When the Steelers reached 8 wins through week 15 the Browns playoff chances dropped to nearly nil. Their first and best chance for the playoffs (by far) was winning the division. Even now, if the Browns win this week and the Steelers lose, the Browns finish 3rd in the North, but with the same record as the Steelers, and only a half game behind the Ravens. With wins by the Steelers and Browns, Pittsburgh wins the North.
To realize just HOW possible the Browns' division title chances were, just ponder this:
If the Steelers had lost at the Chargers and the Ravens at the Saints, then a Browns win this week would have given them the division title if the Steelers didn't win. How many thought that BOTH Pittsburgh and Baltimore would both win on the road against 11-win teams? Definitely not me.