BEREA, Ohio -- It's hard to swallow that it was 15 years ago, and harder to comprehend that the Cleveland Browns lost that day in Pittsburgh.
Fifteen years ago the Browns blew a double-digit, fourth-quarter lead in their only playoff appearance since returning to the NFL in 1999. The game took place Jan. 5, 2003, at Heinz Field, where the winless Browns will close their season on Sunday.
Since that bitter loss, the Browns have had one winning season, eight coaches, 25 starting quarterbacks, 172 losses and no playoff appearances.
"You always know that anything can happen in a game," said Keith Butler, then the Browns' linebackers coach and now the Steelers' defensive coordinator.