Heartbreaking Superbowl Loss

[Leonidas]

It looked like I might finally have ended the years of futility for the Cleveland Browns. Coming off a strong 12-4 2005 season that saw William Green lead the NFL in rushing and Courtney Brown's breakout season with 17 sacks, we had homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and were relatively healthy.

After getting by San Diego and New England in a couple tough playoff games I thought we were set with having to play the surprising wildcard entrant Arizona Cardinals, led by Tim Hasslebeck of all people. This should be easy compared to that Patriots game.

It was a seesaw affair throughout. The lead changed hands several times. William Green was brilliant, with two touchdowns and ending up with over 170 yards rushing.

But it all came down to the final few minutes. Trailing 24-21, Cleveland had one last shot with five minutes left to pull it out. Marc Bulger was brilliant, dishing off passes to Quincy Morgan and Chris Chambers to move the team down the field. Then the big play was a 26 yarder to Chambers who was tackled at the one.

First and goal, 3:30 left. A TD now forces AZ to get a TD. Bulger tries a sneak on first down. He loses a yard, second down. Green tries to go around left end, he's stuffed for a two yard loss. Crap, it's 3rd and goal at the 4. Bulger takes three steps back, he fires too high to TE Heiden. There's 2:26 left and we have to settle for the FG to tie. Keating nails it, 24-24. Too much time left. Can the defense hold?

Hasslebeck gets another shot. He's brilliant. The Cleveland D must be exhausted. They offer no resistance. Hasslebeck nails a 40 yard pass to Boldin to get it down to the 29. 1:32 left. No chance the clock will run out. A couple runs and pass plays later they face 3rd down at the 12, there's 18 seconds left. Nobody has a timeout left. Grammatica hits the chip shot. Bulger misses a desparation bomb and then is sacked to end the game. Cleveland loses another big one to the F-ing Cardinals, 27-24. Oh the humiliation. Green is sitting on the bench with a towel over his head. Bulger is bawling as the coach embraces him. He wanted to bring a title to this title-starved town so badly.

And next year we lose our two star tackles and have zero room left under the cap. Not to mention to a slew of star players (Bulger, Green, Brown, Chambers) who only have one year left on what will surely be pricey re-signs down the road. Do we push for one more shot at the glory or rebuild now so we get something back on these guys? No cap room to resign any of them now. Decisions, decisions.