CLEVELAND — When the Browns eventually look back at 2007, they will have plenty to celebrate. They won 10 games, which is six more than last year. They set a franchise record with seven home wins. They sent two players to the Pro Bowl.
But when the Browns went to sleep Sunday night, the happy thoughts and 20-7 season-ending win over the San Francisco 49ers (5-11) were forced to take a backseat. The Tennessee Titans beat the Indianapolis Colts 16-10 on Sunday night to secure the final AFC playoff spot and send the Browns to an early offseason for the fifth straight year.
“We are disappointed that we didn’t reach the playoffs, however, we had a good year,” coach Romeo Crennel said in a statement.
“We improved in so many ways this year, became a real team,” general manager Phil Savage said in an e-mail following the Titans win. “I think our window is just opening and we should be good for a while.”
The Titans and Browns finished 10-6, but Tennessee won the common-opponent tiebreaker on the strength of its win over Oakland on Oct. 28. The Browns lost to the Raiders on a blocked field goal Sept. 23.
“If we won the games we’re supposed to win, we wouldn’t be in this situation,” safety Sean Jones said.
The Browns had a chance to clinch a playoff spot in Cincinnati last week but lost, which put their destiny in the hands of the Titans.
“We had a chance to seal our fate last week,” said receiver Braylon Edwards, who caught his 16th touchdown pass and set a franchise record with 1,289 receiving yards. “We forfeited that right. We lost to a lesser opponent.”
As the Browns were putting away the 49ers in the fourth quarter, the crowd chanted “Let’s go, Colts.” It went perfectly with signs imploring Colts coach Tony Dungy and backup quarterback Jim Sorgi to knock off the Titans.
But the cries fell on deaf ears, as Tennessee kicker Rob Bironas made three field goals, including a tiebreaking 54-yarder midway through the fourth quarter. Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning spent all but the first two series on the sideline, along with many other starters. Receiver Reggie Wayne fumbled early, Sorgi struggled and backup receiver Devin Aromashodu had a critical fourth-quarter drop that ended all hope for the Colts and Browns.
“The difference proved to be in the first two series, TD for the Titans, fumble going in for the Colts,” Savage said.
The Browns are just the third team since 1992 to win 10 games and not go to the playoffs, joining Miami in 2003 and Kansas City in 2005.
“It’s tough to get 10 wins and not go to the playoffs,” guard Ryan Tucker said.
The players didn’t know their sad fate when they talked to reporters. Some were heading home to watch the Titans-Colts, others were meeting in linebacker D’Qwell Jackson’s basement. Most gave the same message: Playoffs or not, the season qualified as a success.
“After the disappointment sets in and we look back at the year, there’s not one guy in this locker room who wouldn’t be proud of how we played this year,” guard Eric Steinbach said.
“It’s a tremendous turnaround for the Browns,” said Crennel, who became emotional in his postgame speech in the locker room. “Those guys in there have come a long way. We’ve changed the attitude. They fight their hearts out, don’t give up and it’s paid off for us this year.”
Quarterback Derek Anderson and special-teamer Joshua Cribbs were the most notable battlers Sunday. Anderson banged his hand on a 49er helmet, then again on a 49er face mask and needed X-rays on his right pinky. They were negative.
“He had a little bruised pinky,” Crennel said. “We kissed it, rubbed a little aspirin on it and he came back.”
Rookie Brady Quinn filled in for a series in the second quarter in his first action of the year. The crowd loved it, and Quinn responded by leading a field-goal drive. He went 3-for-8 for 45 yards and a 56.8 rating. Tight end Kellen Winslow dropped a pass in the end zone.
“He handled himself real well,” Edwards said. “He was cool in the huddle and made some nice throws.
“It’s not a quarterback controversy. I don’t want that started. Not on my watch. D.A.’s still our guy.”
Anderson said he lost feeling in the finger for a little, but it’s fine. He went 11-for-20 for 152 yards, a 45-yard touchdown to Edwards, an interception and a 75.4 rating.
“If it was the last game of the season, I wanted to be out there with those guys even if it was broken,” he said.
The quarterback wasn’t the most valuable player of the game, as that honor belonged to Cribbs. He had a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown, another 53-yarder and a 94-yard kickoff return that was nullified by a questionable holding penalty. He also had four tackles.
“That guy is not human,” Winslow said. “He’s doing everything out there. He just doesn’t care about his body.”
The game was essentially meaningless, because it didn’t affect the playoffs. But Crennel preached all week about the importance of ending the season on a positive note. The message got across, and the players rewarded him with a game ball.
“Romeo demonstrated his leadership more so this week than any other,” said kicker Phil Dawson, who made a 49-yard field goal and set the franchise record for points by a kicker with 120. “It would’ve been really easy to come out here and flip-flop around and produce a lackluster performance.
“Guys responded to what he said all week and that meant a great deal to him. To be able to accomplish what we have as a team is a credit to him.”
“Without him, we wouldn’t have won anything,” linebacker Andra Davis said.
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

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