Browns Remaining 2021-2022 Schedule Outlook

The Cleveland Browns enter their bye week in Week 13 with a 6-6 record. They are still on the hunt for a spot in the postseason but have some work to do if they want to lock down one of those spots over the final six weeks of the year. In looking at their remaining schedule, it is clear that the Browns face an uphill climb if they want to get to the playoffs, though a run to the postseason isn’t impossible either.

No Losing Teams Remaining

When looking at the remaining schedule for the Cleveland Browns, what immediately jumps out is that they do not play a single team with a losing record the rest of the way. Their final five games come against the Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cincinnati Bengals. Those teams are all at least at .500 through Week 12 of the NFL season, and all of them are in contention for a spot in the playoffs.

That brutal scheduling will make it difficult for the Browns to make the postseason, in that it reduces their margin for error in each game. While mistake-free football is always preferable when a team is looking to make the playoffs, it is almost required against teams led by quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Derek Carr, and Aaron Rodgers. That will put pressure on Baker Mayfield to deliver in each of these games, despite his failure to do so consistently thus far.

Three Division Games

Also noteworthy within the remaining schedule of the Browns is the fact that they still have three division games left to play within the final five weeks of the season. They have one game each against the Steelers, Ravens and Bengals, starting with a rematch against the Ravens following their bye week. That will give the Browns an opportunity to climb the AFC North standings, provided they win those games.

So far this season, the Browns are 1-2 in division games, losing to the Ravens and Steelers and beating the Bengals. It will be interesting to see if the Browns can turn around their division record in the second half of their division games for the season. If they can, they have a great shot at finishing the year with a winning record and possibly a playoff berth.

Browns Playoff Odds

After their Week 12 loss on Sunday Night Football, the Browns are not considered likely to make it to the postseason. They are at -280 to fail to make the playoffs, with odds of +225 to make it to the playoffs. These odds suggest that a failure to make the playoffs is the most likely outcome, but the odds aren’t so outrageous that the Browns can’t turn them around with a couple of wins right after their bye week.

For Cleveland to get to the playoffs, they will need more production from their passing game. The Browns’ rushing attack might be the best in football, but Baker Mayfield hasn’t been as accurate as he needs to be, while the Browns’ receivers aren’t doing enough to win their one-on-one matchups. Fixing that must be the priority during the bye week.