1978: Campbell-less Oilers Rally Past Browns

Both teams meeting in Cleveland on October 1, 1978 were missing key personnel and coming off losses the previous week. The visiting Houston Oilers were without star rookie RB Earl Campbell, who was sidelined by a pulled hamstring, and WR Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, the outstanding kick returner who had gone down with a knee injury. Head Coach Bum Phillips’ team was 2-2 after a low-scoring loss to the Rams and still had a potent defense while QB Dan Pastorini continued to direct the ball-control offense.

The host Cleveland Browns had won their first three games under first-year Head Coach Sam Rutigliano, but lost a close contest to the Steelers the previous week thanks to a flea-flicker pass in overtime after an apparent Pittsburgh fumble had been blown dead. They were without HB Greg Pruitt, who had a calf injury, although FB Mike Pruitt (no relation) was healthy. QB Brian Sipe was showing improvement and had capable receivers in WRs Reggie Rucker and Dave Logan plus rookie TE Ozzie Newsome. There was talent in the defensive backfield, but the pass rush was lacking.

It was an overcast day at Municipal Stadium with 72,776 fans in attendance. The Oilers took the opening kickoff and drove into Cleveland territory. HB Ronnie Coleman (pictured above), starting in place of Campbell, carried four times for 15 yards and caught a pass for another seven, but when the drive was held up at the Cleveland 33, an attempt to convert a fourth-and-one situation failed when Dan Pastorini was stopped for no gain.

The Browns advanced 43 yards in nine plays, helped by a pass interference penalty in a third-and-10 situation. Brian Sipe converted another third-and-10 play with a pass to Reggie Rucker for 18 yards to the Houston 26, but the drive finally stalled and Don Cockroft kicked a 41-yard field goal.

The Oilers put together a long series. Pastorini completed three passes and Coleman and FB Tim Wilson ran effectively, but after getting a first-and-goal at the seven, the drive came to a halt at the one. On the first play of the second quarter, Pastorini once again tried to convert a fourth down, and once again was stopped short when tackled by LB Charlie Hall before he could reach the goal line.

Cleveland managed to get out to the 14 before punting and Coleman’s 17-yard return gave Houston good field position at the Browns’ 41. With Coleman and Wilson carrying the load and Pastorini throwing to WR Mike Renfro for eight yards to convert a third-and-four play, the Oilers again moved into scoring territory, but Coleman fumbled at the 15 and DE Mack Mitchell recovered for the Browns.

The teams traded punts until, with 1:40 remaining in the half, CB Clarence Scott intercepted a Pastorini pass to give the Browns the ball at the Houston 42. They scored in seven plays, four of them Sipe pass completions. The last two were to Dave Logan, for a 21-yard gain followed by a seven-yard touchdown. Cockroft added the extra point and the home team took a 10-0 lead into halftime.

The Browns went three-and-out to start the third quarter but got the ball back when Coleman fumbled again and CB Ron Bolton recovered. However, four plays later the Oilers benefited from a turnover when CB Willie Alexander intercepted a Sipe pass at midfield. Pastorini converted a third down with an 18-yard completion to Renfro and, two plays later, connected with WR Rich Caster for a 41-yard TD. Toni Fritsch’s extra point attempt was blocked, but the Oilers were on the board and behind now by 10-6.

The teams again traded punts, with Houston winning the battle for field position. A kick that pinned the Browns back at their two led to a punt that gave the Oilers the ball at the Cleveland 43, and in a series that extended into the fourth quarter, they went 43 yards in eight plays. FB Rob Carpenter ran for the last seven and a touchdown, and this time Fritsch successfully converted to give the visitors a three-point lead.

Neither team was able to move the ball and punted following a possession apiece. They then traded turnovers, with FS Mike Reinfeldt intercepting a Sipe pass and Hall recovering a Coleman fumble at the Houston 24, and that led to Cockroft booting a 40-yard field goal that tied the score at 13-13.

There were just over six minutes remaining as the Oilers started their next series, and they were forced to punt. Cleveland took over at its 30 but, four plays later and with 1:24 left on the clock, Mike Pruitt fumbled and LB Art Stringer recovered for Houston at the Browns’ 48. Pastorini immediately went long to WR Ken Burrough, who out-wrestled Bolton for a 44-yard gain. To the Browns and their fans, it appeared that Bolton had been the winner in the battle for the ball and that it should have been ruled an interception. Cans and bottles came flying out of the east stands, delaying play and finally causing the officials to shift to the other end of the field. Three running plays were followed by a Fritsch field goal from 19 yards. A last-gasp pass by Sipe was intercepted and the Oilers won by a final score of 16-13.

