The Browns have a shot to end the year above .500

Besides this interesting subplot: I can immediately name two games that will be important and maybe the best matchups:

Obviously, Colts/Titans is the first. Andrew Luck is hands down, the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year winner this year. We've forgotten how enormous and meaningful his impact can be on a mediocre-average Colts team making them playoff contenders. Considering how poorly and pathetic the Colts looked last season and how Mcdaniels essentially forked them backing out of a HC job instead staying on as Patriots OC, this season with Frank Reich has to be the biggest moral pickups in recent NFL history.

Second game is Bears vs. Vikings, this is the win-or-go home game for Cousins in that maybe if he has a great game not just statistically but can lead his team to an important win against a division rival and make the playoffs, maybe he can quiet at least a few of his critics who say he's an eventual bust in Minnesota. The Vikings are probably one-and-done in the playoffs anyway this year but maybe in terms of little self-confidence for the future that's he's not just some middle of the road QB who wins 7-8 games a season and puts up decent stats, but will never take his team to the next level. Likely Cousins has shown he's the type of guy already anyway, well see a very good game anyway.