Leon Bibb: Cleveland Browns earned a playoff spot, but fans have earned it too We've lived through dark days with our team, now it's time to savor this sweet Browns success. Author: Leon Bibb Updated: 9:02 PM EST January 8, 2021 CLEVELAND — When Cleveland, Akron and all of northeast Ohio needed victories enough to bring on regional smiles, it was the hometown football team showing a toothy grin that delivered. The "hometowners" lifted the team into the NFL playoffs.You and I made it, too. After all, we're all in it together. And we celebrate because we are coming out of a long making-the-playoffs drought for the Cleveland Browns and all of us fans of the team.