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Cleveland Browns clinch first playoff berth since 2002 NFL season

CLEVELAND -- Long after the game had finally ended, Browns fans hung around FirstEnergy Stadium, taking selfies and photos of one another with the field in the background.

This was a moment they'd been waiting for since 2002.

Sunday, the Browns finally ended the NFL's longest playoff drought with a 24-22 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, catapulting Cleveland into the postseason for the first time in 17 seasons.

"I'm really just happy for our fans," said first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski. "They deserve this. And we're happy to deliver this to them."

The moment, however, didn't come easily.