Let's face it, you probably did not think the Cleveland Browns would be doing much with the combination of Mike Pettine and Brian Hoyer as the head coach and quarterback. Pettine is a first-year head coach while Hoyer had been a lifelong backup, a journeyman on his fourth NFL team. Add in one of the best divisions in football around them, the suspension of Josh Gordon, and the history of the franchise, and it appeared another lost season was coming.
NFL standings, Week 11: The Cleveland Browns are not going away
With winter beginning to set in, the NFL season heats up with divisional pictures becoming clear
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Instead, the Browns (6-3) have risen like a phoenix and find themselves leading the AFC North in November. In fact, this is the first time Cleveland has led its division this late in the campaign since 1994. President Bill Clinton was still in his first term leading the United States, Joe Montana was in his final season, and the Browns had Bill Belichick and Nick Saban on the same coaching staff.
For Cleveland to hold on, however, it is going to be a struggle. The Browns host the Texans and visit the Falcons over the next two weeks, two games that must be won. After that, it's a trip to Buffalo, home for the Colts and Bengals, then on the road to face the Panthers and Ravens. In the crowded AFC, it will likely take 10 wins to reach the postseason.
Behind Cleveland are the Cincinnati Bengals, who are currently reeling. After starting 3-0, Cincinnati is 2-3-1 and travels to face the Saints in the Superdome Sunday. The Bengals also see the Browns Dec. 14 in Week 15 and then host the Denver Broncos Monday night the following week. Cincinnati might be the key to this division, still playing twice against the Steelers.
The Baltimore Ravens are the only team with a bye in the division this week, sitting at 6-4. They have played all their division games except for the last game of the season, hosting Cleveland. With all four teams in the AFC North over .500, it will only get crazier with time.
Here’s what the rest of the divisions look like going into Week 11:
AFC East
The New England Patriots are in firm control of the division at 7-2. New England leads the Miami Dolphins (6-4) and the Buffalo Bills (5-5) by considerable margins. The Patriots also host both of these teams down the stretch at Gillette Stadium, a place New England has yet to lose this season. With 10 teams boasting winning records in the AFC, Buffalo was practically eliminated from playoff contention Thursday with its loss to Miami. The Dolphins have an interesting schedule the rest of the season, facing the Broncos and Patriots on the road and Ravens at home. At the bottom of the East are the New York Jets, floundering at 2-8.
AFC South
No other division has a more clear-cut winner than the AFC South, with the Indianapolis Colts running away with things. The Colts are 6-3, two games ahead of the Houston Texans (4-5). Indianapolis has a major showdown on Sunday Night Football against the Patriots this weekend, and then faces two more teams with a winning mark when it travels to play the Browns and Cowboys in Weeks 14 and 16, respectively. Houston is likely out of the playoff mix and admitted as much by starting Ryan Mallett this week, giving the youngster a shot after watching Ryan Fitzpatrick play like Ryan Fitzpatrick. If you still believe in Texas, consider 20 teams since 1990 have had losing records after nine games and still made the playoffs -- hope springs eternal! The only other question this division has is who finishes last, with the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9) and Tennessee Titans (2-7) battling it out.
AFC West
This division has seen some major twists and turns. The Denver Broncos (7-2) have been the front runners for most of the season. However, the Kansas City Chiefs (6-3) are quietly just a game behind Denver and play them Nov. 29 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs began the season 0-2 before winning six of the next seven to vault themselves into playoff contention. Kansas City has a serious test this week, hosting the Seahawks. It appeared early the San Diego Chargers (5-4) would threaten the Broncos, but they have lost three straight. San Diego hosts the Raiders and Rams next before starting a five-game stretch that includes games at Baltimore, home to the Patriots and Broncos, then at the 49ers and Chiefs. Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders are simply trying to avoid going without a win, sitting at 0-9. They only play one team under .500, the Rams, which will be Week 13.
NFC East
The NFC East has become a two-team race between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. Philadelphia holds a half-game edge at 7-2 but faces the Packers this week at Lambeau Field. Mark Sanchez was solid against the Panthers Monday, but can he continue to play mistake-free football while Nick Foles recovers from a broken clavicle? Dallas (7-3) has a bye week, then plays the Eagles in two of the next four weeks. The New York Giants (3-6) are all but cooked and it doesn't get easier Sunday, hosting the 49ers. Washington (3-6) comes off its bye week to take on the hapless Buccaneers, who have only mustered one win. Robert Griffin will be getting his fourth start of the season, with his development being the key thing to watch for fans in the nation's capital.
NFC North
The Detroit Lions (7-2) are one of the hottest teams in the league, winners of four straight. This week, Detroit faces a stiff test on the road against the Drew Stanton-led Cardinals. The Green Bay Packers (6-3) are only a game back but have a tough game themselves at home against the Eagles. The Packers and Lions play each other in Week 17 at Green Bay, perhaps setting up high drama in the NFL's smallest city. Both teams still play the Patriots (Detroit is away, Green Bay is home), but outside of that, neither will face another winning team until they see each other. The Minnesota Vikings (4-5) and Chicago Bears (3-6) play this week at Soldier Field, with Chicago trying to prove it still cares about football after being blown out 55-14 by the Packers last week. Minnesota, despite starting three quarterbacks and getting one game out of Adrian Peterson so far this season, could get to .500 with a victory.
NFC South
This is easily the worst group of the four in the NFC. The New Orleans Saints (4-5) hold the lead but only because of the rancid play around them. The Carolina Panthers (3-5-1) are still in second place and firmly in the mix despite only winning once since Week 2. This week, the Saints host the Bengals after losing at home last week against the 49ers. Considering New Orleans has not lost consecutive home games since 2009, good luck to Cincinnati. Carolina has a very important game Sunday, hosting the third-place Atlanta Falcons (3-6). For Atlanta fans, it is good news that the Falcons are playing an NFC South team. Atlanta is undefeated in division play and winless outside of it. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-8) are only playing for the top draft pick next year and travel to face Washington.
NFC West
Perhaps no division is more intriguing than the NFC West. The Arizona Cardinals (8-1) hold the NFL's best record but lost Carson Palmer for the season with a torn ACL. Without Palmer, Arizona turns to Drew Stanton to lead the way. Stanton gets the Lions immediately, in what could be a tiebreaker for seeding down the road. The Seattle Seahawks (6-3) are at Arrowhead as previously mentioned, while the San Francisco 49ers (5-4) take on the Giants in New Jersey. San Francisco has a favorable schedule the rest of the way outside the division, seeing Washington, the Raiders and Chargers. Still, the 49ers face the Cardinals once and Seahawks twice. The St. Louis Rams (3-6) will try for the upset of the week at home, starting Shaun Hill at quarterback against the Broncos.
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