QB Mayfield leads Browns into playoffs, ending 18-year drought
Win over Pittsburgh ends league’s longest active playoff drought
CLEVELAND — After nearly two decades of dysfunction, bad draft picks and coaching and front-office changes, the NFL’S longest playoff drought is over.
The Cleveland Browns are back in the postseason, qualifying for the first time since 2002 on Sunday by surviving a late Pittsburgh rally for a 24-22 win over the Steelers, who rested quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and several other starters.
The Browns (11-5) nearly blew a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter, but stopped Pittsburgh’s 2-point conversion attempt and then recovered an onside kick with 1:22 left to hold on.
A week of COVID-19 disruptions concluded in celebration as the Browns ended what had been the NFL’S longest postseason drought. Their reward: Another game against the AFC North champion Steelers, in Pittsburgh next weekend.
“We’re in the dance,” said first-year coach Kevin Stefanski. “But we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Nick Chubb had a touchdown run, Baker Mayfield threw a TD pass — and had several critical runs in the second half — and the Browns hung on as Mason Rudolph brought back the Steelers (12-4), who had the luxury of sitting their best players after clinching the division last week.
Instead of Roethlisberger, who is 23-2-1 in his career against the Browns, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin started Rudolph in the regular-season finale. Big Ben will be back for the playoffs.
Rudolph’s 2-yard TD pass to Juju Smith-schuster with 1:23 left pulled the Steelers within 24-22. But Rudolph badly overthrew rookie Chase Claypool on the 2-point attempt, and Browns tight end Stephen Carlson then fell on the ensuing kick under a pile of bodies.
The Browns only had to run out the clock and Mayfield, who earlier had a key 28-yard run, scampered for 3 yards on third-and-2 with 1:10 left.
“It’s a moment I’ll never forget,” Mayfield said. “But we’re not satisfied. We expected to be here.”
Before the scoreboard clock in Firstenergy Stadium ran off its final seconds, most of the 12,000 fans — there were some Terrible Towel wavers — cheered wildly and Browns players danced onto the field.
“This is what we imagined,” said defensive star Myles Garrett.
The win completes a grueling turnaround for the Browns and their passionate fan base. The team’s last playoff visit was 197 losses, 14 double-digit-loss seasons and seven coaches ago.
■ NEXT: Browns at Steelers, 5:15 p.m. Sunday.