Cleveland’s 12 Closest Championship Calls Since 1964

1987 Browns

Trailing 21-3 on the road at halftime to John Elway and the Denver Broncos, it would have been easy for the Browns to do little more than go through the motions for the next two quarters. But there was no quit in them and especially not in Earnest Byner, who would finish the day with 67 yards rushing, 120 more receiving, and two touchdowns. Down 38-31 in the fourth quarter, the Browns appeared on the verge of a second overtime game in as many years against the Broncos with a Super Bowl berth at stake. Those hopes were shattered when Byner was stripped of the ball just shy of the goal line with 1:05 remaining by reserve defensive back Jeremiah Castille. Virtually forgotten now is that two years later, the Browns again lost to the Broncos on the same field in the AFC Championship Game.

Next: 1986 Browns