Browns remain alive for playoffs

Next Friday, nearly all of Ohio will be at a standstill as Buckeye fans come together to watch the Ohio State football team play for the school's first national title since 1968.
Dying to see the new James Bond movie in peace and quiet? Would you like to try one of the Mahoning Valley's better restaurants without waiting a long time? Make reservations for Jan. 3 after 8 p.m.
Most everyone else will be glued to ABC's coverage of the Fiesta Bowl when Jim Tressel's 13-0 Buckeyes take on unbeaten University of Miami in the BCS Championship game at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
The Ohio State-Miami duel in the desert could be the beginning of a fantastic weekend of football for Valley fans.
Could be third-time rematch
It's possible that the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers could meet on Jan. 4 or Jan. 5 at Heinz Field, with a berth in the NFL's divisional playoff round at stake.
By Tuesday morning, the NFL's playoff picture will be as crystal clear as the HDTV sets Santa delivered a few nights ago.
But right now, it's anybody's guess as to which teams will be playing next weekend.
For the Browns (8-7) to earn their first postseason berth since the 1994 season, one thing is crucial -- they must beat the Atlanta Falcons (9-5-1) Sunday at frosty Cleveland Browns Stadium.
The good news for Browns fans -- NFL MVP candidate Michael Vick won't be running on the turf inside the Georgia Dome.
Cleveland's field is likely to be soggy after a heavy snow fell on Christmas Day. Factor in the wind blowing off of Lake Erie and the Falcons, who need a win to secure an NFC playoff berth, will face a chilly reception.
The bad news for Browns fans -- Vick won't be running on the turf inside the Georgia Dome. Amazingly, the Browns are one of the 12 AFC teams still in the hunt for the conference's six playoff berths despite a 2-5 record at home.
Steelers eye bye week
The Steelers (9-5-1) can avoid a first-round game, but only if the Houston Texans or Kansas City Chiefs pull off a major upset.
Pittsburgh trails the Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans (both 10-5) in the AFC race for home-field advantage and playoff byes.
For the Steelers to get a weekend off, they must defeat the Baltimore Ravens (7-8) Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field while either the Kansas City Chiefs (8-7 and still alive for a wild-card berth) win at Oakland on Saturday or the Texans (4-11) win at home on Sunday against the Titans. Running back Priest Holmes will sit out the game for the Chiefs.
If the Steelers, Raiders and Titans win as expected, Oakland and Tennessee would receive the byes while Pittsburgh would be the conference's third seed and play the second-best wild-card team.
There are several ways the Browns can grab that final spot if they survive the Falcons challenge.
For instance, a Browns victory combined with a Denver (8-7) victory over visiting Arizona (5-10) and a New York Jets (8-7) win over visiting Green Bay (12-3 and battling the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC's top seed) qualifies Cleveland.
Other options
Another way the Browns could get in is if they win and the Chiefs lose or tie and the Jets win.
There's more. A Denver win combined with the Miami Dolphins (9-6) defeating or tying the Patriots (8-7) in New England puts Cleveland in with a win.
The NFL also says that a Browns win combined with a Chiefs loss or tie and a Dolphins win or tie gives Cleveland one more game.
There are a bunch of other combinations that also work for the Browns. For the hardy souls who brave the elements Sunday, scoreboard watching could spur some unexpected cheers.
Provided, of course, that the Browns find a way to contain Vick and celebrate a win in their home locker room. What a weekend it could be.
XTom Williams is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write him at williams@vindy.com.