The yardage totals were low, reflecting the defensive nature of the game, with Houston gaining the most (215 to 104) and also accumulating the most first downs (20 to 11). Even without Earl Campbell, the Oilers rushed for 164 yards, to just 78 for Cleveland. Each team turned the ball over four times.

Dan Pastorini completed 14 of 29 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown as well as an interception. Tim Wilson led the ground game with 72 yards on 16 carries and Ronnie Coleman contributed 63 yards on 19 attempts to go along with his team-high four catches, good for another 63 yards. With the controversial late-game catch, Ken Burrough (pictured at left) had 68 yards on three pass receptions.

For the Browns, Brian Sipe was successful on just 12 of 32 throws for 106 yards and a TD, giving up three interceptions. Reggie Rucker topped the club with three catches for 48 yards. Mike Pruitt ran for 41 yards on 11 attempts. 

“I think it was a helluva call,” said Coach Phillips of the Oilers regarding the controversial catch awarded to Ken Burrough. “When you go down in a tie, it goes to the offense…I know the fans didn’t like it.”

“I reached over and pulled the ball in and he came with it,” added Burrough. “I caught the ball and Bolton held on.”

Not surprisingly, Ron Bolton’s perspective was different (Bolton pictured below). “I had the ball,” he said. “He came across my back, which is a foul, reached over my shoulder and got his hand on the ball.” 

The Oilers, with Earl Campbell back in action, lost at Oakland the following week but then won seven of their last ten games to finish at 10-6 and second in the AFC Central. Qualifying for a Wild Card playoff spot, they advanced to the AFC Championship game before succumbing to the Steelers. Cleveland won the next game but was successful only sporadically thereafter, ending up third in the division at 8-8.

For Ronnie Coleman, once a starting halfback for the Oilers but now relegated to backup duty when Campbell was playing, the rushing total against the Browns was his highest output of the season as he gained 188 yards on 61 carries (3.1 avg.) and caught 19 passes for 246 yards.  

1979: Bradshaw Out-Duels Sipe as Steelers Edge Browns in Overtime

The Pittsburgh Steelers were defending NFL Champions and off to a 9-3 start in 1979 but found themselves in a dogfight in the AFC Central with the Houston Oilers, also 9-3, and Cleveland Browns at 8-4. On November 25 they hosted the Browns. Head Coach Chuck Noll’s team was coming off a humiliating loss at San Diego the previous week but still contained the key players that made the Steelers a champion three times in the previous five seasons, including future Hall of Famers QB Terry Bradshaw (pictured above), RB Franco Harris, DT “Mean Joe” Greene, MLB Jack Lambert, and CB Mel Blount.

The Browns, under Head Coach Sam Rutigliano, were a resurgent and exciting team, prone to playing in games that weren’t decided until the last seconds. QB Brian Sipe had emerged as a fine passer and clutch performer and had good receivers to throw to in wide receivers Dave Logan and Reggie Rucker and TE Ozzie Newsome.

There were 48,773 fans at Three Rivers Stadium. The Browns went 75 yards in 11 plays on their opening possession despite Sipe being sacked once for a nine-yard loss. Sipe completed 5 of 6 passes, including three that converted third downs and the last a scoring toss of 21 yards to Newsome.

DB Larry Anderson fumbled when returning the ensuing kickoff and CB Ron Bolton recovered for the Browns at the three yard line. Cleveland couldn’t penetrate the end zone from there and settled for a 20-yard Don Cockroft field goal to go up by 10-0.

Pittsburgh came back with Bradshaw throwing to WR John Stallworth for a 34-yard gain to the Cleveland 35. It set up a 45-yard field goal by Matt Bahr and the score was 10-3.

HB Dino Hall returned the next kickoff 33 yards to give the Browns good starting field position at their 44. In a series that continued into the second quarter, Cleveland went 56 yards in 13 plays, helped along by a defensive holding penalty that converted a punting situation into a first down. Sipe completed a pass to Newsome for 20 yards and Cockroft kicked another field goal, this time from 32 yards, to make it 13-3.

