Browns playoff seeding: Cleveland falls one spot after Week 12 loss to Broncos

A tough loss with more significant health concerns for the Browns playoff hopes

The Cleveland Browns season has been one of health issues and playoff hopes overlapping each other week after week. Despite injuries and poor play at the quarterback position, the Browns sat at 7-3 after back-to-back wins over the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.

After Week 11, the orange and brown had the top Wild Card spot in the rugged AFC.

The team’s momentum was abruptly stopped in Week 12 by the Denver Broncos. In altitude in a schedule/trap game, Cleveland was taken apart by the Broncos.

Not only did the Browns playoff hopes take a hit but injuries to DE Myles Garrett and QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson created even more concern for the future.

Following the loss to Denver, Cleveland dropped one spot in the AFC playoff picture:

The Steelers, due to playoff tiebreaker procedures, jump the Browns and four teams are just one win behind Cleveland at this point in the season. Prior to the game, the Browns playoff chances were not expected to be greatly impacted by this week’s results.

Now, looking at the 10 teams above and the lingering injury concerns, the playoffs could be slipping through Cleveland’s fingers.

Thankfully, the NFL is a week-to-week league. The Browns are one victory over the Los Angeles Rams away from being back on track to the postseason. A second straight loss could be devastating.