Browns: Sacked In Final Game Of The Year

Jan 3, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; A Cleveland Browns fan displays the names of the quarterbacks since 1999 on a mask during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Steelers beat the Browns 28-12. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; A Cleveland Browns fan displays the names of the quarterbacks since 1999 on a mask during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Steelers beat the Browns 28-12. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Browns
Jan 3, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine watches the action during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Steelers beat the Browns 28-12. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

About The Browns

We will perform our 2015-2016 autopsy soon enough, but for now, it is safe to say that head coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer will be looking for new gigs come Monday. The reports leaking out over the course of the weekend did not lend much confidence in either man.

When you look at the rosters involved in today’s game, it only magnifies the failures of Pettine and Farmer.

More from Factory of Sadness

There is some positive news out of this game in that Barnidge went over the 1,000 yard receiving mark for the year. He became the first Browns tight end over 1,000 yards since Kellen Winslow in 2007.

Barnidge has easily been the best offensive player all season and perhaps the best Brown period all year. In a season that saw him earn a spot with Ozzie Newsome in the record books for this franchise, it’s the only silver lining as a dismal season.

As much as the Browns wanted to play spoiler, it just did not matter. There is a difference between a team playing with literally nothing to lose and a team fighting for their playoff lives.

As news trickled in that the New York Jets lost to Rex Ryan’s Buffalo Bills, there were plenty of Steelers fans cheering the news given the score at First Energy Stadium. The Steelers came out with a visible desire to win, not just make it through another game. As tough as the Browns played today, they were no match for a team with actual consequences for losing aside from draft positioning.

Next: Sunday Superlatives