It was all set up.

The Browns in a virtual win or go home scenario against their bitter rivals, the Pittsburg Steelers.

Reserve option Mason Rudolph, who’s name will forever be linked to Myles Garrett’s for the helmet debacle, puts up an inspired effort despite his team resting some of its key players.

The game is close late, and in a way only the Cleveland Browns can, they somehow manage to lose and miss the playoffs with 10 wins, once again succumbing to the torture the Steelers relish in giving them.

Most of these things happened, but thank GOD, the last one didn’t.

The Browns survived 24-22 over a short-handed Steelers team to clinch a playoff spot, and will meet them at full strength in Pittsburg Sunday night in the first round.

Cleveland was depleted themselves, particularly on the defensive end, due to a few injuries and numerous COVID protocols.

Denzel Ward, Malcolm Smith, Andrew Sendajo, Kevin Johnson, and B.J. Goodson headed the battalion of defensive starters out due to COVID tracing, with rookie tight end Harrison Bryant out as well for good measure.

Having its best corners out against a team that relies heavily on their receivers, who also happen to be incredible, to move the ball meant all Mason Rudolph had to do was get the ball in the general area of the likes of Chase Claypool and Dionate Johnson and let them make the plays for him, which he did. Claypool feasted on practice squad hopeful Robert Jackson all afternoon, but thankfully not enough to push the Steelers to victory.

Baker did enough, Nick Chubb broke one off early, and an unsuccessful two-point conversion late gave the Browns just enough to head to the postseason.

Before we get into how they possibly win Sunday, a huge shout out to Kevin Stefanski for completely turning around a circus that is 3 years removed from a winless season. He’s put Mayfield in position to succeed all season long, finally granting a QB who’s had 4 different head coaches in his time in Cleveland some stability and confidence. His calm demeanor and consistency to make the right calls for his ball club has instilled a confidence in a team that before his arrival had no reason to display any. I know Ron Rivera of Washington and Sean McDermott of Buffalo are front runners for head coach of the year honors, but I’ll be damned if Stefanski’s name isn’t prominently in the conversation. The team is finally gaining traction towards sustained success.

Baker Mayfield’s regular season is also to be acknowledged. A man who’s questions regarding maturity were only outdone by questions about his overall game seemed to dismiss both this season, performing amongst the league’s best and remaining humbled in the process. Not to say he’s gone stone cold emotionally, as his fire, guts, and sometimes blind confidence make Baker who he is. But in big spots where we’ve seen him fold under over-excitement or overthink, he’s been smoother, and under control. And the longer he, Stefanski, and this young core of Browns stay together, they’ll only get better and better.

Including the Chubb-Hunt running back tandem, that allowed Stefanski and the Browns to bleed teams out late in games and/or under extreme weather conditions for key wins over the course of the season. These two are both only 25, and could continue to extend each other’s effectiveness for years to come, should things plays out that way.

And of course a cavalcade of others like their absurdly strong offensive line, the emergence of Rashard Higgins, a steady rush defense, and others have made Browns fans, at long last, excited and proud to wear the colors again.

Now let’s talk Sunday.

The Steelers, who’s dismal-second half of the season was saved by a comeback win against the Colts, will be looking to make a statement for the rest of the postseason that they are for real and can hang with the AFC’s big dogs, starting with a big win over the Browns.

And I mean big.

Expect the Steelers to try and get on the Browns early and often, and take their young hearts out of it before they can generate any momentum.

The aforementioned Claypool, Johnson, and co. will be salivating for bombs downfield to demoralize Cleveland’s secondary, especially if Ward and Johnson can’t find their way off the COVID list. Burying the Browns quickly would eliminate Chubb and Hunt from the picture, and put pressure on Mayfield in his first playoff game ever, which is wise considering his track record in big games despite the poise he’s exemplified. They don’t run to begin with, and Mike Tomlin is going to want to get Big Ben in a rhythm early after his off week.

Lastly, this is a Browns defense that’s okay with above average days at best, that’s now even thinner with Olivier Vernon’s season ending injury on top of any more potential COVID inactives.

A beatdown would make any Pittsburg doubters think twice about writing them off against the Chiefs or Bills or Ravens.

But the case for the Browns isn’t so farfetched.

Again, Ben is coming off rest. This virtually spells nothing but good things for a salty veteran like himself, but before Indianapolis, this was the most inconsistent, shaky Ben Rothlisberger has looked in years. If the wrong Ben shows up for Pittsburg, the door would be wide open for the Browns to keep themselves in it with Steelers turnovers and quick 3-and-outs.

The Browns offense had its swagger back with its receiving core at full strength again. Hopefully Donovan Peoples-Jones can be cleared of the concussion he suffered yesterday, and Baker can have his entire toolbox again.

Even if he doesn’t, the Browns deep offensive attack has shown its ability to score and score quickly in the air, and then hold the lead with its run game. If Stefanski mixes and matches like he’s done all season, there’s no reason the Browns can’t hang around if it turns into a shootout like Dallas, Tennessee even though it was all in the first half, and Baltimore even though it resulted in a loss.

Unbiasedly, I wouldn’t be surprised by any kind of win from either, whether that be a clean blowout, a back-and-forth slugfest, or some weird low-scoring grudge match. I have to imagine this is the matchup of the first round, maybe Ravens-Titans being the other choice.

Whatever happens this coming Sunday, Browns fans should feel good about where their team is at. I know their division is only going to get tougher next year with the Steelers and Ravens back, and Joe Burrow showing he can take the Bengals back to contention as soon as he gets back. With all this talent in one place, at least Cleveland is trending way the hell upward, and should do so for some time.

And for God sakes WE’RE IN THE PLAYOFFS AGAIN.

Enjoy it, Brownies.

And if they win this thing, I’m going to start unleashing some insanity on this blog.

Cheers.