Fading Browns bring slim playoff hopes to Green Bay

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Cleveland Browns are residing in the AFC North basement, dealing with COVID-19 complications and playing two games in a span of six days.

Yet they remain in the mix for a second straight playoff berth.

The Browns (7-7) can give their fading postseason hopes a major boost by winning Saturday as they attempt to hand the NFC North champion Green Bay Packers (11-3) their first home loss of the season.

Cleveland is attempting to bounce back from a 16-14 loss to the Raiders that was decided by a field goal on the game’s final play.

“We have to go out there, forget what happened, understand the situation to win and understand that we can’t have any more mess-ups,” Browns defensive tackle Malik Jackson said. “That is it. Just live in that reality.”

The Browns were missing head coach Kevin Stefanski and about a dozen usual starters — including quarterback Baker Mayfield — who were on the reserve/ COVID-19 list for the Raiders game.

Stefanski has since returned. Mayfield remained on the COVID-19 list through Thursday, and hasn’t practiced since going on the COVID-19 list Dec. 15. His 10day quarantine period ends Saturday, and Stefanski said he’ll likely start despite not practicing.

“If he’s healthy as he’s been and he’s cleared and ready to go, then I anticipate him playing.”

It has been a challenging two weeks for the Browns, who have dealt with numerous obstacles while preparing for one of the NFL’S top teams.

“The challenge is facing a really good Packers team,” Stefanski said. “You know they have star players. They are very well coached. We have our work cut out for us. Who is available to us and all of those type of things, we will just deal with it day by day.”