The Cleveland Browns were pro football’s first dynasty.
For 10 consecutive seasons, from 1946 to 1955, the Browns appeared in the league championship game, winning the title seven times. While things cooled off from there, Cleveland added another NFL title in 1964 and was still a regular participant in the playoffs through the end of the 1960s.
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Fast forward to today, and the situation is far different.
Over the past 30
years, the Browns have made the playoffs just three times and have won only once. What was once an annual occurrence now comes along so rarely that it would be understandable for fans to link “Cleveland Browns” and “playoffs” in their minds.
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A new season brings new hope, of course, and the NFL regularly sees about six teams make the playoffs after missing them the year before.
The AFC will be difficult again this season, and it is likely safe to pencil in the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens as teams that will once again make the playoffs. Someone has to win the AFC South Division, with the Houston Texans being a likely candidate, so that only leaves three spots that could see a new team.
It is just as easy to make a case for the Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Denver Broncos to miss the playoffs as it is to see them returning, so the opportunity is there.
But what are Cleveland’s chances of making a return to the postseason this fall?
Not very good, at least according to Cameron Sheath at Pro Football Sports Network. Sheath ranked the 18 teams who missed the playoffs in 2024 on the likelihood of earning a spot this year; the Browns came in at No. 16:
The Cleveland Browns offense averaged a league-low 1.21 points per drive in 2024 and will likely head into 2025 with Joe Flacco under center. Flacco guided the Browns to the playoffs as recently as 2023, but was a difficult watch in Indianapolis last season, winning just two of his six starts.
Despite his superior passing numbers, that win percentage was lower than Anthony Richardson’s. The Browns stacked division makes it challenging to envision a path to the playoffs this year. Cleveland’s 4.1 average yards per rush attempt was tied for seventh-fewest in the league, while their eight rushing touchdowns were the second-fewest.
Off-field issues threaten rookie running back Quinshon Judkins’ involvement in Year 1, meaning it could be more of the same in 2025. Flacco and Kenny Picket are both free agents in 2026, potentially prompting an early switch to either Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders if things go poorly.
Yikes!
Sheath makes some valid points, especially relating to the toughness of the AFC. But there is still some reason for optimism.
There is almost no way the quarterback situation can be worse this year than in 2024, when the quartet of Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Bailey Zappe combined for one of the statistically worst seasons in league history.
If the Browns can get even close to league-average play from the quarterbacks this year, things will be better.
The same goes for the running game. While no one knows when/if Judkins will show up, the Browns did also draft Dylan Sampson, who is no slouch. Sampson carrying the workload, along with a return to form by the offensive line, and those sad rushing numbers from last season should improve.
The biggest obstacle still remains the AFC North Division, where Sheath has the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 1 in his rankings. Much like Cleveland’s quarterback play, Cincinnati’s defense was not good, but even a modest improvement could push the Bengals back into the playoffs thanks to their offense.
Other than the Bengals, however, there is not much to like about the rest of the AFC, so while it may be too soon to start making plans for late January, with a few breaks, the Browns could be in the hunt for a playoff spot when the season reaches its final month.
More from dawgsbynature.com:
- ESPN drops some news about the Browns’ quarterback situation
- NFL picks and predictions for Week 2
- Daily Dawg Chow: Browns news (9/16/16)
- Browns’ Color Rush uniforms unveiled, but Cleveland won’t get to wear them in 2016
- Film Study: Browns’ only TD drive vs. Eagles
- Film Study: Browns’ 1st three offensive series vs. Eagles - All 3-and-outs, with a botched fake
- Daily Dawg Chow: Browns news (9/15/16)