Pittsburgh moved into scoring territory on its next possession but Bahr was wide on a 39-yard field goal attempt. Getting the ball back, RB Rocky Bleier gained 31 yards on four carries and Franco Harris (pictured below) had another for 11 yards. After TE Bennie Cunningham just missed scoring on a pass into the end zone – he was stripped before gaining possession – Bahr was successful on a 34-yard field goal try.

Another good kickoff return of 28 yards by Hall once again gave Cleveland good field position and the Browns made the most of it as Sipe threw to Newsome for seven yards and then to HB Calvin Hill for 30. On a third-and-seven play, Sipe threw to Dave Logan for a 16-yard touchdown and 20-6 lead.

The Steelers, down by 14 points, came back on a drive highlighted by a sensational catch by Cunningham for a 10-yard gain, another Bradshaw throw to WR Lynn Swann for 17 yards, back to Cunningham for 20, and throws to Bleier and Harris that picked up a total of 15 yards. The 76-yard series ended with a short scoring throw to Harris. It was 20-13 at halftime.

The Browns put together a scoring series in the third quarter. Sipe threw to Logan for gains of 20 and 18 yards and to Reggie Rucker for 18. On a third-and-18 play at the Pittsburgh 33, Sipe connected with Logan for 23 yards to the 10. The possession ended with Sipe’s three-yard scoring pass to Hill.

Pittsburgh again fought back with an 89-yard drive in 10 plays. A third down was converted with a Bradshaw pass to TE Randy Grossman for 47 yards. Harris scored for the Steelers from a yard out on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Pittsburgh’s defense forced the Browns to punt on the next series and it seemed as though the momentum was with the Steelers. However, the Browns got breaks when they recovered a fumble by Harris, who was stripped by SS Clarence Scott after picking up eight yards, and then Jack Lambert kept Cleveland’s ensuing drive alive by roughing Sipe on a third down play. It resulted in a field goal of 40 yards by Cockroft that put the Browns ahead by ten points.

Down by 30-20, the Steelers fought back and had a first down on the one yard line when Bradshaw was sacked. But they came back to score a touchdown on a three-yard run by Harris that, with Bahr’s extra point, made it a three-point contest.

On their ensuing possession, the Browns got a first down at midfield thanks to a face mask penalty on LB Robin Cole. However, DE L.C. Greenwood, who had an unofficial 4.5 sacks on the day (individual sacks were not officially compiled until 1982), combined with DT Steve Furness to dump Sipe shortly thereafter to force a punt. WR Theo Bell returned it 27 yards to the 50 to set up Pittsburgh’s drive to the tying points. Bahr kicked a 21-yard field goal to knot the game with 24 seconds left in regulation.

In overtime, Mel Blount and Ron Bolton both had interceptions. The game turned on a Cleveland decision to accept an illegal motion penalty on the Steelers in a second-and-ten situation. Rather than facing third-and-nine, it was second-and-fifteen, giving Pittsburgh an extra down. It proved significant when, on third down, Bradshaw took off on a 28-yard scramble to the Cleveland 38. Five plays later, Bahr booted the game-winning field goal from 37 yards with just nine seconds remaining in the extra period. Pittsburgh won by a final score of 33-30.

The Steelers led in total yards (606 to 345) and first downs (36 to 22) – indeed, Pittsburgh’s yardage total was the second-highest in club history at the time and the 36 first downs were a new franchise record. The edge was particularly notable in the ground game as Pittsburgh accumulated 255 rushing yards to Cleveland’s 62. But the Steelers also hurt themselves by turning the ball over three times (to one by the Browns) and committing 10 penalties at a cost of 95 yards (as opposed to Cleveland’s 8 for 65 yards). However, they also sacked Brian Sipe seven times, including three in the fourth quarter alone.

Terry Bradshaw completed 30 of 44 passes for 364 yards and a touchdown with one intercepted – he also ran the ball three times for 43 yards. Franco Harris rushed for 151 yards on 32 carries with two TDs and caught a career-high 9 passes for 81 yards and another score. Rocky Bleier contributed 10 carries for 61 yards and pulled in 7 passes for 45 more yards. WR John Stallworth caught 6 passes for 75 yards. Rookie Matt Bahr kicked four field goals in five attempts.

For the Browns, Brian Sipe (pictured below) was successful on 23 of 38 throws for 333 yards with three touchdowns and an interception and was also the team’s leading rusher with 30 yards on three carries. Dave Logan topped the receivers with 7 catches for 135 yards and a TD.

