The Steelers need a win and a Jets loss to make the playoffs. The Browns just need another season of rebooting to begin. What happens in Week 17?
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Another year of good intentions, of a commitment "not to blow things up" ends in predictable fashion today: with the end to another slog of a season and Black Monday waiting -- unless the news comes today.
The Steelers, meanwhile, could pay the price today of taking an AFC North rival too lightly a week ago. That loss in Baltimore forced Pittsburgh to need a Jets loss in Buffalo and a win over the Browns to reach another postseason.
Can the Browns really muster much fight with Austin Davis at QB and a (reportedly) lame duck coaching staff? As always, we'll have analysis and observations here from reporters and columnists from cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, as well as around the NFL Twitterverse.
Keep refreshing for the latest.
1:51 p.m.: Steelers had a 109-19 edge in offense in the first quarter
On second-and-11, false start on G David DeCastro backs Steelers up to the 24. On second-and-16, Roethlisberger hits Brown for 20 yards against Gipson -- who was spun around and was four yards away from Brown when the ball was caught.
On first down at the 44, Roethlisberger to Brown for 14 yards against Gipson at the Browns 37.
On first down, Roethlisberger's fastball zips past Bryant at the 30. On second-and-10, Williams runs for six and writhes in pain from an injured right ankle -- tackle was by John Hughes. Injury timeout.
Ex-Michigan RB Fitzgerald Toussaint in Steelers backfield. On third-and-4, dumpoff to Antonio Brown stopped for two yards by K'Waun Williams.
A 48-yard field goal by Chris Boswell is wide right. Browns ball at the Steelers 38.
Meanwhile in Buffalo...
Steelers 7, Browns 3; end of first quarter
1:42 p.m.: After a touchback, Steelers start on their 20.
Tayshaun Gipson getting some run at corner against Antonio Brown. On first down, D'Angelo Williams gains one -- nice hit at the line by Craig Robertson. On second-and-9, Roethlisberger can't find anyone early, scrambles left and zips a pass to Wheaton for a first down at the 30. Browns illegal contact declined.
On first down, Williams sweeps right, but Browns get penetration from Dansby and Nate Orchard and Williams loses a yard.
Quarter ends and a promo urging season ticket deposits for 2016 airs on Browns radio.
Steelers 7, Browns 3; 1:11 left in first quarter
1:37 p.m.: On first down at the 24, a bubble screen to Darius Jennings gets nothing, with blocker Taylor Gabriel seemingly dinged. On second down, Crowell finds a crease around the right side for 15 to the 9.
On first down, Crowell ignores the zone block to the left and bounces right, losing two yards. On second-and-goal, Davis has to scramble left and a desperate throw to Benjamin is incomplete. On third-and-goal, Davis pressured and throws it away. It's another safety blitz by Allen that breaks free.
Travis Coons' 29-yard field goal is good.
Gabriel heads to the locker room with a towel covering his head.
1:32 p.m.: On first down at the 29, Roethlisberger suffers his second interception by Jordan Poyer this season -- Poyer undercut a very late throw to Bryant at the 39, returned to the 24.
1:29 p.m.: Raheem Mostert returns the kickoff 45 yards to the Browns 47, but (of course) the Browns are flagged for illegal block on Barkevious Mingo. Ball moved to the 21.
On first down, Davis to Barnidge for six. On second-and-4, Davis to Benjamin for for six and a first down at the 33, absorbing a big hit by Antwon Blake.
On first down, Davis incomplete to Benjamin, but Blake is flagged for illegal contact -- five yards to the 38 and a first down.
On first down, empty backfield for Davis, who scrambles and is sacked by Ryan Shazier and Lawrence Timmons for loss of six. On second-and-16, Duke Johnson loses a yard on sweep right. Steelers caved in the right side of the Browns line. On third-and-17, Will Allen sacks Davis at the 22 after Steelers blitz six players.
Andy Lee's punt caught by Antonio Brown at the Steelers 24, pushed OB by Done Jones at the Steelers 29.
Offense looks less than inspired on a Farewell Sunday. Then again, there's nothing like Finishing A Season Like A Brown.
1:21 p.m.: Oh, the ignominy ...
Steelers 7, Browns 0; 7:06 left in first quarter
1:19 p.m.: So far, both Steelers and Browns are running shotgun offenses. On first down at the Steelers 30, Pittsburgh flagged for false start. On first-and-15, Roethlisberger is finally under center and and gives to Williams for two. On second-and-13, Roethlisberger to Brown for 27 yards -- Pierre Desir's cushion was so big that Brown was easily able to run around him after catching the ball.
First down at the Browns 47, Roethlisberger to Williams on a dumpoff for seven. On second-and-3, a no-huddle attack has another completion to Antonio Brown for six at the 34 -- Poyer was far off Brown.
On first down at the Browns 34, pass to Martavis Bryant loses a yard on the left sideline. On second-and-11, Roethlisberger to a double-covered Brown (well, in a fashion) for 26.
On first down at the 8, a dumpoff to Williams for six. Browns offside (Xavier Cooper) is declined. On second down at the 2, Steelers bring in two TEs and a fullback. Roethlisberger on play action hits Heath Miller at the back of the end zone for the touchdown.
