CLEVELAND — The Cincinnati Bengals already have locked up the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but the Cleveland Browns know better than to underestimate their opponent for the 2019 regular-season finale.
Like the Browns, the Bengals are professionals, too, ones who take pride in their craft and are not about to take it easy on their in-state and AFC North Division rival, not especially on their home field at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.
“This is one of 16, and there is no quit in Cincinnati,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said. “We expect to get their best shot. The last game [against Cincinnati] means nothing. Last week means nothing to either one of us. What they did now, they should feel very good about, and I am sure they do about what they did.
“They were down, 35-12, with six minutes to go on the clock, and then, down 16 with three minutes to go on the clock, so that was remarkable. That was one for the history books just to get it to overtime. They did a remarkable job.”
On paper, the Bengals are not the only team to have less on the line in the season finale, as for the 17th consecutive season, the Browns have been eliminated from postseason contention.
The Browns officially were eliminated with their 31-15 loss to the AFC North Division champion Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland last Sunday, a game that allowed Baltimore to clinch home-field advantage for as long as they remain in the playoffs.
The Browns (6-9) last qualified for postseason play during the 2002 season and have the longest active playoff drought in the National Football League.
In addition to missing the playoffs for the 17th straight time, the Browns will finish the 2019 season with a sub .500 record for the 12th consecutive year. The best the Browns can do record-wise is 7-9 if they beat the Bengals, which would be a half-game worse than the 7-8-1 mark they posted in 2018.
The Browns last finished above .500 when they had a 10-6 record in 2007.
“When you have 16 games, each one of them is precious,” Kitchens said. “It does not matter when they come on the schedule. You have to treat them all the same. That is what I was just talking about as far as preparing, and then, when you get to the game, you put your best foot forward and compete every play.
“That is what you do. I do not know any other way to answer that. It is one of 16 games and your job is to go out, try to compete every time you step out on the football field and win the football game, so nothing has changed.
“I think our team will rally around getting a win and trying to do anything we can to get a win. We need a win. That is what you play the game for.”