wins away from the ultimate reward.
The question remains, how likely is it that this team can make a run? Spencer German wrote about lower seed success in the past and it gives you a good indication that the road Cleveland is on is a tough one.
One silver lining for Cleveland is that this year, the AFC is more wide-open than it has ever been. Each member of the AFC Playoffs has at least one flaw that Cleveland can hope to take advantage of.
Whether it be the Bills’ volatility, the Ravens’ inability to close out the Browns, The Dolphins being banged up, the Steelers limping into the playoffs, or any other storyline, the Browns should not be scared of anyone.
On Monday, German and Anthony Moeglin discussed what that run would look like in Cleveland and what makes this Browns team similar to those teams in the past who have gotten the job done.
It all starts in Houston on Sunday. Cleveland has a chance to make a statement against one of the league’s rising teams and they plan on taking care of business and moving on in these playoffs.