The No. 1 goal in the NFL is, as always, and as so well articulated by Herman Edwards, “to win the game.”

And so it will be again for the Browns in their Thursday Night Football clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field.

Yes, I know, the 2-9 Browns right now have a top five pick in the NFL Draft, which could net them a much-needed talented player, or, if they so choose, and likely will choose to do via a trade-down, net them several good picks. As such, then, there is the temptation, real or perceived or moreso probably a little of both, to tank games to stay near the top end of the draft. But I don’t like that course of action because it impunes a team’s integrity, its greatest asset. Lose your integrity means losing your soul. 

And anyway, based on how things have gone in this nightmarish season, the Browns can play their hearts out and still lose and look bad doing it. So, they don’t have to lose “on purpose.” It will happen on its own, in the normal course of things.

I just want — and we should all just want — the Browns to play hard — give it all they’ve got — in these final six games, including, and especially, against Pittsburgh. It’s one thing to lose a game, for, after all, there’s only 17 of them in a season. It’s even worse to lose one at home, on your own field and in front of your own fans. And it’s worse yet to do so on national television, in front of anybody and everybody from coast to coast and even internationally.

The Browns quit last Sunday in New Orleans, the third time that’s happened this season. They can’t do that on Thursday’s big stage. It would be nice for the Browns to pull the upset and derail, if only slightly and only temporarily, their streaking rivals. That is, as mentioned, the No. 1 goal. But No. 1a is to play hard for all four quarters, bloody the Steelers’ noses and make them know they’ve been in a game.

That’s not asking too much, is it? It’s not that hard, is it?

No, and no. Come on, that’s a really low bar.

And the Browns must walk onto the field knowing that.

All that — playing hard — would certainly not do it for me, for that ship has already sailed and is long gone, never to return. The verdict is in on their fates, and it isn’t good. But it might be enough for Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, at least in terms of possibly giving some pause, when it comes to the job security of General Manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski, the guys totally responsible for this ugly, embarrassing mess.

Steve King