Two weeks ago, Browns inside linebacker Chris Kirksey stood behind one of the end zones at FirstEnergy Stadium and held a fan's sign that read, "All I want for Christmas is a win."
So far, he has received 14 lumps of coal.
"It is the worst feeling you can have," Kirksey said.
The heartbreaking scene starring Kirksey unfolded moments after the Browns fell 23-10 to the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 11. They followed that dud with their sixth consecutive double-digit defeat, Sunday's 33-13 road loss to the Buffalo Bills.
"It's been a long year," running back Duke Johnson said.
There's a good chance the Browns will become just the second NFL team to finish a season 0-16.
No one wants to be associated with that kind of history, though, so the Browns are wishing for a Christmas Eve miracle in their home finale against the San Diego Chargers on Saturday.
"I think this organization is special and it's a rich organization, so we don't want that, and I don't want that," wide receiver Terrelle Pryor said of a winless season. " ... I think we have to do something about it. It's going to be tough. The odds are against us, but we've got to pull something out."
The Browns (0-14) have two games left, and many observers view the second one as an automatic loss. After they host the Chargers (5-9), the Browns will visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5) on Jan. 1 for the season finale.
Not only are the Chargers a weaker opponent than the Steelers, but they also traveled across the country and into the Eastern time zone Thursday night to play in the Browns' home finale. On the other hand, Chargers five-time Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers is 3-1 against the Browns and 35-16 in regular-season games in December and January.
"No one is going to come in here and help us get a win over these last two weeks," Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III said. "We have to do it, and I think everybody is motivated to make that happen."
Coach Hue Jackson has reminded his players not to take their last chance at home for granted. The Browns would set a franchise record for losses in a season with one more defeat.
"This is our last home game in front of our fans, in front of the Dawg Pound," Jackson said. "That is important. We have to go out the right way. We need to go win a game and do everything we can to win a game. It is the last time in front of (the fans that) this group will be together in that stadium. They need to understand that.
"Everybody in that room will not be back here next year. That is just the way it works in the National Football League. Here is another opportunity for these guys to play together in a brotherhood against an opponent in front of their fans, family and friends. It is important to do it the right way."
It's also important for players to dodge the embarrassment of becoming just the fifth NFL team since 1944 to go winless. People forget about one-win teams. But the 1960 Dallas Cowboys (0-11-1), 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14), 1982 Baltimore Colts (0-8-1) and 2008 Detroit Lions (0-16) can't escape their places in history.
"Everybody is aware of it," Griffin said. "And we are trying to go out every single week and do what we can to make the plays happen to help this team get a victory and help the city avoid being a part of that history."
Should the Browns join the Lions as the only 0-16 teams, a faction of fans plans to guilt-trip the organization with a "perfect season" parade around FirstEnergy Stadium on Jan. 7.
"Obviously, that's an insult," nose tackle Danny Shelton said. "At the same time, I don't believe that the Dawg Pound's going to give in to doing that. I think we have better fans than that, and I know our fans still believe in us and still will support us. But I'm just focused on playing this game and getting this win."
Speaking of fans, some of them don't understand how much one win would mean to Browns players and are simply hoping the team loses out to secure the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft. It's true this is a lost season whether the Browns finish 0-16, 1-15 or even, somehow, 2-14. But the morale boost one win would bring a franchise that has lost 17 consecutive games, 24 of 25 and 32 of 35 shouldn't be discounted.
"It would be a big difference," cornerback Joe Haden said. "From the outside, you really don't know what we put in, what we go through together, trying to get the scheme, get the game plan, execute it during the week. It's huge. When you win the games and come into the locker room, there's nothing like a winning locker room.
"You can't buy that feeling. I think these younger guys that we have on this team, they deserve it, and I think it would be a good note to be able to put on this season."
The sigh of relief in the Browns' locker room would be deafening.
