Browns’ Playoff Chances Could be Thwarted by ‘Stacked Division’ originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The NFL season is just ahead as the preseason is now underway after the Los Angeles Chargers just beat the Detroit Lions 34-7 in the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
That means each team is back to a 0-0 record and all are hopeful of a playoff run in 2025.
Only 14 of 32 teams make the postseason each year, and of the 18 that were left out last season, PFSN believes the Cleveland Browns have the third-worst odds of changing that in the upcoming season.
Only the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants are lower in the rankings of last year’s teams that were left out.
PFSN ranked the 18 teams that missed out on the playoffs last season, according to their likelihood of returning to the postseason, from least likely to most.
16) Cleveland Browns
“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,” PFSN wrote. “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.”
Related: Browns QB Battle Most Intriguing Storyline of Training Camp
Related: Browns Add to Defensive Front in 2026 NFL Mock Draft
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
