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Browns look to close in on playoff spot

Dec 16, 2007 - 1:06 PM Buffalo (7-6) at Cleveland (8-5) 1:00 pm EST

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- It has been five years since the Cleveland Browns hosted a December game as big as this one.

Seeking their first playoff berth since 2002, the Browns host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in a battle of two of the league's most surprising teams.

Both the Browns and Bills enter the final three weeks of the season with playoff aspirations - something that was not expected in September.

Cleveland struggled to beat the New York Jets, 24-18, last week, but got some help when San Diego rallied to beat the Tennessee Titans, 23-17, in overtime.

Those results left the Browns in sole possession of the AFC's second-wild card spot - one game ahead of the Titans.

A win on Sunday, coupled with losses by Tennessee and Denver, would lock up a playoff spot for the Browns.

Cleveland also will be looking to keep the pressure on the Pittsburgh Steelers, whose lead in the AFC North has been reduced to one game.

Running back Jamal Lewis has no doubt how the Browns' season is going to turn out.

"Right now at least, we're in the playoffs," Lewis said. "We have three games left, and we're going to win all of them."

If the Browns get past Buffalo, they do appear to have a favorable finishing schedule with a road game at Cincinnati and a home contest against San Francisco remaining.

Still, the Bills are in the mix. If they win Sunday, they will tie the Browns and hold a tiebreaker edge.

Buffalo's schedule, however, is a bit tougher. The Bills host the New York Giants next week, they finish at Philadelphia.

After being riddled by injuries earlier in the season, Buffalo has won six of eight to remain in playoff contention. Last week, they became the latest team to pound the winless Miami Dolphins, posting a 38-17 victory.

Bills rookie running back Marshawn Lynch, who is closing in on 1,000 yards (858) could test Cleveland's suspect defense.

Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards caught his 13th touchdown pass of the season against the Jets, tying the franchise mark set by Gary Collins in 1963.