Here’s how the 0-10 Browns can win the AFC North and make the playoffs

By  for CBS Sports.

Oct 30, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson talks to the referee during the first quarter against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Yep, we’re telling you there’s a chance.

Yes, the Browns are 0-10 and, yes, tensions are mounting in the organization — “Morale is low, even by Browns standards,” CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora writes — but they’re still in the playoff hunt.

Technically, anyway.

So what has to happen? A lot. And Cleveland.com’s Scott Patsko had the unenviable task of trying to find a sliver of hope amid all the sadness.

  • First things first: The Browns have to win their final six regular-season games. Given that they’ve failed 10 consecutive weeks, they’re facing almost-impossible odds. Not that it matters, but here’s the remaining schedule: Steelers (4-4), Giants (5-3), Bengals (3-4-1), at Bills (4-5), Chargers(4-5), at Steelers (4-4).
  • The Steelers have to go 2-6 over the final two months of the season, which would also put them at 6-10. There’s more: It matters who the Steelers beat. Specifically: Those victories have to come against the Bengals and Ravens, who they face in Weeks 15 and 16. And that would set up a Week 17 showdown between … Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
  • The division-leading Ravens need to lose out. After a 3-0 start, Baltimore dropped four straight before winning its past two to move into first place in the AFC North. And while the defense has been good, the offense remains problematic. That said, despite a tough schedule, losing their next seven seems unlikely. The Ravens’ remaining games: Cowboys (7-1), Bengals (3-4-1), Dolphins (4-4), at Patriots (7-1), Eagles (4-4), at Steelers (4-4), at Bengals (3-4-1).
  • The Bengals, currently 3-4-1, can only win two more games, and they must both come against the Ravens (Weeks 12 and 17).

If all of the above happens, the final AFC North standings would look like this:

Browns: 6-10
Steelers: 6-10
Bengals: 5-10-1
Ravens: 5-11

And since the Browns hold the tie-breaker over the Steelers, meet your 2016 division champs!

Of course, as CBSSports.com playoff-scenario expert Denny Burkholder points out, if Denver, Kansas City, Cincy and Pittsburgh all win Sunday, Cleveland is officially eliminated. If any of them lose, the Browns are still breathing, though clearly on life support. Burkholder adds: “There are other ways the Browns can get eliminated Sunday too, but they involve multiple teams having tie games, which is exceedingly unlikely, but possible.”

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