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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 George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

Game No. 1: Browns vs Jets, January 3rd, 1987

The Cleveland Browns had all the momentum in the world, winning five straight games heading into the playoffs. Coach Schottenheimer led the Browns to a 12-4 record, the best in the AFC, and the team would hold home-field advantage throughout the playoffs as a result.

Cleveland’s opponent in the divisional round was the New York Jets, a team that started off 10-1 but then lost five straight games to limp into the playoffs. However, the Jets rebounded in their wild-card matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, a team they beat 35-15. Heading into Cleveland, the Jets were playing fast and loose, and that made them dangerous.

New York, playing with house money, came out swinging against the favored Browns. The road team struck first when the Jets ran a flea-flicker that ended with Pat Ryan finding Wesley Walker in the endzone to take a 7-0 lead. The Browns, as they had all season, answered with a touchdown of their own when Kosar found Herman Fontenot down the right sideline for a 37-yard score.

The teams traded field goals in the second quarter and headed into the half tied at 10 apiece. The 3rd quarter wasn’t much different, a defensive struggle ensued with the Jets getting the only points of the quarter with a field goal.

However, after a 25-yard touchdown run by Freeman McNeil, the Browns found themselves down 10 points with just over five minutes left to play. It was now or never, and the Browns chose now. Against all odds, the team rallied to score 10 points in the final three minutes and force overtime.

Once in overtime, the defensive struggle commenced with neither team being able to mount any offense. With just over nine minutes remaining, Kosar hit Reggie Langhorne on a 35-yard pass down the seams to put the ball at the five-yard line. Then it happened, with the game on the line Mark Moseley missed a 23-yard chip shot field goal. His third missed field goal of the afternoon.

Instead of getting down, Schottenheimer immediately rallied the team and sent his defense out on the field. As they had all afternoon, the Browns defense rallied and got the offense the ball back. After the teams traded possessions once more, the Browns found themselves driving the ball at the beginning of the second overtime period. Schottenheimer gave Moseley some words of encouragement and sent his kicker out to end the game. This time, the kick was true, and the Browns ended the contest, 23-20.

dark. Next. Browns tough decisions on their own free agents

Notable performances from the game dubbed ‘The Marathon by the Lake’:

Bernie Kosar threw the ball 64 times for 489 yards (both playoff records at the time).

The Browns defense racked up nine sacks on the Jets quarterbacks (led by ‘Big Daddy’ Carl Hairston with three).

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