The Browns have an opportunity to put the knockout blow in the Steelers playoff hopes on Sunday in the season finale at First Energy Stadium.
A win by the Browns will officially knock out the Steelers of the postseason, leaving them at 9-7 on the season. Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes took a huge blow last week when they were upset 20-17 by the Ravens.
Even if the Steelers do beat the Browns, they won’t make the postseason if the Jets beat the Bills in Buffalo on Sunday.
Either way, the Browns are all about trying to end what’s been a tough season on a high note by beating their rivals.
“I think it would be great,” TE Gary Barnidge said.
“It is great to finish the season off strong. If we can finish the season off strong and build into next year, it would be huge.”
The Browns haven’t exactly had success in their season finale recently, as they haven’t won a season closer since Eric Mangini was coach and the team beat Jacksonville in 2009.
This team knows basically nothing about that, and are all about trying to kill the playoff chances of their biggest rival.
“You know, why not?,” QB Austin Davis said.
“They have a lot to play for so we know they’re going to come in and play hard. The thing is that what I like to say is we have a lot to play for, too, because it’s another game.
“It’s another Sunday. If we could knock them out and keep them from going to the playoffs, that’d be good.”
Davis could be the man under center for the Browns as current starting QB Johnny Manziel is in concussion protocol and could miss the Sunday affair.
Davis came in for Josh McCown during the Browns Monday night loss to the Ravens, and then started the next week in a blowout loss to the Bengals.
He was moved to the bench for Manziel, who now may not be able to go do to a concussion he suffered in Kansas City.
Davis isn’t worried about the future, he’s more set on going out Sunday and putting on a good show in the last game, looking to send the Steelers home on the outside looking in at the postseason.
“That is what we’re talking about and that is really all that matters right now is this game,” Davis said. “It’s the last game of the season, and we need to go out and play well against a team that we believe we can beat. If we play well, we’ll have a chance to do that.”
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