Sitting at 7-5 on the season, the Cleveland Browns desperately need a bounce-back win this Sunday as they return to Cleveland Browns Stadium. The task does not get easier, however, as they are set to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, the Browns look set to get cornerback Denzel Ward back on the field, while the Jaguars may be fielding a banged-up Trevor Lawrence (who is questionable and a game-time decision).
The Jaguars sit atop the AFC South, battling with the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans for control. The Browns are second in the AFC North with a firm grasp on a wildcard spot. With a win, the Browns could see their playoff probability skyrocket to right around 80 percent as they could find themselves firmly in the driver’s seat toward their first postseason birth since 2020.
Looking deeper into this Week 14 showdown between the Browns and Jaguars, here are five key aspects of the game that likely decide it.