With a 28-16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, the Cleveland Browns moved to 3-6-1 on the season.

CLEVELAND -- Last Monday, the Cleveland Browns were coming off their fourth consecutive loss, a third blowout defeat in a four-week span, which came a week after the team fired both its head coach and offensive coordinator due to "internal discord."

Any outlook for the seven games remaining on the Browns' schedule appeared bleak. If not for Baker Mayfield's development, Cleveland likely would have been staring at another lost season.

What a difference a week -- especially in the NFL -- makes.

With a 28-16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, the Browns moved to 3-6-1 on the season, clinching at least their best record since 2014. Perhaps more importantly, Cleveland reinserted itself into the playoff hunt for foreseeable future -- an idea that may still seem unfathomable for some.

In its most-recent look at the NFL playoff picture, ESPN's Kevin Seifert takes a look at which teams are currently in line for spot in the postseason and whose chances are still alive.

As currently constructed, the AFC Playoffs would look as such:

Kansas City Chiefs 9-1 (AFC West champs) Pittsburgh Steelers 6-2-1 (AFC North champs) New England Patriots 7-3 (AFC East champs) Houston Texans 6-3 (AFC South champs) Los Angeles Chargers 7-2 (Wild Card) Cincinnati Bengals 5-4 (Wild Card)

Still "in the hunt," per ESPN: the Tennessee Titans (5-4), Miami Dolphins (5-5), Indianapolis Colts (4-5), Baltimore Ravens (4-5) and your 3-6-1 Cleveland Browns.

Even taking the realistic approach that both the AFC North title and first Wild Card spot are out of reach for the Browns this season, there stands reason to believe the Browns could make a run at the AFC's second Wild Card selection. At 3-6-1, Cleveland is currently just 1.5 games back of the Bengals, who currently lay claim to the AFC's second Wild Card slot. What's more is the Browns still have two games with the Bengals left on their schedule, including their next one -- a Nov. 25 contest following Cleveland's upcoming bye week.

Factor in a Dec. 15 date against the Denver Broncos (3-6) and a season finale vs. the Ravens and the Browns should have plenty of control over their destiny moving forward. Playing four of their final six games on the road won't help matters, especially with the toughest opponent left on their schedule -- the 6-3 Carolina Panthers -- representing one of their final two home games. But it's also worth noting that thanks to its season-opening tie vs. the Steelers, Cleveland could hold a half-game advantage over playoff contenders with more traditional win-loss records.

Ultimately, the Browns undeniably face an uphill battle when it comes to breaking their 15-season playoff drought. For as improved as they looked on Sunday, their defense remains decimated by injuries, while their offense is still heavily reliant on young players facing a road-heavy schedule that features four opponents who currently lay claim to winning records.