The Cleveland Browns are in the wild and crazy AFC North division.
In 2021, no one apparently wants to win this division.
The irony is that there is a good chance the team that wins this division is the only one who will make the playoffs.
This is not 2020 when three out of the four teams made it to the playoffs.
The AFC is way too convoluted this season to believe history could repeat itself.
AFC playoff picture after 14 weeks:
1) Patriots: 9-4
2) Titans: 9-4
3) Chiefs: 9-4
4) Ravens: 8-5
5) Chargers: 8-5
6) Colts: 7-6
7) Bills: 7-6
————
Browns: 7-6
Bengals: 7-6
Broncos: 7-6
Steelers: 6-6-1
Raiders: 6-7
Dolphins: 6-7— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 13, 2021
So the question remains, will the Browns make the playoffs?
The answer is yes, but most likely only if they win the division.
That begs the question of whether the Browns will win the AFC North.
Their chances are good, but nobody knows.
Current AFC North Standings
With four games to go, no one is mathematically eliminated from becoming the AFC North champion.
AFC North Standings:
1. Baltimore Ravens 8-5
2. Cleveland Browns 7-6
3. Cincinnati Bengals 7-6
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 6-6-1#Browns x #NFL pic.twitter.com/TeoQLlHHtj— BROWNS OR DIE 💀 (@BrownsorDie) December 13, 2021
Wake me up when some team decides they want to actually WIN the AFC North. pic.twitter.com/IwQa2mWxEY
— Taylor Rosen (@T_Rosen_TPP) December 10, 2021
AFC North Teams At A Glance
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens were the dominant team in the AFC North through the first half of the season.
Despite Lamar Jackson being the source of the running game and the initiator of the passing game, the Ravens kept finding ways to win.
This is difficult to sustain through a long 17-game season, and even before Week 14 when Jackson went down with a sprained ankle, the Ravens were beginning to struggle.
Nonetheless, they are 8-5 and in first place.
Don’t ever question the resolve of the Ravens. They lost today but showed true heart, grit and determination coming back and never quitting without their star Lamar Jackson
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 12, 2021
The Ravens have a very difficult four-game stretch with Green Bay, Cincinnati, Los Angeles (Rams), and Pittsburgh to close out the season.
Cincinnati Bengals
When the Ravens started to falter, the young Cincinnati Bengals team picked up steam.
Joe Burrow and company looked like they were getting the momentum and confidence to run away with the AFC North.
Since then, they dropped a close game to the New York Jets and lost two in a row to Los Angeles (Chargers) and San Francisco in overtime.
That’s a touchdown, the #Bengals fall at home for the second straight week and the #Ravens, the injury-ravaged and offensively-slumping Ravens STILL lead the #AFCNorth.
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) December 13, 2021
The Bengals also have a challenging four games to conclude the season.
They face Denver, Baltimore, Kansas City, and Cleveland.
Pittsburgh Steelers
This is not the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers who jumped out to an 11-0 record last season.
The Steelers have struggled, and Ben Roethlisberger has alternated between looking fantastic and being downright awful.
Tying the then winless Detroit Lions is typical of the 2021 Steelers’ issues.
No one knows what to expect in the final four weeks from this team who faces Tennessee, Kansas City, Cleveland, and Baltimore, but the Steelers can never be overlooked.
The Bengals, Bills, Raiders and Ravens lost. The Steelers are "Stayin' Alive" 🤣 pic.twitter.com/5OmpELFtyT
— Benstonium (@Benstonium) December 13, 2021
Back To The Browns
The Browns have dealt with their own messes.
Between losing games they should have won against Kansas City and Los Angeles (Chargers) just to name two, this team had its locker room dirty laundry aired out by Odell Beckham Sr., which prompted the Browns to release his son, Odell Beckham Jr.
Can the Browns overcome all of the injuries and adversity?
Quarterback Baker Mayfield has been injured since Week 2.
Running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt have not stayed healthy all season either.
#Browns jumped from the 11th seed in the AFC before this week's games to 8th, one away from the top 7 playoff seeds.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 13, 2021
The Browns appear to have the roster to win the AFC North, but they have to face Las Vegas, Green Bay, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati to conclude the season.
This is why they play the games because no one knows for sure how the season will play out.
NEXT: 3 Contract Options For The Browns With Baker Mayfield