“This was more satisfying than blowing them out,” said Terry Bradshaw. “It has to be the most gratifying win of the year. Let that stuff about the mighty Steelers and all of that garbage die. We’re in a tough division. We could have given up several times and said the defense wasn’t playing well, but we kept coming back.”

“It was a very demanding game,” added an exhausted Franco Harris. “We had no big plays. It was nothing but long drives. That takes a lot out of you.”

“This was one of the toughest games I’ve ever played in,” said a dejected DE Lyle Alzado from the Cleveland side. “This was the toughest one to lose, too.”

The win put the Steelers in a first place tie atop the division with Houston while Cleveland fell two games back. Ultimately, Pittsburgh went on to win the AFC Central with a 12-4 record and defeat the Rams in the Super Bowl – the fourth such win since 1974. The Browns defeated the Oilers the next week but lost their remaining two contests to finish in third at 9-7.

Terry Bradshaw placed second in the league by averaging 7.9 yards per attempt, third with 3724 passing yards and fourth with 26 TD passes, although his 25 interceptions ranked second. He ended up with a fourth championship under his belt and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the third time.

Franco Harris rushed for 1186 yards on 267 carries (4.4 avg.) and 11 touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl for the eighth straight year.

Brian Sipe placed second in passing yards (3793) and tied for first in TD passes (28, along with New England’s Steve Grogan). However, reflecting his gambling style of play, he also led the NFL with 26 interceptions.

In his first NFL season, Matt Bahr (pictured below) was successful on 18 of 30 field goal attempts (60 %) and led the league with 50 extra points in 52 tries. He played one more year with the Steelers but lasted a total of 17 seasons – 8.5 of them with the Browns.

1980: Sipe & Pruitt Propel Browns Past Bears

There was a big crowd of 83,224 present at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium on November 3, 1980 for a Monday night game between the host Browns and Chicago Bears. Hopes were high for the Browns, coached by pass-oriented Sam Rutigliano, who were riding a three-game winning streak coming into the contest, overcoming a slow 2-3 start and giving them an overall record of 5-3. The key to the offense was 31-year-old QB Brian Sipe (pictured at right), who had slowly developed into a daring and exciting passer capable of pulling games out in the final minutes. FB Mike Pruitt provided power and pass receiving ability out of the backfield, and the receiving corps of TE Ozzie Newsome and wide receivers Dave Logan and Reggie Rucker was reliable.

Meanwhile the Bears, coached by Neill Armstrong, were 3-5 after losing at Philadelphia the week before. The offense was heavily dependent on RB Walter Payton, who had led the NFC in rushing in each of the past four seasons (and the entire NFL once, in 1977) and came into the game against the Browns ranked third. QB Vince Evans, who had taken over for ineffective veteran Mike Phipps, was mobile and could throw long. The defense was typically rugged and had given up a total of just 37 points over the previous four games.

A steady rain was falling throughout the contest. Following a three-and-out possession by the Bears to start the game, the Browns scored the first time they had the ball, moving from their 41 yard line to the Chicago 14, but a penalty wiped out an apparent scoring pass to Rucker and they settled for a 23-yard field goal by Don Cockroft.

The Browns again drove into Chicago territory, but LB Jerry Muckensturm intercepted a Sipe pass at the 17. However, the Cleveland defense stifled the Bears in the first half - Chicago didn’t get its initial first down of the game until six minutes into the second quarter.

Sipe, who wasn’t sharp in the first half, was intercepted a second time in Bears territory. It snuffed out a promising drive, as CB Len Walterscheid picked off the pass at the 14. The Bears were unable to capitalize when Bob Thomas missed a 35-yard field goal attempt. The Browns took over with 3:22 on the clock and put together a nine-play, 80-yard drive in which Sipe completed four passes and HB Greg Pruitt had a 15-yard run. Sipe finished it off by throwing to Rucker, who made a shoestring catch for a four-yard touchdown with 57 seconds remaining in the half.

Cleveland had only a 10-0 lead at halftime despite dominating the Bears in the first half, with 241 yards and 18 first downs to Chicago’s 62 yards and two first downs.

The Browns took the second half kickoff and drove 56 yards in 14 plays. However, after getting a first-and-goal on the nine, on third-and-seven Sipe was sacked by DE Mike Hartenstine for a 16-yard loss and Cockroft ended up kicking a second field goal from 42 yards through the rain and swirling wind.

