Cleveland Browns: 5 best MNF games of all-time
By Thomas Moore
The NFL first added the 15-minute overtime period to regular-season games for the 1974 season.
But it wasn’t until 1977 that the Cleveland Browns played an extra session for the first time – and the wait was worth it.
The Browns hosted the New England Patriots for a Monday night game to close out Week 2, Cleveland’s first appearance on Monday Night Football in four years.
Cleveland took an early 7-0 lead on a five-yard pass from Greg Pruitt to Brian Duncan, only to see the Patriots answer with 17 second-quarter points to take a lead into the half. The Browns retook the lead in the third quarter and looked to put the game away in the fourth only to see a Don Cockroft field goal attempt blocked. The Patriots scored on their ensuing possession when Steve Grogan hit Russ Francis with a touchdown pass to retake the lead.
The Browns answered back as Brian Sipe hit Pruitt with a eight-yard touchdown pass and looked to have finally put the Patriots away when Cockroft converted a 37-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining to give Cleveland a 27-24 lead. But the Cleveland defense allowed New England to quickly move down the field and John Smith hit a 34-yard field goal to send the game into overtime.
Cleveland won the coin toss and quickly moved into range for Cockroft to hit a 35-yard field goal to win the game and put the Browns at 2-0 for the first time in six years.
Pruitt was the offensive start of the night, putting up more than 200 yards of total offense (including 151 rushing yards) while adding two touchdowns.
That win against the Patriots remains the only time the Browns have played an overtime game in prime time.
Next: No. 1: Welcome to Monday Night Football