CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Cleveland Browns Super Bowl drought continues, 55 of them will have been played without participating when this season expires next month.
The championship drought dating back to 1964 rolls along too.
But make no mistake about it, once the bitter taste subsides from Sunday’s 22-17 divisional round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs wears off, an appreciation for the 2020 season will quickly set in.
“It stings,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “We came here to win, and we didn’t get it done. There's a finality to that. We want to be the last team standing and we weren't.”
In the face of injuries and a global pandemic, the Browns managed to overcome adversity and rise above it to provide their fans with one of the most joyful seasons in three decades.
It wasn’t a fluke, either.
The future is as bright as the sun.
“We will be back,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said. “There’s a new standard here.”
Sunday might have been the end to a season, but it also marked the beginning of a new era. What was once felt to be impossible just three years ago, is a dream now well within reach.
“We've got a hell of a team all the way around,” defensive end Myles Garrett said. “We can make it to the end, we showed that. I like our odds next year just because we've got a lot of guys in here that are young and can keep on getting better.”
The Browns finished the regular season with their best record since returning in 1999, 11-5. It was also their best finish since the 1994 campaign.
The Browns ended the longest playoff drought in the NFL, stopping the clock cold at 18 years. Odds are, they'll be back in the playoffs soon.
“Coming back next year, we will have a lot more experience,” left guard Joel Bitonio said. “We learned how to win a little bit this year, and hopefully, we will use that experience next year and take it a little bit farther.”
The Browns beat the Steelers in back-to-back weeks, including a trip to Pittsburgh and the house of horrors that is Heinz Field where they sent the Steelers into the winter by bludgeoning them for four quarters on “Super” Wild Card weekend.
The Browns, at long last, discovered that they in fact do have a franchise quarterback in Mayfield.
“It sucks when you come up short, but you get that taste of it and realize you learned lessons,” Mayfield said.
Stefanski should be the NFL's ‘Coach of the Year.’
“I'm proud of this team,” Stefanski said. “We've got a bunch of fighters. We didn't get it done and we'll share in that defeat. They battled and they fought. Not surprised because they've done that all season long.”
The Browns leave Kansas City bitter, and with resolve.
“We play this game to win championships,” receiver Jarvis Landry said. “We accomplished a lot.
“These guys, we created a high standard, and we have to find a way to beat these teams. This one hurts, but I guess that is part of it.”
Sunday was an opportunity missed. They were oh so close.
“It sucks to be quite honest with you guys. It sucks,” Mayfield said. “We’re going to be back.”
It sucks. It stings.
But when the pain wears off it won’t take long to realize the Browns are back.
They’ll be back right where they were Sunday afternoon, soon too.