Even when the Browns win, they lose.
Cleveland earned its first victory of 2016 Saturday and averted joining the Lions in 0-16 infamy with one week to spare, holding on to barely beat the Chargers 20-17 at FirstEnergy Stadium. A win's a win, until it's not, and it's difficult to categorize the 1-14 Browns as winners even still.
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Robert Griffin III, playing in his fourth game this season, went to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion as the Browns clung to their three-point lead midway through the fourth quarter and did not return to the game.
Griffin's exit came in the midst of the Browns and Chargers exchanging seven consecutive punts.
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When San Diego's checked-out offense finally got into field-goal range with 3:49 remaining, Jamie Meder, a 6-3, 308-pound defensive lineman, extended his right hand and blocked the 32-yard attempt by Josh Lambo.
Jamie Meder blocks the Chargers’ field goal attempt! #SDvsCLE https://t.co/2CwjOfksGx
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 24, 2016
Naturally, the Browns were unable to run out the clock on the ensuing possession, and the Chargers advanced to within field-goal range once again.
Once again, Lambo missed the would-be game-tying try as it sailed wide right from 45 yards out and time expired.
This was the Browns' day, after all.
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They took a 17-10 lead into halftime for the fifth time this season. Their lead in the fourth quarter was the first of its kind since Week 4.
But this is where we note a 49ers loss to the Rams later Saturday would mean the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft then belongs to San Francisco by virtue of a heartless tiebreaker. (UPDATE: The Niners messed that up by rallying to win.)
There's always Week 17 to get it back, Browns fans.