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Top Five 1980s Cleveland Browns games to watch while social distancing

By Christopher Markoch

30 Sep 1990: Quarterback Bernie Kosar of the Cleveland Browns passes the ball during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The Chiefs won the game, 34-0.
30 Sep 1990: Quarterback Bernie Kosar of the Cleveland Browns passes the ball during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The Chiefs won the game, 34-0. /
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CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Terry Bradshaw #12 of the Pittsburgh Steelers gets drilled while throwing a pass against the Cleveland Browns during a game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on December 19, 1982 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Steelers 10-9/ (Photo by Dennis Collins/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Terry Bradshaw #12 of the Pittsburgh Steelers gets drilled while throwing a pass against the Cleveland Browns during a game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on December 19, 1982 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Steelers 10-9/ (Photo by Dennis Collins/Getty Images) /

December 19, 1982 – Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns

Cleveland 10 – Pittsburgh 9

The 1982 season was highlighted by a work stoppage. After all, teams had played two games, the players went on strike. The season didn’t resume until November 21. Due to the strike, the NFL made a one-time change to its playoff format. Instead of having only the three division champions and two wild card teams make the playoffs, the league opted for a 16-team NCAA Tournament-style format. The eight teams with the best record from each conference would make the “tournament”.

The Cleveland Browns were 1-1 when the games resumed. They beat the New England Patriots to go to 2-1, but lost their next three games. At 2-4, the Browns made what, at the time, was a stunning change. The team benched quarterback Brian Sipe in favor of Paul McDonald. The Browns had drafted McDonald in 1980, but in two seasons he had seen limited action and had never started a game.

But in this must-win game versus the Steelers, McDonald was not spectacular throwing for 227 yards with 19 completions in 40 attempts. However, on a day when the Browns only managed 38 yards rushing, McDonald’s ability to bring the deep ball back to the offense was enough to push the Browns to a 10-9 win.

The rest of the story goes like this. The Browns would beat the Oilers the following week to even their record at 4-4. However, they would lose the regular-season finale in Pittsburgh and finish the season 4-5.

That was good enough for the number eight seed in the AFC making the Browns the first team with a losing record to make the playoffs. The team’s strange season ended with a decisive loss to the Los Angeles Raiders to open the playoffs.

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