Browns have chance to end long postseason drought
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Cleveland Browns are almost there, on the verge of ending nearly two decades worth of frustration.
They are closing in on their first playoff berth since 2002 — the NFL’s longest postseason drought — and it could happen Sunday with a win over the 1-13 New York Jets and a combination of losses by others.
That has put a positive national spotlight on Baker Mayfield and the Browns (10-4), long one of the league’s most lambasted franchises. It might be nice to hear — if they were paying attention to it all. Having to guard against any of those external distractions isn’t in the game plan at the moment.
“I would say yes, but this team did not listen to it when everybody threw us in the trash,” Mayfield said. “So, no.”
Here’s what needs to happen for Cleveland to get in the playoffs: The Browns win for the second straight Sunday at MetLife Stadium after beating the Giants 20- 6 last week, and a loss or tie by Baltimore or Miami, or a loss by Indianapolis. Cleveland also could clinch with a tie against the Jets and a loss by Baltimore or Miami.
A win by the Browns also could set up something that seemed unlikely just a few weeks ago: a Week 17 showdown at home against Pittsburgh (11-3) for the AFC North title, if the Steelers lose Sunday to the visiting Colts (10- 4).
“If we handle our business – I know I said this weeks ago – we will be where we want to be,” said Mayfield, who has 10 TD passes and just one interception in his last four games.
And they’re not overlooking the lowly Jets. Not after Adam Gase’s squad stunned the Rams 23-20 in Los Angeles last Sunday to end a 13-game losing streak and eliminate all the chatter about New York joining the 2008 Detroit Lions and 2017 Browns as the NFL’s only 0-16 squads.
“It was a long time coming,” rookie left tackle Mekhi Becton said. “I’ve been wanting that feeling for a while, so it felt really great.
“The whole vibe was different, everybody was happy,” Becton said of this week’s practices. “We want to get that feeling again.”
T-D FOR TWO
The Browns sock a 1-2 backfield scoring punch like no other team.
“It is definitely a two-headed monster,” Jets coach Adam Gase said.
Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt each have scored 10 touchdowns, making them the first pair of Cleveland backs to do that since Leroy Hoard (11) and Kevin Mack (10) both reached double digits in 1991.
If Chubb or Hunt score, it usually means the Browns win. They are 10-1 when one of them gets in the end zone.
With Cleveland leaning on its passing game lately, Chubb (931 yards) and Hunt (793) should have fresher legs down the stretch.
“You have to do a good job of getting those guys on the ground because they do it better than anybody in the league right now as far as getting yards after contact and creating explosive plays,” Gase said. “They help make life easier for everybody else.”