CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the second straight year, Phil Dawson has walked out of Cleveland Browns Stadium thinking it might be for the last time.

Dawson, who came back as the team's franchised player in 2011, admitted after Sunday's loss to the Steelers that he's not sure if he'll return to Cleveland for a 14th season. The Browns have said recently they'd love to have him back.

But Dawson lived here all season while his wife, Shannon, and their three children lived in Austin, Texas, and he might not want to do that again.

"It's the same song, a different verse," said Dawson. "I'll go home [to Austin] catch up with my family and get rested, regroup and make the decision when I need to."

Would he like to return?

"I just need to go home and talk to my wife, kind of like what I said last year," he said. "I'm kind of at that point, the kids are getting older and I've got other issues I've got to consider, not just football.

"I certainly gave my heart and soul to this team this year. I feel pretty good about how I kicked the ball. I really missed one kick all year. I feel pretty good about that. I'll let it all sink in and make that decision when the time comes."

Dawson provided all the Browns' scoring Sunday, kicking field goals of 26, 45 and 49 yards in the damp and windy conditions. Pittsburgh's Shaun Suisham was wide left on a 45-yarder at the Dawg Pound end, and Dawson certainly understands.

"It was a really tough day," he said. "It was wet, cold, snowy and windy. It was especially tough down at that end."

Dawson converted 24 of 29 field-goal attempts and all 20 extra points. He hit seven field goals of 50 yards or longer, tied for most in the NFL.

Browns lose to Steelers 13-9 24 Gallery: Browns lose to Steelers 13-9

Productive finale: Josh Cribbs recorded career highs in receptions (7) and receiving yards (91). On the season, his 41 receptions produced 518 yards and four touchdowns, all of which are career bests. For the fourth time in his seven-year career, he led the club in special-team tackles.

"Seneca [Wallace] did a good job of getting the ball to me today," said Cribbs. "I tried to catch the ball when it was thrown to me. I've been saying I'm a complete wide receiver now and other things. But we've still got to come away with the victory."

Cribbs played hard, regardless of what ended as a 4-12 season.

"I know how important it is to the fans, snowy and rainy at the same time, the conditions are excellent for football," he said. "I love it, our fans love it. We've just got to figure out a way to win. We beat this team up today, but they came up with the victory."

Cribbs can't understand why the Browns can't win close games.

"I have to look and see exactly where we lost the game at," he said. "We could've made the playoffs this season," said Cribbs. "We're not that far away. The hard work is going to turn into results. The way we battle and fight, it's going to turn into something special."

A quiet day: The Browns didn't retaliate against Steelers linebacker James Harrison, and he had no questionable hits.

Did he hear anything from Browns players or fans?

"I don't pay no attention," he said. "It's not my concern. The fans are not on the field and they're not going to play snaps against me, so I'm not worried about it."

Strong finish for Sheard: Rookie defensive end Jabaal Sheard had another outstanding game, finishing with six tackles and a sack for a season total of 8.5 sacks -- the most by a Browns rookie since Kamerion Wimbley's 11 in 2006.

"It's been okay," Sheard said. "I had some ups and downs and I thought I could've done better. I just look to come out next year and get better."

As for his sacks, he said, "Everybody I talked to told me I better have double digits," he said. "Ever since college I always wanted double digits and I never quite got there. ... It's New Year's and I wrote down my goals and I plan on beating 8.5 next year."

Said linebacker D'Qwell Jackson of Sheard: "He's played well beyond his years. Eight and a half sacks as a rookie, that's impressive. You can only build off of that and there's going to be a lot expected when he comes back. I'm sure he knows that."

Roethlisberger critical of fans: Ben Roethlisberger was disappointed to hear Browns fans cheering when running back Rashard Mendenhall went down with a right knee injury at the end of the first quarter.

"It's never good to see a guy go down," said Roethlisberger. "I know these Browns fans are passionate about their Browns, but when you hear fans cheer when a guy goes down, that's really disappointing. I don't care who it is or if you really hate that team. To be a fan of the sport, you never like to see that. So that was disappointing to hear that."

Young limping: Safety Usama Young suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter and will undergo an MRI Monday. "I hope it's okay," he said. "I don't want to end the season like that."

Rookie fever: The Browns were the only NFL team to have three rookies start all 16 games. Sheard and Phil Taylor opened all 16 contests on the defensive line, while rookie Jason Pinkston started every game at left guard.

The Browns became the first team to have two rookie defensive line starters all season since Tampa Bay in 1992 (Santana Dotson and Mark Wheeler). It's also the first time in franchise history. Five rookies started Sunday for the Browns. Browns rookies had a combined 66 starts, which led the NFL.

2012 opponents: The Browns will have home games against Baltimore, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Washington and Buffalo. They will have road games at Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, New York Giants, Oakland, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis.

By the numbers: Jackson tied a season-high with 13 tackles. He led the team in tackles 13 times and accounted for double digit tackle totals on eight occasions. He led with 158 stops, which was the second-most in the NFL (London Fletcher 166). ... Defensive linemen Ahtyba Rubin tied a season-high with nine tackles and notched his fifth sack, his career-best. Rubin finished second on the club with 83 tackles, which led all defensive linemen heading into the Giants-Cowboys game Sunday night (Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul had 81). ...

Punter Brad Maynard recorded two punts inside the 20. On the season, he placed 32 of his 81 punts inside the 20 (a team record) and had just one touchback. ... Defensive backs Eric Hagg and Joe Haden each recorded their first career fumble recoveries. Defensive back Mike Adams notched his first career forced fumble, while linebacker Chris Gocong registered his fifth forced fumble. ...

The Browns' 19 giveaways were the second-fewest in the AFC and tied for the fourth-lowest in the NFL. It was the team's lowest total since 1991 (18). The team's six fumbles lost tied for the second-fewest in team history (five in 1959, six in 2008).

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