NFL playoff picture: Cleveland Browns stay afloat as AFC North tightens
No one should have paid attention to the Cincinnati Bengals’ slow start to the season.
Starting slow is their modus operandi. They started 2-3 last year before righting their ship and appearing in their second consecutive AFC Championship Game.
Now, after beginning the season 1-3, they’ve reeled off four wins in a row and keep trending upward in the New York Times Upshot NFL Playoff Simulator.
The Bengals (5-3) improve slightly over last week’s odds to move ahead of the Browns as a probable playoff team with a 73% chance. Of course, beating the Buffalo Bills Sunday night improved those chances.
They, however, are not the most favored in the conference. That honor goes to a division foe in the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens (7-2) plucked the Seattle Seahawks Sunday and now have a 95% shot at making the playoffs and are the favorite to take the division.
The only team with better odds – the Kansas City Chiefs (7-2), who have a 98% chance of making the playoffs and a 93% shot at taking the AFC West after their conference win over the Miami Dolphins (6-3), who have an 86% chance of making the playoffs and are currently the favorite, according to the math, to win the AFC East.
As for the AFC South? The Trevor Lawrence-led Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2) lead the division and have an 88% chance of making the playoffs.
Where does that leave the Browns (5-3) after their domination of the Arizona Cardinals? Currently, they, along with the Bengals, own a wild card spot with a 65% shot at making the playoffs.
And that last coveted slot in the AFC? Right now, the Bills (5-4), a team that was an AFC favorite, but has shown little in the way of consistency so far, currently clings to the final sport with a 47% shot.
Over in the NFC, a couple of teams are near locks, according to the simulator.
The Philadelphia Eagles (8-1), fresh off beating the Dallas Cowboys, have a greater than 99% chance of making the playoffs, while the Detroit Lions (6-2) stand at 99%. The San Francisco 49ers (5-3) on a bye this past Sunday and owners of a three-game losing streak still have a 95% chance of making the playoffs. The New Orleans Saints (5-4) have an 86% chance of getting in. Those holding wild cards for now: The Cowboys with a 95% shot. Seattle (5-3) with 76% chance and the Minnesota Vikings (5-4) with 61%.