Still in the third quarter, the Bears finally got on the board. Evans threw to TE Robin Earl for a 24-yard gain, ran for 12 yards, and then finished off the seven-play, 54-yard drive with a seven-yard scoring run with 1:10 left in the period. The Bears were also helped along the way by a late hit call on Browns SS Clarence Scott.

The Browns were forced to punt on their next series, but it was a good one by Johnny Evans that traveled 56 yards and gave the Bears the ball on their own 18. The Bears again moved down the field, but Vince Evans was intercepted by CB Ron Bolton at the Cleveland 16. The Browns then drove 84 yards in 13 plays, capped by Mike Pruitt scoring from a yard out midway through the fourth quarter.

Chicago fought back, however, as Evans threw to WR Brian Baschnagel for a 17-yard TD three minutes later, again making it a six-point game. Following a 24-yard kickoff return by HB Dino Hall, the Browns took over at their own 35. Mike Pruitt ran for five yards and then Sipe threw to Rucker for four.

With the Bears defense massed at the line of scrimmage to stop the run, Pruitt took a pitchout and swept around the right side on a third-and-one play from his own 44, broke a tackle, received an outstanding block from WR Willis Adams, and then had nothing but open field as he ran 56 yards for a touchdown with 3:35 left on the clock.

Pruitt’s long scoring run effectively put the Browns out of reach. The Bears went 70 yards in 10 plays on their next drive and Evans threw a touchdown pass of six yards to Earl with 37 seconds to play, but the ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Browns to extinguish any remaining threat. Cleveland came away with a 27-21 win.

The Browns significantly outgained Chicago (432 yards to 275) and had more first downs (31 to 20). The defense did a good job of keeping the Bears in the game, in particular sacking Sipe – who had been sacked only six times in the previous games – a total of three times for 36 yards in losses. The Browns were hindered by the loss of OT Doug Dieken to a knee injury early in the contest.


Brian Sipe spread the ball around to eight different receivers as he completed 23 of 39 passes for 298 yards with a TD and two interceptions. Ozzie Newsome led the receivers with 5 catches for 97 yards. Mike Pruitt ran the ball 27 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

For the Bears, Vince Evans was successful on 18 of 33 throws for 201 yards with two touchdowns and one intercepted. The Cleveland defense held Walter Payton to 30 yards on 11 carries, and he carried only twice in the second half, although he co-led the club with 5 pass receptions, for 31 yards. Robin Earl also caught 5 passes and gained 63 yards with a TD.

The Browns continued to play well the rest of the way and won the AFC Central title with an 11-5 record. They lost a heartbreaker in the Divisional playoff round against the Raiders. Chicago continued to play inconsistently and finished at 7-9 and in third place in the NFC Central.

Brian Sipe had a career year as he led the league in passing (91.4 rating) and lowest percentage of interceptions (2.5) while ranking second in pass attempts (554), completions (337), yards (4132), and TD passes (30, tied with San Diego’s Dan Fouts and Vince Ferragamo of the Rams). He was named MVP by the Associated Press, Pro Football Writers of America, and The Sporting News, was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection, and was named to the Pro Bowl.

Mike Pruitt ranked eighth in the NFL with 1034 yards on 249 carries (4.2 avg.) and scored six touchdowns; he also led Cleveland with 63 pass receptions. Despite being stymied by the Browns, Walter Payton led the NFC in rushing for a fifth straight year with 1460 yards on 317 attempts (4.6 avg.) and six TDs, although the mobile Vince Evans led the club with 8 rushing touchdowns. Like Pruitt, Payton also led his team in pass receiving with 46 catches for 367 yards.

1981: Raiders Intercept Sipe Pass in End Zone to Win AFC Divisional Playoff

The field was icy and the wind chill factor was minus 38 degrees below zero in Cleveland on January 4, 1981 as the Browns hosted the Oakland Raiders in an AFC Divisional playoff game at Municipal Stadium. Snow rimmed the field and gusty winds added to the difficulties encountered, wreaking havoc on the passing and kicking games as well as the ground game with the poor footing.

