Down just two points, the Browns were driving late in the AFC divisional playoff game at Cleveland Stadium against the Oakland Raiders. They got down to the 13 yard line, and were in good position to kick a game-winning field goal. But they tried for the end zone. That's when safety Mike Davis intercepted Brian Sipe's pass in the end zone intended for tight end Ozzie Newsome. Oakland defeated the Browns, 14-12.
Cleveland was up 20-13, with just over 5 minutes to play. Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway orchestrated a 98-yard drive to tie the 1986 AFC Championship Game and force overtime at Cleveland Stadium. The Broncos won in overtime on a field goal that, to this day, some claim was missed, denying the Browns a trip to the Super Bowl.
With Cleveland down 15-10, the Browns were driving. They get down to the 12 with 1:08 to play. On 4th and 2, Tim Couch's pass to Quincy Morgan is ruled a catch — first down. Couch hurries to the line and spikes the ball. But suddenly ref Terry McAulay comes running in waving his arms and blowing his whistle. They are reviewing the play. No, not the spike, the Morgan catch. (Nevermind that another play had already been run.) They overturned the call, the Jags get the ball (and the win), the boobirds come out, and bottles begin to rain down in the end zone.
It was the season-opener and the Browns were ahead 39-37 with just seconds remaining against the Kansas City Chiefs. The final play looked like a sack, and Dwayne Rudd took off his helmet and threw it down in jubilation. But the play wasn't over, and it resulted in a defensive penalty. And since the game can't end on one of those, the Chiefs got the yards and a free play — a game-winning field goal. Ugh.
With the Cleveland Browns sitting at 4–5, owner Art Modell announced during a press conference at Camden Yards that he had signed a deal to relocate the Browns to Baltimore in 1996. He said he made the decision because he felt the city had the funding to build a first-class stadium. The Browns were "reactivated" in 1999 as an expansion team.
With 1:12 left in the 1987 AFC Championship Game, Browns running back Earnest Byner fumbled on the Broncos' 1-yard line while trying to score a game-tying touchdown. The Broncos went on to win, 38–33, at Mile High Stadium after taking an intentional safety.
With the game tied, all Cleveland needed was a field goal to beat the Baltimore Ravens. But Travis Coons' attempt was blocked and safety Will Hill returned it 64 yards for a touchdown as time expired. A 34-27 Ravens win.
The Miami Dolphins' 1972 season is one of legend: A perfect season. It's never been done since (just as the Patriots). But not many people nowadays know it was the Cleveland Browns that nearly destroyed that mark. With oddsmakers pegging the Browns as a 14-point dog, they found themselves up 14-13 midway through the fourth quarter. But the Dolphins drove 80 yards and took the lead back on an 8-yard rushing touchdown by Jim Kiick with less than 5 minutes left. Heartbreaking.
Up 33-21 midway through the fourth quarter, the Browns were in control of this AFC Wild Card game. That's until the Steelers mounted a comeback behind the arm of Tommy Maddox. A 5-yard TD pass to Hines Ward made it 33-28 and a 3-yard TD run by Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala gave the Steelers a 1-point lead. Antwaan Randle-El tossed a 2-point conversion to Jerame Tuman and the Steelers got the win, 36-33.
We know, we know: No jinx. But, c'mon! It's Cleveland.
Even though the Steelers are a lock for a first-round bye in the playoffs, coach Mike Tomlin told the press Tuesday that the team is still out for a victory on Sunday.
"Make no mistake about it: the expectation will be what it is; the people we put on the field, we will expect them to play and we will expect them to play winning football," Tomlin said.
That surely means a Browns loss, which means an 0-16 winless season, marking yet another milestone in a franchise (
and city
) that knows losing. Let's just say it won't be the most horrible moment in their history. Here's nine times it was worse.