Browns did not 'tank' games, NFL finds

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Protecting the integrity of the sport more than specifics

I recall a final weekend NHL game in the early 70s I think, when the NY Rangers needed to score more goals to either gain a playoff spot or grab a higher spot. It didn't matter if they won 2-1, that did them no good. It mattered that they scored 7or 8 goals, even if they lost 13-6. They did win, 9-5, and made the playoffs, but they played the entire third period with 6 attackers and no goalie in an attempt to run up their goal totals.

Found it: https://bluelinestation.com/2022/04/05/april-5-new-york-rangers-history-wackiest-game-ever/

The reason was that the Rangers would finish in a tie with Montreal for fourth place if they won and the Canadiens lost. Not only only that, if they finished in a tie, they had to finish with more goals than the Canadiens to hold the tiebreaker and make the playoffs.