USA TODAY International Edition
Browns bring joy in clincher
CLEVELAND – Of course, the Browns’ 18- year wait would be excruciating in its final eight days, in its final three hours, in its final three minutes.
Of course, wrapping up their first NFL playoff berth since 2002 would require players reaching into their wells of toughness and resilience that the challenges of COVID- 19 might have seemingly dried up.
But a day long anticipated, surpassed in the dreams of Browns fans and current and former players only by a Super Bowl parade, finally arrived Sunday. Midway through the third quarter, the Browns shook off their lethargy and hung on by the nubs of their nails for a 24- 22 victory over the Steelers.
The Browns are back in the postseason and one could almost hear Kelly Holcomb and Tim Couch, Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, Dennis Northcutt and Kevin Johnson cheering from their couches.
The result sets up a rematch between the sixth- seeded Browns and the thirdseeded Steelers ( 12- 4) next weekend at Heinz Field.
This wasn’t just the Browns’ biggest game since 2002, when they defeated the Falcons in the regular- season finale to clinch a playoff berth, then suffered a 36- 33 wild- card loss to the Steelers. Arguably this was the franchise’s biggest day since the 1980s, when Bernie Kosar was throwing to Reggie Langhorne, Webster Slaughter and Brian Brennan.
That’s how long it’s been since the Browns maintained a level of respectability they cemented Sunday by completing an 11- 5 regular season. There have been years of futility since 1999, 10 general managers, 10 full- time head coaches and two more interim coaches. Now comes the hope of competency and professionalism and sound, calm judgments from the triumvirate of coach Kevin Stefanski, GM Andrew Berry and chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta.
Now it’s time to embrace joy. Time to embrace the hope of a promising, more stable future. This time it feels real.