The Cleveland Browns path back to the playoffs is simplest as the division winner. While this is always true, with the loaded AFC going into 2022, it is more important. As noted in the power rankings Thursday, where 10 of the top 13 teams were from the AFC, the fight for the seven playoff spots in the conference will be difficult.
At this point in the offseason, given all the moves with players coming from the NFC to the AFC, only three AFC teams are not expected to compete for playoff spots: Houston, Jacksonville and the New York Jets. The Pittsburgh Steelers could join that list but their ability to compete no matter their roster has been impressive.
Given the state of the NFL at this time, with most big moves outside of the NFL draft completed, the Browns are expected to have the ninth easiest schedule in the NFL. In the AFC North, Baltimore is ranked 14th easiest while Pittsburgh and Cincinnati have the sixth and seventh hardest schedules in the league.
