A winless season doesn't just happen. Game by game, play by play, a team loses and loses and loses. In each game, a play or two stands out that not only epitomizes that loss, but also the season of struggle. Let's take a game-by-game look, which we'll update weekly until the Cleveland Browns get their first win:
Nov. 20 — Pittsburgh 24, Cleveland 9
The play: Le'Veon Bell scores from the 1 with no time on the clock at the end of the first half. Because of Browns penalties, it was the second play the Steelers ran after the half ended.
Nov. 10 — Baltimore 28, Cleveland 7
The play: Technically, it wasn't a play, but it was quite a moment when the Browns called timeout before the first play of the game because the defense had 12 men on the field.
Nov. 6 — Dallas 35, Cleveland 10
The play: Dak Prescott got the Cowboys on the board with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jason Witten, the first of three TD throws by the guy the Browns had ranked lower than Cody Kessler in the last draft. Prescott was the second rookie quarterback the Browns could have drafted to beat the Browns this season.
Oct. 30 — New York Jets 31, Cleveland 28
The play: Ryan Fitzpatrick's 12-yard touchdown throw to Quincy Enunwa marked the beginning of second-half dominance by a mediocre (at best) Jets team, and epitomized the Browns' defense as Enunwa slipped four tackles to score.
Oct. 23 — Cincinnati 31, Cleveland 17
The play: It was more a moment than a play, as coach Hue Jackson ripped his headset off in the game's final minutes and spent the rest of a bad loss stomping the sideline. Said Jackson after a game when Kevin Hogan became the sixth quarterback to throw a pass in a game: "I don't like losing."
Oct. 16 — Tennessee 28, Cleveland 26
The play: Jackson goes for two with 2:07 left after the Browns had cut a deficit to nine; the Browns missed, meaning they needed the ball twice in the final 2:07 to win. Had the Browns kicked the extra point, the game is still a one-possession game. Jackson stood by the decision.
Oct. 9 — New England 33, Cleveland 13
The play(s): Kessler left the game in the first quarter with injured ribs; Charlie Whitehurst left in the fourth with an injured knee. Terrelle Pryor took over, meaning the Browns used three quarterbacks in one game.
Oct. 2 — Washington 31, Cleveland 20
The play(s): Leading 20-17, the Browns are driving when they give the ball to Malcolm Johnson for the first carry of his career; he fumbles, Washington recovers and goes on to score the go-ahead touchdown. Naturally on the next drive, Duke Johnson fumbles, and as he is holding the ball aloft to show he recovered it, officials give the ball to the Redskins.
Sept. 25 — Miami 30, Cleveland 24
The play: Cody Parkey, signed the day before the game to replace a kicker who was injured on Friday, misses a 46-yard field goal on the final play of regulation and Miami wins in overtime.
Sept. 18 — Baltimore 25, Cleveland 20
The play: After blowing a 20-0 lead, the Browns try a furious last-drive comeback and appear poised to have a shot when Pryor catches a pass at the 10 with 27 seconds left, except when Pryor flips the ball to the ref, it sticks in his glove and instead hits a Ravens defender in the helmet. Pryor is flagged for taunting (?); a potential comeback chance ends.
Sept. 11 — Philadelphia 29, Cleveland 10
The play: Carson Wentz drops a perfect 35-yard pass into the hands of Nelson Agholor, securing the Eagles' win. It was Wentz's second perfect TD score, as the Browns opened by losing to the player they could have drafted second overall.