The Browns, under Head Coach Sam Rutigliano, had won the AFC Central with an 11-5 record (the Houston Oilers had the same record but ended up a wild card team due to Cleveland’s better conference record). Along the way, they became known as the “Kardiac Kids” for having won six games during the 1980 season in the last minute; 24 of their 32 games over a two year span had been decided in the final two minutes of play. QB Brian Sipe was the NFL’s top-rated passer (91.4) and achieved career highs in completions (337), yards (4132), touchdowns (30), and completion percentage (60.8). RB Mike Pruitt led the team in both rushing (1034 yards) and pass receptions (63) while the starting receivers (wide receivers Dave Logan and Reggie Rucker and tight end Ozzie Newsome) combined for 154 catches and 2184 yards.

The Oakland Raiders had finished second in the AFC West at 11-5 (San Diego won the division on net points) under Head Coach Tom Flores. They had started slowly and were 2-3 after a Week 5 game in which newly acquired QB Dan Pastorini went down for the season with a leg injury. QB Jim Plunkett had been waived by the 49ers before the 1978 season and been an afterthought on Oakland’s bench for two years, but now his fading career was rejuvenated. He led the Raiders to six straight victories and a 9-2 record for the rest of the ’80 regular season. They soundly defeated the Oilers in the Wild Card playoff the week before, 27-7.

Neither offense was able to move in the first quarter, trading punts and maneuvering for field position. The Browns got the first major break of the day midway through the second quarter when CB Ron Bolton intercepted a Plunkett pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown. Don Cockroft’s extra point attempt was blocked by Oakland LB Ted Hendricks. The Raiders responded on their next possession by driving 64 yards and scoring on a one-yard TD by FB Mark van Eeghen; they were successful in converting the PAT and went in at halftime with a 7-6 lead.

Cleveland converted two 30-yard field goals by Cockroft in the third quarter to stake themselves to a 12-7 margin going into the fourth quarter. Oakland launched a 12-play drive of 80 yards that resulted in another van Eeghen touchdown from a yard out to re-take the lead in the fourth quarter.

It appeared that the Raiders had the game sewn up shortly after the score when they recovered a Sipe fumble at the Cleveland 25 yard line. However, with fourth-and-inches at the 15 they chose to pass up a field goal attempt; van Eeghen was stopped short, and the Browns had the ball back with 2:22 left on the clock.

The Browns fans came alive as the “Kardiac Kids” began to drive down the field. Sipe hit Newsome for a 29-yard gain. The Raiders were flagged for pass interference, and then Mike Pruitt ran for 14 yards. With less than a minute now remaining in the game, Cleveland had a second down at the Oakland 13 yard line.

The choice for the Browns was, play it safe and set up for a potential game-winning field goal, or go for the touchdown. While the steady veteran Cockroft had kicked two field goals, he had also missed two, as well as having had his only extra point attempt blocked. Coach Rutigliano elected to try for a pass into the end zone and instructed Sipe to throw it away if no one was open.

As the play developed, Sipe’s primary receiver was Logan, but for a moment he saw Newsome appear to break free across the middle of the end zone. The pass was held up by the wind, long enough for strong safety Mike Davis to recover and intercept it in front of the tight end (pictured above). With 41 seconds left, the Browns had run out of come-from-behind dramatics, and Oakland was the winner by a 14-12 score.

“I should have thrown it into Lake Erie,” said a disappointed Sipe afterward.

Neither offense excelled statistically under the harsh weather conditions. The Raiders averaged just two yards a carry running the ball (38 attempts for 76 yards) and Jim Plunkett completed only 14 of 30 passes for 149 yards with two interceptions. Mark van Eeghen was the leader of the stunted running game, with 20 carries for 45 yards and the two scores. HB Kenny King had the most receptions (4, for 14 yards) while TE Raymond Chester accumulated the most receiving yards with 64 on three catches.

The Browns were no better off, as they ran for 85 yards on 27 carries with Mike Pruitt gaining 48 yards on 13 attempts. Brian Sipe completed 13 of 40 throws for 183 yards and three interceptions. Ozzie Newsome snagged a team-leading four passes, for 51 yards, while HB Greg Pruitt gained the most yards through the air (54 on three receptions).

Oakland went on to become the first wild card team to win a Super Bowl, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10. Cleveland declined to 5-11 in ’81, made it into the expanded postseason tournament following the strike-shortened 1982 season with a 4-5 record, and didn’t return to the playoffs again until 1985. Sam Rutigliano and Brian Sipe were both gone by that point (the coach was fired during the ’84 season, and the quarterback jumped to the USFL) as was the legacy of the “Kardiac Kids” of 1980.