If Browns beat Bengals, they are in playoffs

Cleveland’s first-round playoff game might be in San Diego.

GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE

CLEVELAND They mastered the snow. Can they handle the heat?

If the Browns win Sunday at Cincinnati, they clinch a playoff spot.

There is a good chance their first-round playoff game would be at San Diego, though other developments certainly are possible.

The Browns are in a position similar to the one New England faced in 2002, when Romeo Crennel was defensive coordinator.

Had the Patriots won Game 15 against the Jets, they would have gone to the playoffs. They lost, eventually losing out in the tiebreaker to the Jets and Browns.

Cleveland can avoid such disappointment by winning at Paul Brown Stadium.

The Browns have plenty of practice playing at Cincinnati in the second half

of seasons:

• Dec. 11, 2005 — Lost 23-20 because of late interference calls against Leigh

Bodden.

• Nov. 28, 2004 — Lost 58-48, prompting Butch Davis to resign.

• Dec. 28, 2003 — Won season finale, 22-14, eliminating the Bengals from the

playoffs.

• Nov. 17, 2002 — Won 27-20, staying alive in the playoff race.

• Dec. 12, 1999 — Lost 44-28 in the final game at Riverfront Stadium.

The Bengals are 5-9 after a loss at San Francisco. It remains to be seen whether “The Battle of Ohio” makes them want to put on their Sunday best.

“We’ve got a chance to knock off our rivalry team [Cleveland],” Bengals QB Carson Palmer said after Sunday’s loss. “Our fans will be fired up. Their fans will be fired up. So we get a chance to hopefully knock them out of the playoffs or make it tougher on them.”

The playoff opener would be Jan. 5 or Jan. 6, to be determined after league and TV moguls assess the matchups.

If it’s Browns vs. Chargers?

Cleveland played at San Diego on Nov. 5 last year, when the Chargers were on their way to a 14-2 finish. Cleveland led, 12-10, until LaDainian Tomlinson (18 carries, 172 yards, three TDs) took over. The Chargers won, 32-25.