Chiefs vs. Browns 2012: Cleveland win keeps playoffs in view

The Cleveland Browns have now won three straight games, including Sunday's 30-7 dominating win over the Kansas City Chiefs. They're 5-8, and can finish with a .500 record if they win their remaining three games. That record wouldn't be good enough to earn them a playoff spot in the NFC, but with the AFC this season, the Browns could conceivably take a wildcard spot.

As noted by Dawgs By Nature, the win over the Chiefs, regardless of the quality, actually made the playoff chances feasible.

If you're not convinced, then maybe this one statement will tell you why there is at least a hint of optimism: with three games to go, the Browns are only two games out of a wildcard spot.

The Browns have won three games in a row to improve their record to 5-8. Their convincing 30-7 on Sunday against the Chiefs was a telling sign of a team that continues to get better. It doesn't matter that the Chiefs are the worst team in the league; the Browns haven't had a win by that margin in a long time.

Beating the Chiefs was the first step. They also had the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals lose, when a win from both of those teams would have guaranteed the Browns would miss the playoffs.

Of course, it all still remains an outside chance. The point is the fact that this team is so young with rookies leading the offense, and everyone was looking for simple progress this season and not necessarily actual wins. Cleveland, to this point, is delivering both.