The series of events that took place for the Cleveland Browns to lose on Sunday is staggering. The 3-5 Browns were ahead of the 1-7 St. Louis Rams with a 12-10 lead, getting the ball punted to them with less than ten minutes left. The Browns were in complete control of the game. They had finally figured out how to move the ball on offense and Rams quarterback Sam Bradford couldn’t pass on the NFL’s top-rated pass defense. Only one word can describe what happened: Cleveland.

One of the greatest returners in the history of the NFL and team captain Josh Cribbs fumbled the punt return. The Rams got the ball in field goal range and were quickly stopped by the Browns defense. The Rams were forced to settle for a 34-yard field and a 13-12 lead with 7:42 left.

Something then fell Cleveland’s way for once. Josh Brown kicked the ball out of bounds on the kickoff and the Browns received the ball on the 40 yard line. With Phil Dawson, three first downs and it would have been an almost automatic three points. Almost.

The Browns drove and got the ball inside the five yard line. They were playing scared and wanted to take the safe route by getting an automatic three points on the board. A 22-yard field goal attempt with 2:09 left means game over, right? Not in Cleveland.

Pro Bowl long snapper Ryan Pontbriand snapped the ball into pro bowler Alex Mac’s leg and even mighty Phil Dawson couldn’t adjust to how long it took for the ball to be held. Wide left. Browns lose.

Only in Cleveland can arguably your four best players blow an easy win like that. How poetic.

We’ve been going through games like this for the past 47 years. One word describes Cleveland fans: faith.

That is why each loss like this feels like a punch in the gut. Every year we all have faith that this will be our year. This is “Believeland.” And every year we are let down. Each loss reminds us of a past heartbreak.

Older generations get reminded of “The Drive” by John Elway and “The Fumble” by Earnest Byner.

The generation below them remembers the Indians in the mid to late 90s. They remember what it felt like to be so close. We were one out away, but it wasn’t meant to be. Mesa blew it.

My generation will always remember “The LeBacle” and “The Decision.” We will never forget how one of our very own quit when we were so close and betrayed us after promising to bring Cleveland a championship.

Every day I wonder what it would be like to win a championship. I’m not talking about a dynasty. I’m not talking about a perfect season. I’m talking about a championship. That’s it.

It’s getting harder and harder to even dream about a championship anymore, but I still have one thing: faith.

I have faith that President Holmgren will bring the Browns back to prominence and bring back what once was a storied franchise.

I have faith that Dan Gilbert is going to do whatever it takes to win a ring before the self-proclaimed “King.” I have faith that Kyrie Irving will play like a number one overall pick.

I have faith that the young Indians will have learned from their 2011 season and be ready to do what the 1997 Indians couldn’t do.

I have faith that 2012 is the year. This is the year the best fans in all of sports will finally get their championship.

A true Cleveland fan will always be upset and skeptical when things are going wrong but will always hold out hope.

Being a Cleveland fan is unlike anything else. You aren’t just a fan, you are part of something bigger than being a fan. It’s a brotherhood. It’s a sisterhood. It’s growing up watching games with your dad. It’s your dad growing up watching games with his dad. It’s three generations coming together to support one thing: Cleveland.

A championship in Cleveland would mean more than one anywhere else. It would mean that we are somebody. We do belong. We are good enough. We are not the “Mistake on the Lake.” We are Cleveland and damn proud.

Until we do win a championship, the jokes will keep coming and the haters will keep hating. But when we do, us true fans will know that we persevered and we are all champions. We just have to do one thing.

Keep the faith Cleveland.