Cleveland Browns: 5 best MNF games of all-time
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns faced what appeared to be insurmountable odds when they hosted the San Francisco 49ers for a Week 2 matchup on Monday Night Football.
The 49ers game into the game with a nine-game regular-season winning streak, and had won 11 of their past 12 games on Monday night.
The Browns, on the other hand, were coming off a 7-9 season and were listed as 6.5-point underdogs to San Francisco.
But before 78,218 fans at Municipal Stadium, the Browns overwhelmed San Francisco, intercepting Steve Young three times and forcing him to fumble, while holding the 49ers scoreless in the second half of a 23-13 win. The 13 points was the lowest that San Francisco had scored in two years.
“It’s a damn good win,” Browns head coach Bill Belichick said. “There’s still a long time to go, (but) it’s a good start.”
While the defense put up a solid performance, it was the offense that provided the signature highlight as quarterback Bernie Kosar hit wide receiver Michael Jackson with a 30-yard touchdown pass just before the half.
Kosar would finish the night by completing 17-of-32 passes for 186 yards, with Jackson catching five passes for 105 yards.
The win was part of a 3-0 start for the Browns in a season that would peak at 5-2 after a home win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but would ultimately see the Browns finish at 7-9 – the third consecutive losing season under Belichick.
Next: No. 3: The domination of Dallas