Two words, back to back, two Januarys in a row. The Drive and The Fumble. January 1987, the Browns a few minutes from a Super Bowl, and John Elway marched Denver ninety-eight yards to rip it away in the closing seconds. January 1988, same stage, Cleveland driving to tie it, and Earnest Byner fumbled at the goal line. Two cracks at the door. Both slammed. I was a kid and even I knew that was a special kind of cruel.

A proud old franchise the Super Bowl forgot

The Browns were champions back in 1964, before the Super Bowl existed, and they have never reached one since. The wall, for years, was Denver and the AFC Championship Game. They got close enough to touch it and never through it. Then came a long stretch of wandering, expansion-era misery after the franchise’s strange exile and return.

The one recent breakthrough

There was a bright night not long ago. The 2020 season, Cleveland won a playoff game at Pittsburgh, of all places, their first postseason win in a generation. They lost the following week, but for one evening the long curse lifted. It has not been back to that since.

A 1964 title nobody alive saw, two of the most painful losses the playoffs have produced, and a single recent January win to hold onto. Browns fans, I lost four Super Bowls and I still think you may have had it harder, because at least I got to the field. The seat is still set for you. It has to come good eventually.