The Cleveland Browns can still make the playoffs, but they need 5 things to happen including one near-miracle

The Browns first have to take care of their business. In Week 16, Cleveland hosts the Cincinnati Bengals, a team they beat handily a few weeks ago. They then travel to Baltimore, who will, if the rest of this scenario falls into place, will also be playing for their playoff lives.

At 7-7, the Dolphins are only a half-game ahead of the Browns thanks to Cleveland's Week 1 tie with the Steelers. If Miami loses just one of their final two games, the Browns would jump them should Cleveland win out.

The Dolphins finish their season hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16 followed by a trip to the Buffalo Bills in Week 17. The Bills were the beneficiaries of another team playing spoiler to help them into the playoffs last season — could Buffalo pay the favor forward to Cleveland this season?

The Ravens need to lose their final two games of the year in order for the Browns to have a shot. That includes the head-to-head matchup against the Browns in Week 17 and this week's game against the Chargers.

Thankfully for Cleveland, the Chargers still have everything to play for. If they can jump the Chiefs in the AFC West standings in the final two weeks, they'll be looking at a first-round bye. There's no reason for Los Angeles to roll over in this one.

The Colts and Titans play each other in Week 17. But before that, the Browns need both teams to lose in Week 16.

The Colts are coming off of a shutout against the Cowboys, and are hosting the Giants — who were the victims of a shutout last week — in Week 16. The Titans meanwhile host the Redskins, whose quarterback, Josh Johnson, is coming off his first victory as a starter after 10 years of bouncing around the league.

With both the Colts and Titans playing with their own playoff hopes in mind, the thought of them both losing at home to the dregs of the NFC East seems unlikely, but the end of the season is a weird time, and anything can happen.

If all of those previous steps come true, the Browns will finish the season at 8-7-1, ahead of the Ravens, who would be 8-8. The Colts and the Titans would both enter Week 17 at 8-7.

Unfortunately for the Browns, the Colts and the Titans are playing each other.

Indianapolis and Tennessee need a tie in their final game to send Cleveland to the playoffs. Making the situation even tougher for the Browns is both the Colts and the Titans will be playing for the win, as their postseason prospects would also hang in the balance.

If somehow, Indianapolis and Tennessee are still tied after 60 minutes, and neither team can find the decisive play in overtime, both would be eliminated from playoff contention, and the Browns will be through on tiebreakers.

It's a tough road to get the Browns to the playoffs for the first time since 2002, but it's not impossible.

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