Browns balancing excitement for playoffs with focus on regular-season finale at Bengals
BEREA — Sione Takitaki was around the Browns in 2020. The veteran linebacker was around to experience the playoffs and all that comes with that opportunity.
So that has given Takitaki a certain perspective through which to experience what the Browns are going through now, having clinched an AFC wild card berth with a win last Thursday. It's also given him a certain perspective for the week they're going through now, with the regular-season finale at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
"Very exciting times for the Cleveland Browns, the city, to clinch that win, to be able to go to the playoffs," Takitaki said Monday. "So it's definitely fun. Can't wait, but, again, man, I'm going to sound like a broken record. This week, the focus is on the Cincinnati Bengals. They're going to keep score out there. We want to go out there and get that win, and we're excited for that, for this game this week."
The Browns (11-5) have no way to improve their stock in the playoffs with a win over the Bengals, having lost out on their AFC North title hopes with the Baltimore Ravens' win Sunday over the Miami Dolphins. They're locked into the No. 5 seed as the top wild card in the AFC.
The Bengals (8-8) have no playoff stock to improve, because they're not going to the playoffs this season. Cincinnati was eliminated from playoff contention with a loss Sunday to the Kansas City Chiefs.
That's irrelevant, at least for the week leading up to the game. That's a message players like Takitaki have imparted to the younger players who may be going through this for the first time.
"AFC opponent in our division," second-year running back Jerome Ford said Monday. "Looking to go 1-0. So I'm ready to come up, step up, do what I got to do to get the win if my number's called."
That was the focus for the Browns players when they returned from a mini-break they earned from the Thursday night win over the New York Jets. That doesn't mean they didn't take some time between Thursday and Monday to reap the rewards of what they had accomplished to that point.
Takitaki, for example, was one of several Browns players who were at the Cleveland Cavaliers game Friday night. That allowed them to take in the adulation from a city and a fan base that has been starved for chances like the one the Browns have given them this season.
"You know, went to the Cavs game, they put me on the Jumbotron," Takitaki said. "I was like, what the heck? But it was fun. And even when, you know, eating with my wife at restaurants and stuff, people are coming up and high fives, a bunch of fist pumps."
However, again, in the very next breath, Takitaki reiterated a point both he and Ford made earlier.
"Like I said, exciting times for the Cleveland Browns, for the city," Takitaki said. "It's real exciting times. But we got the Cincinnati Bengals, man. We're wanting to go 1-0 this week."
It's the mindset that has gotten the Browns to the playoffs. It's what's going to get them through the playoffs, however long they last.
It's what's also going to get them through the final week of the regular season, as they deal with the congrats and pats on the back for a job the Browns insist isn't done yet. Not for the regular season or the playoffs.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns balancing excitement for playoffs with focus on Bengals finale