1:11 p.m.: Quick review and fumble is confirmed.
On first down, Austin Davis quick screen to Travis Benjamin for five. On second-and-5, Isaiah Crowell up the middle for no gain. On third-and-5, Davis is far too high to Barnidge that is nearly intercepted by Mike Mitchell. Browns will go for it at the 34, and Davis hits Barnidge inside the 30, but he's a couple of feet short of the first down.
Steelers ball.
1:07 p.m.: Markus Wheaton returns the kickoff 23 yards to the 22.
On first down, Ben Roethlisberger in shotgun hits Darius Heyward-Bey for eight yards, covered by Pierre Desir. On second-and-2, Roesthlisberger incomplete for Antonio Brown on pick play over the middle -- throw was way high. On third-and-2, pass to Brown on quick slant to the right sideline for three yards and a first down at the 31.
On first down, quick pitch to D'Angelo Williams for a yard. On second-and-9, Roethlisberger hits a wide-open Brown at the 44, who fumbles at the 48, recovered by Craig Robertson and returned to the Steelers' 39. Karlos Dansby forced the fumble.
Steelers challenge the call.
1:02 p.m.: Steelers call tails, lose the coin toss and the Browns will start on defense.
Your final dose of Nathan Zegura Zen: "It's a strange atmosphere here ... but you wouldn't know it on the (Browns) sideline, where there's a 'we can't lose" attitude."
And away we go.
12:59 p.m.: Plenty of good seats still available.
12:57 p.m.: Trent Green on CBS before kickoff today focused of course on the Steelers' playoff needs. But when the topic turned to the Browns, he said this:
"When you talk about a head coach you talk about wins. It's a success-driven league. ... From a personnel standpoint, I have to question (firing Ray Farmer). Over the two years in the draft and free agency, he's had some successes."
Well, that's ... interesting.
12:54 p.m.: If it's Browns-Steelers in Cleveland late in the season (at least since 1999), there's one constant...
12:51 p.m.: The men charged with keeping Antonio Brown from multiple endzone somersaults today? We mean you, K'Waun Williams, Jordan Poyer, Pierre Desir, Justin Gilbert and Johnson Bademosi.
Oh joy. Oh rapture.
12:47 p.m.: With plenty of reports suggesting that Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase is a target of interest for the Browns, MMQB's Jenny Vrentas had a piece earlier this week on how Gase has improved his reputation despite being on a team that did little during the season:
"Adam Gase, the Bears' offensive coordinator, has aced the Jay Cutler reclamation project, building an offensive system that keeps the quarterback in check with good coaching and smart play-calling; by doing that, he's expanded his coordinator resume beyond Peyton Manning, the future Hall of Famer many assume operates as his own OC.
"(Gase) has been at the wheel as Cutler has turned it around from potential $16.5 million liability to an asset. The ability to work with players at all wavelengths of the quarterback spectrum--Gase was Tim Tebow's quarterbacks coach when Tebowmania reached the second round of the playoffs, and Manning's offensive coordinator for the best statistical season an NFL quarterback has ever had--will be an attractive quality for when teams begin head-coaching searches next week."
And, of course, there's this ...
Meanwhile, a cautionary note to the never-ending river of "reports," "rumors" and "speculation" that's headed our way for the next few weeks.
12:39 p.m.: Yeah, there's always some morbid curiosity when coaches are dead men walking.
12:37 p.m.: On Ch. 19's pre-game show, former Browns Bernie Kosar and Joe Jurevicius didn't hold back on their frustrations and expectations of a franchise that never seems to be able to find its way.
From Kosar: "Seventeen years of the same mind-numbing conversation. ... When it's more uplifting to see the "Concussion" movie with your children than talk about the Browns, you know you've hit a low point. I can tell you exactly what I'm going to be talking about over the next six months. Offense ahead of the defense. New system. Who we like in the draft, who should be here. What quarterback coach you like. Are you kidding me?
"And I'm not allowed to help. I'm not allowed in the building. C'mon."
From Jurevicius: "My key to the game doesn't have anything to do with football, it has to do with investments. Apple and Intel are leaders in the (technology) industry. They have strong leadership from the top. They have good management in their workplace. They have great spreadsheets. And if the Browns are smart they're going to hire somebody who's among those blue chips that I mentioned.
"I don't want to see a first-time head coach in here, I don't want to see a first-time general manager, I would like to see someone knock it off the charts ... somebody who's going to bring a little bit of excitement here to Cleveland -- AKA the Apples and the Intels."
12:30 p.m.: Let's get the basics out of the way in what is going to be a busy afternoon.
Inactives for the Browns: QB Johnny Manziel, WR Marlon Moore, CB Tramon Williams, RB Glenn Winston, CB Charles Gaines (whose girlfriend has gone into labor), WR Dwayne Bowe, DE Armonty Bryant.
For the Steelers: QB Michael Vick, WR Sammie Coates, CB Doran Grant, RB Jordan Todman, LB L.J. Fort, OT Byron Stingily, DE L.T. Walton.
And, of course, a moment of gallows humor on what will be a busy off-season beginning about 4:05 p.m.: