The Browns defeated a division rival in Week 10, and as a result, they have some of the best playoff odds in the AFC.
No statistics better captured the significance of the Cleveland Browns’ victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday than the team’s current playoff and Super Bowl odds, which both saw significant fluctuations following Dustin Hopkins’ game-winning 40-yard field goal that went through the uprights.
The Browns now have the fourth-best odds in the AFC to make the playoffs, behind only the Chiefs, Dolphins, and Ravens, with a 78.3 percent chance to do so, per ESPN’s Football Power Index. After the victory, their chances of making the playoffs rose by 23.7%.
Following the victory, the Browns’ chances of making it to the Super Bowl are now 5.3 percent, which is ninth best in the league. Their odds, which were 2.4 percent the week before, almost doubled.
The Ravens were arguably the toughest opponent still on the Browns’ schedule, and with games remaining against the Steelers (6-3), Broncos (3-5), and Rams (3-6), Cleveland could move quickly into near-lock territory for the playoffs if they continue to extend their two-game winning streak. Both of those odds could rise over the next few weeks.
Deshaun Watson’s performance, which improved the Browns’ chances of making the playoffs after a terrible first half, has probably been the most encouraging development. In the third and fourth quarters, Watson completed all 14 of his pass attempts for 134 yards and a touchdown, sparking Cleveland’s first-ever comeback victory over a divisional opponent despite trailing by 14 points.
With the defense playing at an extremely high level, Watson’s performance in the second half gave the impression that the Browns were finally getting him to play at a franchise-level quarterback. This kind of success will make Cleveland a very tough team to beat over the final eight weeks of the regular season.
