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Marty Schottenheimer’s best 3 games as coach of the Cleveland Browns

By Casey Kinnamon

CLEVELAND, OH - CIRCA 1988: Head coach Marty Schottenheimer of the Cleveland Browns looks on from the field after a National Football League game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium circa 1988 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - CIRCA 1988: Head coach Marty Schottenheimer of the Cleveland Browns looks on from the field after a National Football League game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium circa 1988 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns, Marty Schottenheimer
Cleveland Browns, Marty Schottenheimer. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Game No. 2: Browns vs Oilers, December 18th, 1988

The Browns endured a plethora of injuries in 1988. By the time they limped their way to the regular-season finale against the Oilers in 1988, they were on their fourth quarterback of the season, for the second time. However, due to coach Schottenheimer’s ability to keep the team focused, the Browns found themselves in a win and you’re in scenario.

The Browns rolled Don Strock out to play quarterback. At the time, Strock 38, was the oldest quarterback to start a game in the NFL that season. To boot, the game was played on the shores of Lake Erie at Municipal Stadium with a -8 windchill. Strock had played his entire 15-year professional career in Miami up until 1988.

To say that Strock started the game out cold would be a drastic understatement. The grizzled veteran threw three first-quarter interceptions, including one that was taken back to the house. If it was not for a defensive touchdown by Browns rookie Michael Dean Perry, the game might have gotten out of reach in the first half. Thanks to Cleveland’s stingy defense, the team only trailed the Oilers 16-7 heading into the locker room at halftime.

Warren Moon and the Oilers offense came out firing in the second half and extended their lead when Moon hit Haywood Jeffries on a jump ball touchdown at the goal line. The Browns found themselves down 16 points and their season slipping away with every minute that passed.

Then on the cold blustery December afternoon, Strock got hot (pun intended). The veteran threw the Browns back into the game, connecting with Earnest Byner on a 2-yard score to bring the score to 23-14. From that point, Marty Ball took over. The Browns gave up nothing on defense and took everything on offense.

After another Byner 2-yard score, this time on the ground, the Browns were in position to win the game. Strock hit Webster Slaughter for a 22-yard go-ahead touchdown with just over six minutes left to play, and the Browns defense sealed the deal. When the smoke had cleared the Browns scored 21 unanswered points to punch their ticket to the postseason.

Final Score: Browns 28 Oilers 23

In what would be his last season in Cleveland, Schottenheimer had perhaps his best year as the teams’ head coach pulling the Browns across the finish line and into the postseason.

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