Browns’ Playoff Prospects: A Word from Cowboys Star Micah Parsons
The Cleveland Browns have watched their playoff odds decline over each of the past two weeks, and the struggles that have resulted in that regression aren’t going unnoticed around the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys star linebacker Micah Parsons took to the airwaves during the Tuesday, December 5 edition of “The Edge with Micah Parsons” podcast and contended that the Indianapolis Colts are a playoff sleeper in the AFC. He made his argument in the context of the Browns’ recent struggles, both with injuries and back-to-back double-digit losses to the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams.
This is a team that people might be worried about come playoff time. They might have to worry about the Colts. Especially with the Browns’ injuries and the big loss they had. I don’t know how long Amari Cooper is out and things like that. The Browns are still a really good team, but we don’t know how that’s gonna turn out. Let’s see how they battle this adversity.
particularly in light of the Browns’ significant defeat and their ailments. I have no idea how long Amari Cooper will be absent or anything like that. We’re not sure how it will work out, but the Browns are still a very good team. Watch to see how they respond to this hardship.
We have no idea what will happen with the AFC. Many teams had records of 9-3, 8-4, and 7-5. Numerous teams have experienced numerous upsets. This side dish is going to be really spicy. really hot.
The Browns’ injuries are still piling up at the worst possible time.
In the last two games, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper sustained a concussion and a rib injury, respectively.
Both Cooper’s injuries and the health problems that the whole Browns roster is experiencing have gotten worse in recent weeks.
Cooper was forced to leave the game against the Broncos due to a rib injury, but he managed to persevere through the discomfort to play on Sunday in Los Angeles. In the second quarter, Cooper received a pass from quarterback Joe Flacco just as two Rams defenders were closing in on him. After the high-impact hit, Cooper departed the field with a head injury and did not come back. Later on, the team acknowledged that he had sustained a concussion.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the rookie quarterback, had sustained a concussion in Denver the week prior, which was the only reason Flacco was even in the game.
Along with cornerback Denzel Ward, who is sidelined by an ongoing shoulder injury, he did not play against the Rams. Despite playing with a hurting shoulder, defensive end Myles Garrett was unable to make an impact in any of the major pass-rushing categories at the end of the day in Los Angeles.
Browns Still Have a Chance to Go to the Playoffs Despite Losing Two Straight
In spite of their unfortunate string of injuries, Cleveland is starting to stack the deck in the AFC Wildcard race.
The Browns would be the No. 7 seed and would travel to play the Baltimore Ravens if the postseason started this weekend. The Broncos (6-6) are in ninth place and have the tiebreaker against Cleveland, while the Houston Texans (7-5) are immediately behind them in eighth place
owing to the head-to-head competition. According to Parsons, the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) are presently fifth in the AFC, and the Colts (7-5) are scheduled to arrive at No. 6.
Even with the crowded wildcard race and the Browns’ self-inflicted damage from two straight losses, Cleveland is still predicted by ESPN’s Football Power Index to win 10 games and have a 66.2% probability of making the playoffs as of Tuesday. The scheduling is primarily to blame for it.
Next week, the Browns take on the AFC South Division leaders and current No. 4 seed, the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4). But quarterback Trevor Lawrence might not be able to play in Cleveland on December 10 after suffering a high ankle sprain against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football.
The news changed the odds for the game the next week; according to Draft Kings Sportsbook, the Browns are now 3-point favorites to win.
The Texans are the only club Cleveland has to play that has realistic postseason hopes after the Jaguars. On Christmas Eve, that game will take place in Houston. In order to complete the season, the Browns have three more games: against the Chicago Bears (4-8), New York Jets (4-8) and the Bengals (6-6), who will be without quarterback Joe Burrow for the duration of the campaign.
