It’s evident now that the Browns will face the AFC South champion in next week’s wild card round. We’ll find out who exactly that will be, once the Jaguars-Titans game concludes on Sunday. As the Browns’ head coach, Kevin Stefanski won all ten of his games against AFC South teams. This record includes victories over every team in that division during this year’s regular season. As Stefanski aims to extend this winning streak, let’s check out the Browns’ potential wild card opponents and examine how Cleveland matches up against each.
AFC South Playoff Picture
Jacksonville, currently in a three-way tie with Houston and Indianapolis at 9-7, leads the AFC South at this moment. The Jaguars have the easiest path to the AFC South title, needing only to win against the Titans on Sunday to secure it. Meanwhile, the Colts and Texans will play in a prime-time game this evening. The winner of that game could clinch the title if Jacksonville either loses or ties. Should the Colts-Texans game result in a tie and Jacksonville loses, the Colts will be the ones facing Cleveland. In the rare event that both games end in ties, Jacksonville will emerge as the AFC South champion. Let’s take a more in-depth look at each of the Browns’ potential wild card opponents.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Previous matchup: CLE wins 31-27 at home (Week 14)
In his first start at home this season, Joe Flacco led the Browns to victory over Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars, throwing for 311 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. The defense also played a significant role, securing four takeaways that directly contributed to 14 offensive points. Despite trailing 28-14 early in the fourth quarter, Jacksonville still managed to make this a one score game. However, their failed two-point conversion and onside kick attempt sealed the Browns’ victory.
A potential playoff rematch with the Jaguars could see a significant change with the likely return of Christian Kirk. Kirk, who missed the earlier game against the Browns due to an injury from their overtime loss to Cincinnati, has been a key player for Jacksonville. His 787 receiving yards in 12 games nearly match Calvin Ridley’s output (910 yards) over 16 games. Jacksonville’s overall performance dipped without Kirk, winning only one out of five games, compared to an 8-3 record with him on the field. Nevertheless, the Browns’ cornerbacks dominated Jacksonville’s receivers for most of said game, even without their top player, Denzel Ward, who would be playing in their playoff matchup.
Jacksonville’s offensive line struggles were apparent against Myles Garrett in their previous meeting. Garrett, despite not recording any sacks, was living in Jacksonville’s backfield and significantly impacted Lawrence’s play. With over two weeks of rest leading into the wild card round, Garrett is poised for another standout performance. The expected return of Ogbo Okoronkwo would further replenish the Browns’ pass rush, enhancing their chances in a rematch.
Indianapolis Colts
Previous matchup: CLE wins 39-38 on the road (Week 7)
This game began disastrously for the Browns as Deshaun Watson, returning from a shoulder injury, completed only one of five pass attempts and threw an interception in the first four offensive drives. After nearly being intercepted a second time, PJ Walker took over for Watson. However, it was Myles Garrett and the defense that secured the victory for Cleveland. Garrett’s performance even sparked MVP discussions, with his impressive stat line of nine tackles, two strip sacks (one leading to a touchdown recovery), a batted pass, and a blocked field goal.
The Colts have impressively stayed in playoff contention despite losing their starting quarterback early in the season, aided by a relatively favorable schedule. They hold a 3-4 record against teams currently above .500, and a 6-3 record against teams at or below .500. With the emergence of Bernhard Raimann and Michael Pittman Jr., Minshew and their whole passing offense has remained productive. However, their running backs have battled injuries, impacting their consistency. Zack Moss is currently dealing with a forearm injury, but he is expected to play today. In their previous matchup, the Browns allowed 168 rushing yards and three touchdowns to the Colts’ healthy backfield and Minshew, who ran for two of those touchdowns.
On the other hand, the Browns now have a quarterback averaging 320 yards and about 2.5 touchdowns per game. While Indianapolis has a solid pass rush, their secondary has been underwhelming this season. Joe Flacco has delivered 300+ yard performances against teams like the Texans and Jets, both of whom have better coverage units than the Colts. The Browns’ offensive line would face a challenge against players like DeForest Buckner and Samson Ebukam, but the overall matchup looks favorable for Cleveland.
Houston Texans
Previous matchup: CLE wins 36-22 on the road (Week 16)
The Browns’ game against the Texans, just two weeks ago, was their latest encounter with an AFC South team. Houston struggled offensively, particularly because their rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud was sidelined. In contrast, Joe Flacco and the Cleveland offense was firing on all cylinders. Amari Cooper broke the franchise’s single-game receiving yards record with 11 catches for 265 yards and two touchdowns. All things considered, this was probably the least close game out of these three.
Houston’s schedule, largely mirroring the Colts’, includes a 2-4 record against teams above .500 and 7-3 against those at or below. DeMeco Ryans and the Texans’ front office have done an outstanding job constructing the roster, particularly by focusing on young offensive playmakers. Stroud currently ranks fourth in the NFL for passing yards per game, demonstrating excellent ball security with only five interceptions and a single fumble. Protecting the football hasn’t exactly been the strength of the Browns, which could cause some problems should Cleveland face Houston in the playoffs.
The Texans have one of the league’s top left tackles in Laremy Tunsil, who held his own against Garrett and Smith. Yet, the rest of their line, has been plagued by injuries and was mediocre at best. Especially the interior linemen present a vulnerability the Browns could exploit. Facing Houston in the wild card round, however, would certainly not be an easy task.
Conclusion
Ultimately, I see the Browns having a very realistic shot at defeating each of these three potential wild card opponents and advancing to the divisional round. Joe Flacco, tied for the second-most playoff road wins, has consistently demonstrated his ability to win in hostile environments. Additionally, the Browns have already proven during the regular season that they can beat each of these teams. It is just incredibly fun to see them back in the playoffs, with the mindset to win it all…
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