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BEREA — If nothing else, perhaps the Cleveland Browns relocated their sense of purpose in Sunday's 24-18 road win against the New York Jets.

Yes, they could have played better, wrapped it up sooner. But they didn't give the game away, as had essentially been the case the previous week in a four-turnover, 10-penalty loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Against the Jets, another mediocre-to-poor team, the Browns played well enough to win this time, and while New York was still kicking toward the end (literally, with three Mike Nugent onside attempts), it would have taken a series of miracles to reverse the outcome.

While careful not to look ahead, the Browns now seem determined to win their remaining three games and sweep into the playoffs with some momentum.

Just don't tell their coach.

"Playoffs? Playoffs?" Romeo Crennel said Monday, presumably not trying to sound like Jim Mora. "I don't know anything about playoffs. We play the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, and we have to improve in order to be ready. That's our focus.

"We're not the New England Patriots. We know that we can improve, and we have been working every week trying to improve."

Sunday's win gave the Browns a one-game lead on Tennessee and Buffalo for the sixth and final AFC playoff spot, but placekicker Phil Dawson put it this way: "If we don't win next week, it means nothing."

The Browns are five-point favorites at home against the Bills. "A huge game," Crennel called it. Then they visit Cincinnati before closing the season at home against the hapless San Francisco 49ers.

This latest win was big for tiebreaker purposes. The Browns are 6-4 in AFC games. Conference record is the factor considered after head-to-head competition. Tennessee, which doesn't face the Browns this season, is 4-5 within the conference, Buffalo 6-4.

Injury report

Linebacker Antwan Peek's ankle is of some concern. He had to be helped from the field in the second quarter, tried to return, but couldn't. He said it's a new injury, unrelated to the knee and ankle problems that have plagued him most of the season.

Crennel said everyone else made it out of the game unscathed.

Good work rewarded

Crennel said game balls went to running back Jamal Lewis and guard Ryan Tucker on offense, linebackers Kamerion Wimbley and Leon Williams on defense and Mike Adams and Joe Jurevicius on special teams. Jurevicius recovered two onside kicks.

AFC

Clinched: New England the AFC East Division and first-round bye; Indianapolis a playoff berth.

Eliminated: Miami, N.Y. Jets, Kansas City, Oakland, Baltimore, Cincinnati.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

New England can clinch homefield advantage throughout AFC playoffs with a win or Indianapolis loss. Patriots also can clinch if they tie and the Colts tie.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Indianapolis can clinch the AFC South Division with a win or a Jacksonville loss. Colts also can clinch if they tie and the Jaguars tie.

Indianapolis can clinch a first-round bye with a win and a Pittsburgh loss or tie.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Pittsburgh can clinch the AFC North Division with a win and a Cleveland loss.

Pittsburgh can clinch playoff berth with:

1 A win.

OR

2) A tie and losses or ties by Buffalo and Tennessee.

OR

3) A Buffalo loss, Denver loss or tie and a Tennessee loss.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

San Diego can clinch the AFC West Division with:

1) A win and a Denver loss or tie.

OR

2) A tie and Denver loss.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Jacksonville can clinch playoff berth:

1) A win and a Tennessee loss or tie.

OR

2) A tie, a Tennessee loss and a Buffalo loss or tie.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Cleveland can clinch playoff berth with a win, Tennessee loss and a Denver loss or tie.

NFC

Clinched: Dallas, NFC East Division; Green Bay, NFC North Division; Seattle, NFC West Division.

Eliminated: San Francisco, St. Louis.

DALLAS COWBOYS

Dallas can clinch homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win and Green Bay loss.

Dallas can clinch a first-round bye with:

1) A win or tie

OR

2) Seattle loss or tie.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Green Bay can clinch a first-round bye:

1) A win and Seattle loss or tie.

OR

2) A tie and Seattle loss.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Tampa Bay can clinch the NFC South Division if New Orleans loses to Atlanta Monday Dec. 10.

IF NEW ORLEANS BEATS ATLANTA MONDAY DEC. 10:

Tamp Bay can clinch the NFC South Division:

1) A win or New Orleans loss.

OR

2) A tie and New Orleans tie.

NEW YORK GIANTS

IF NEW ORLEANS LOSES TO ATLANTA ON MONDAY:

N.Y. Giants can clinch a playoff berth:

1) A win or tie.

OR

2) A Minnesota loss or tie.

IF NEW ORLEANS BEATS ATLANTA ON MONDAY:

N.Y. Giants can clinch a playoff berth:

1) A win or tie.

OR

2) Loss or tie by Minnesota and New Orleans.

Next game | Who: Bills (7-6) at Browns (8-5) | When: 1 p.m., Sunday | Radio: WONE-AM (980) | TV: CBS (Channel 7)