With a playoff berth secured two weeks earlier, the Browns still had plenty to play for in their regular season finale against the 5-11 Seahawks.
Home-field advantage was on the line for the 10-5 Browns and a defensive milestone was within reach. If the Browns could keep Seattle to just a field goal, they'd become the fifth team in league history to surrender 200 or fewer points during a 16-game season.
Ultimately, that second goal was lost when Seattle scored a late touchdown, but the Browns ensured they'd play in front of their home fans the following week against the Patriots in the AFC Wild Card game with a convincing, 35-9 victory.
Despite the late score, Cleveland's defense could take pride in the end result. The 204 points it surrendered during a season that included seven games in which the opponent scored 10 or fewer points was its best since 1957.
The Browns offense, on this day, provided plenty of support with 21 unanswered points in the first half and two more scores in the second. Vinny Testaverde threw two touchdown passes and ran for another, and Mark Carrier finished with 98 receiving yards and two scores (one rushing, one receiving).
The win was Cleveland's first-ever at home against the Seahawks, who began a search for a new head coach shortly thereafter. The 11 wins marked Cleveland's most in a regular season since 1986.
