5 Jan 2021

Cleveland Browns secure NFL play-off spot

5:47 am on 5 January 2021

The Cleveland Browns have secured an NFL play-off spot for the first time since 2002 with a 24-22 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on the final day of the regular season.

DeShone Kizer of the Cleveland Browns.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Nick Chubb and Jarvis Landry each ran for a touchdown and Baker Mayfield threw for another.

It ended the NFL's longest active post-season drought.

The Green Bay Packers clinched the top seed in the NFC Conference while the Tennessee Titans won the AFC South.

The Baltimore Ravens, the Indianapolis Colts, the Los Angeles Rams and the Chicago Bears also qualified for the play-offs, which start on Saturday.

Washington took the final play-off spot with a 20-14 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles to win the NFC East division despite a 7-9 record.

They are just the third NFL team to reach the play-offs with a losing record (excluding the strike-shortened 1982 season). The Carolina Panthers were the last to do so in 2014, following the Seattle Seahawks in 2010 - both went on to win their play-off openers.

The Bears lost 35-16 to Green Bay to finish 8-8 but still qualified for the wildcard round because of the Arizona Cardinals' 18-7 defeat by the Rams.

NFL play-off schedule (Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers get first-round bye)

Wildcard round - Saturday, 9 January

Indianapolis Colts @ Buffalo Bills - 18:05 GMT

Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks - 21:40 GMT

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Washington Football Team - 01:15 GMT on Sunday

Sunday, 10 January

Baltimore Ravens @ Tennessee Titans - 18:05 GMT

Chicago Bears @ New Orleans Saints - 21:40 GMT

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers - 01:15 GMT on Monday

Divisional play-offs - 16 and 17 January

AFC and NFC Championship games - 24 January

Super Bowl 55 - 7 February