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Browns' fate no longer in own hands

Dec 30, 2007 - 11:23 AM San Francisco (5-10) at Cleveland (9-6) 1:00 pm EST

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Browns could not take care of business against the Cincinnati Bengals. Now, their playoff fate is no longer in their hands.

After failing to clinch a playoff spot with a 19-14 loss at Cincinnati, the Browns close out their regular season on Sunday by hosting the San Francisco 49ers.

In an odd circumstance, Sunday's game likely will have no bearing on the Browns' playoff chances, win or lose. The only way it will is if the Tennessee Titans tie against the Indianapolis Colts.

Tennessee beat the New York Jets, 10-6, to pull even with Cleveland for the AFC's final playoff spot and now controls its own destiny.

If Tennessee and Cleveland each win this weekend and finish at 10-6, the Titans clinch a playoff spot based on the third tiebreaker - a better record than the Browns against common opponents.

However, if both teams lose and finish 9-7, the Browns grab the playoff spot based on a better record against conference opponents (7-5 to 6-6).

Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis felt the Browns lacked focus against the Bengals.

"We have to take our focus up a notch and grow up," Lewis said. "This team hasn't been in this situation (with a playoff berth at stake) for a while. But we're in this situation for a reason. We're a playoff team, but we didn't play like it. We didn't play like a playoff team. We've got to do that."

Now, the Browns are reducing to rooting for the Colts but they'll have to wait all day to find out their fate. The NFL moved the Tennessee game, originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. start, to 8:15 p.m.

A concern for the Browns is how motivated the Colts will be. With nothing at stake for Indianapolis, Colts coach Tony Dungy has indicated that he will rest his starters.

San Francisco would appear to be an easy mark for the Browns, but last season the 49ers eliminated the Denver Broncos with a 26-23 victory in their season finale.

A year later, the 49ers will be looking to conclude their season with a three-game winning streak. Quarterback Shaun Hill, who won his first two career starts, will miss the game with a back injury and Chris Weinke will get the start.

Last week, Hill passed for 123 yards and three touchdowns as the 49ers defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 21-19.

The 49ers sent defensive end Bryant Young, a 14-year veteran who is expected to retire at the end of the season, out as a winner in his final home appearance.