Daily Dawg Chow: Browns news (12/17/18)

Cleveland Browns:

• “Playoff hopes take beating Sunday, with only slightest chance remaining to sneak in as wild card” (C-T) - “Saturday night was wonderful for the Browns. Sunday afternoon was brutal. The Browns needed help to bolster their slim playoff chances. They didn’t get it.”
• “Could Gregg Williams coach his way into the Cleveland coaching job?” (PFT) - “With an outside shot at the playoffs and a renewed spirit in Cleveland, could Browns interim coach Gregg Williams be coaching his way into the permanent gig?”
• “The Bruce Arians Option” (WFNY) - “In the weeks since, however, Kitchens has continued to evolve as an offensive coordinator and play caller, and is putting together one of the more impressive coaching stints that I can recall seeing at the NFL level.”
• “Jabrill Peppers shows national audience he’s on the rise just like his team” (ABJ) - “Jabrill Peppers finally performed Saturday night like the game-changing player he wants to be and showed he’s a microcosm of the ascending Browns.”

NFL:

• “Injuries we’re tracking in Sunday’s Week 15 games” (NFL.com) - “Frank Gore was carted off the field with an ankle injury in the second quarter and has been ruled out against the Minnesota Vikings.”
• “NFL Playoff Picture: Bears Clinch NFC North for First Time Since 2010” (SI.com) - “The NFL season is nearing a close. Below is a look at how the league standings shape out, including how the playoff matchups would set up if they started today.”
• “Alex Smith injury update: Redskins quarterback returns home, football future uncertain” (CBS) - “After a long and trying month fighting infection that cropped up when he broke his leg, Redskins quarterback Alex Smith has returned home from the hospital...”
• “Steelers’ Chris Boswell earns vote of confidence after late field goal” (ESPN) - “After practicing to keep his job late last week because of struggles all year, Chris Boswell helped seal Sunday’s 17-10 victory over the New England Patriots with a 48-yarder...”