Cleveland Browns: Five games to watch during the bye week

Dec 6, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns fans during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

With the Cleveland Browns on a bye week, many fans will need to get their football fix by way of other games. This is your viewer’s guide for Sunday.

Bye weeks have several purposes. They provide an opportunity to get rest, heal from lingering injuries, and even just get away from football for a few days.

But for many fans of the Cleveland Browns, the bye week does none of this. While it may be a nice breather from a miserable season, it also leaves a void in the week.

Many Browns fans are not just fans of the Browns, but are football fans in general. For those of us who are this way, Sunday would not be complete without at least some football on TV.

Knowing the challenges of a bye week for fans, we decided to create a fan’s viewing guide for Sunday’s slate of NFL games. The following are five games to watch, ranked based on how interesting and satisfying they will turn out to be.

Nov 27, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) throws the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

5. New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers

In “America’s Game of the Week” on FOX, Cleveland’s last two opponents will square off in a battle with playoff implications. Though the Giants’ hopes of winning the NFC East are fading, they are in a tight Wild Card battle. The Steelers, of course, are tied with the Ravens for the AFC North lead.

Even though Pittsburgh has a 6-5 record as opposed to New York’s 8-3 mark, the Steelers enter as six-point favorites. The game should come down to the wire though, as a talented Pittsburgh offense will have its hands full against a stout New York defense.

In the end, it will probably come down to how Eli Manning and the Giants’ offensive line plays. Their struggles were on display last week in Cleveland’s 27-13 defeat, raising concerns for New York fans. But if Manning has a solid pocket, it will be hard for a poor Pittsburgh secondary to compete with the weapons of the Giants.

This is why New York has a good shot of coming away with the critical road win. Still, the game is very much up in the air. With two familiar opponents squaring off in a game with massive playoff implications, Browns fans may be interested in tuning in on FOX at 4:25. It is probably safe to say that they will be a bit biased as well.

Sep 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) passes against the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 29-10. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

4. Eagles at Bengals

For the forward thinking Browns fan, the 1 p.m. matchup featuring Philadelphia and Cincinnati is the early game to watch. With a Browns/Bengals contest looming in Week 14, some fans will be interested in doing some scouting on the opponent which many feel is Cleveland’s best remaining shot to get a win against.

Not to mention, their game against the Eagles will be interesting. For two teams with fading playoff hopes at best, there will be a sense of desperation. It will also be evenly matched, as both teams play a similar style.

The game will most likely come down to a play or two late in the fourth quarter, and will end relatively low scoring. Even though the Eagles and Bengals need a lot to happen to find themselves back in the playoff race, fans who love old-fashioned football will enjoy this one.

Plus, for Browns fans, watching this game will be a new experience. A.J. Green, who torched the Browns in their Week 7 matchup, will not be playing. This game will give Cleveland fans a rare look at what the Bengals do without their top receiving threat. For all of these reasons, this early game on FOX will at least be one to flip to occasionally.

Aug 26, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) throws a first down pass during the first quarter of a football game against the Cleveland Browns at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

3. Buccaneers at Chargers

The second late game on this list features two teams who may seem unlikely to make a list like this. But the 4:25 matchup is a wonderful opportunity for fans to check out two of the league’s most overlooked teams.

Besides the Browns’ preseason matchup with Tampa Bay, fans have had no reason to pay any attention to what the Bucs have accomplished. But now, with a 6-5 record and a real shot to sneak into the playoffs, it is time to give them their due.

The Chargers are also an interesting story, as they are one of the youngest teams in football. Their 5-6 record will not be good enough to get them out of the AFC West cellar, but they are still a team to watch. With former Ohio State superstar Joey Bosa and young running back Melvin Gordon, fans would be missing a lot if they decided not to watch a San Diego game this year. Fans will also get to see Travis Benjamin again, who is having a spectacular season, sparking mixed emotions.

Also, since the Browns will face San Diego on Christmas Eve in their final home game, watching part of this game could serve as some scouting in advance, as well as some entertainment.

The game isn’t on FOX locally, but fans who get every NFL game should make sure to check it out as well as the Giants/Steelers game. It is a perfect opportunity to see two teams fans rarely get to see play.

Nov 27, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Taylor Gabriel (18) runs for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons defeated the Cardinals 38-19. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

2. Chiefs at Falcons

The playoff picture is beginning to take shape, but there are many spots yet to be secured. There are two teams involved in tight races that also don’t see each other a whole lot, with those being Kansas City and Atlanta. This is what makes Sunday’s 1 p.m. matchup in the Georgia Dome so captivating for any football fan.

It is two similar yet very different styles going head-to-head. Atlanta’s passing offense has excelled, as has Kansas City’s secondary. With two very poised football teams, this one should go down to the wire.

The playoff implications couldn’t get much better for a game with teams representing both conferences. The Chiefs currently sit in an AFC Wild Card spot, but are on the cusp of losing it to either the Broncos or a hot Dolphins team. The Chiefs cannot afford a slip up.

The same goes for the Falcons, as they sit just a game ahead of Tampa Bay in the NFC South. Knowing that the Wild Card most likely won’t be an option for the runner-up in this race, it is critical for the Falcons to stay a step ahead.

Not to mention, Cleveland fans would be interested in seeing if Taylor Gabriel‘s success continues. Formerly with the Browns, the young speedster is having the year of his career in Atlanta.

The game is on CBS, but not locally. For fans who do have the ability to see every game though, they will not regret checking this one out.

Sep 25, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) attempts a pass in the game against the Cleveland Browns during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

1. Dolphins at Ravens

As good as all of these matchups are on this list, the Dolphins/Ravens game is the top game this week for Cleveland fans. An AFC early game with enormous playoff implications, these two rather unlikely contenders have a chance to gain the inside track to a playoff spot.

The Dolphins, of course, are the story of the NFL. After a 1-4 start which all but sank their chances, Miami has rattled off six straight victories. Shockingly, they sit tied with the Broncos for the final playoff spot. It looks like it will come down to these two teams in the end, making every game so important for the Dolphins.

The Ravens are in a similar situation, yet different. They too are in a dead heat for a playoff spot, but their best shot is at the AFC North title. Tied with the Steelers with a 6-5 record, the Ravens need every win they can get if they wish to clinch the division without needing a road victory in Pittsburgh.

Most of all, this game will be exciting because of the way these two teams have been playing lately. A lot of football fans who don’t normally watch the Dolphins are curious as to how they are on such a roll with the players they have. While Baltimore has some talent, they too are raising a lot of eyebrows. Tuning into this game would answer a lot of questions fans have about these two mysterious playoff contenders.

The game is on locally on FOX. If nothing else, it is a good game to supplement one of the others. But for a lot of fans, it will be their primary game to watch during the bye, as it should be.

Bye weeks don’t have to be totally depressing. And as much as that yard work may need to get done, the Sunday of the bye week doesn’t have to be the time to do it. With these five entertaining games, Browns fans will have plenty to look forward to for six hours on Sunday, even without a Cleveland game to watch.