The Cleveland Browns picked up another impressive win, coming from behind to beat the Houston Texans 27-24 on Sunday afternoon.

The win improves the Browns to 6-4, including 4-0 at home, and has the team back in the mix to make the AFC playoffs. As a result, Cleveland has a clear path to make the playoffs, a feat that seemed unlikely at the start of the season.

Every game is important moving forward for the Browns, but this game was especially crucial for the Browns to win. With the New England Patriots faltering earlier in the day, it’s the Browns who now have the inside track at a playoff spot.

Here’s a breakdown of what this win means for the Browns.

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Browns-Texans playoff implications

Entering Sunday, the AFC playoff picture appeared to have seven teams with a clear advantage. However, after the Patriots lost on Sunday morning, the race for the final wild-card spot became more interesting.

As the Patriots fell to 5-5, the Browns and Texans played in a massive game for the AFC playoff picture. With the win, Cleveland now overtakes New England for the No. 7 seed, as the Browns improve to 6-4 with a one-game lead over New England.

The win means even more than temporary playoff positioning, though. Had the Texans won, Houston would’ve been 4-5 and 0.5 games behind both Cleveland and New England, with a tiebreaker over the Browns in their back pocket. Instead, Houston is now 3-6 and facing a 2.5-game deficit behind the Browns, and it’s Cleveland that owns the tiebreaker.

Essentially, the Browns may have just eliminated the Texans from the playoffs, as Houston needs to go on a serious run to return to the postseason. While the Texans have some easier games in the second half, they also must play the Jaguars, Steelers and Packers, and Houston likely has to win at least two of those games to fight for the playoffs.

Cleveland, meanwhile, has some leeway while also facing a lighter schedule, with its toughest games being two contests against the Bengals. After a bye week, next up for the Browns is the Raiders, who can also factor into this race despite switching quarterbacks mid-season.

AFC playoff picture

Here’s how the AFC playoff picture looks after the early slate of games.

• AFC East: Buffalo Bills (8-1)
• AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
• AFC South: Jacksonville Jaguars (7-2)
• AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs (7-2)
• Wild Card No. 1: Denver Broncos (7-2)
• Wild Card No. 2: Cincinnati Bengals (6-2)
• Wild Card No. 3: Cleveland Browns (6-4)

The Browns surpass the Patriots to hold the final Wild Card spot following Week 10, with the Raiders, Ravens and Texans all trailing. Cleveland currently trails the Bengals for the No. 6 seed by two games, but Cincinnati and Pittsburgh play later on Sunday night. Additionally, the Browns and Bengals still play twice this year.

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