NFL 2022: 3 Dark horse Super Bowl contenders

1. Cleveland Browns

Admittedly, this is the longest of long shots out there. But stranger things have happened.

Entering Week 13, the Cleveland Browns are just 4-7, and the idea that they can make the playoffs feels almost laughable. That is until you really look at what they accomplished without starting quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Cleveland is fifth overall in yards on offense and 11th in scoring. They accomplished this thanks to a dominant running game, which is fifth in the NFL, and a decent aerial attack which has them 15th in passing yards. With Watson coming back, they’re going to get better at moving the ball through the air, and they’ll also improve when it comes to passing touchdowns as they’re 23rd in the league right now with just 12.

That change would have been a huge difference for them in the first 11 games. Cleveland had just two losses by more than eight points — at the hands of the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. They had one loss to the Buffalo Bills by eight points. Then there were four losses by three points or fewer.

This includes the meltdown against the Jets, the loss to Atlanta where Brissett threw a pick on the final drive, and then there was the atrocious pass interference call against Amari Cooper that cost them a touchdown in the three-point loss to Baltimore.

Another thing that stood out early is how tough the schedule was. They took on just four teams with losing records — but one was the Tampa Bay Bucs with Tom Brady ‚— and had to play four teams that are considered top Super Bowl threats in Miami, Cincinnati, Buffalo, and the Ravens.

Going forward, they have three teams with losing records in their final six games as well as three divisional games — and they’re currently 2-1 in the AFC North. It’s not crazy to think they can go 6-0 or 5-1, and if they do, they could sneak into the playoffs and be a team to watch.