You might think that Sunday’s road game against the Cincinnati Bengals might be insignificant for the Browns since there is seemingly very little to play for, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Indeed, this game is a big deal — a really big deal. In fact, it is even historic.

It marks the first time in nearly four decades that the Browns, now 11-5 and having won four straight, go into the regular-season finale with nothing at stake — in a positive way. The Browns have, of course, already clinched a spot in the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 5 seed, and the top spot among the three wild-card teams. Even if they win, they can’t enhance their standing.

This hasn’t happened in 38 years. The 1985 Browns went into their last regular-season game, against the New York Jets on Dec. 22 at Shea Stadium, at 8-7 and having already clinched the AFC Central title. A win would not have helped them in any way, shape and form, and a loss would not have hurt them. So when they got beat 37–10, it meant really nothing.

This season, because of all the close games, including a number that went right down to the last play, was nerve-wracking. It will be nice to watch a Browns game and just relax and enjoy it.

Sure, it would be a plus for the Browns to win, because it would mark the first time in 37 years, since 1986, that they won 12 games in the regular season. That long-ago Browns team went 12–4 and, by virtue of a 47-7 rout of the San Diego Chargers, earned home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Interestingly enough, when the Browns defeated the Bengals 34–3 at Cincinnati in the next-to-last game, they clinched the Central Division title. And then in their first playoff game, in the divisional round, they edged the Jets 23–20 in two overtimes.

Thankfilly, there won’t be any kind of drama like that in Sunday’s game.

Steve King