Whenever the Browns prepare to play the Jets, my thoughts drift back to my first time at the Stadium, January 3, 1987, which just so happened to be the greatest Browns game ever. Second-year QB Bernie Kosar came of age by throwing for 489 yards, and the Browns rallied from 10 points down late in the fourth quarter to win in the second overtime period. When Mark Moseley’s straight-on field goal headed in the direction of my seat in the end zone, it was the end of a very memorable, very cold day. Optimism surged: this would be the year for the Browns to break through into the Super Bowl. Bob Dolgan predicted as much in his Plain Dealer column the next day, “Who’s going to stop the amazing Browns?”
Alas, we know what happened the next weekend. Another overtime game at the Stadium, another amazing comeback, another quarterback’s legend made, another 23-20 win. The Broncos went to the Super Bowl, defeating the Browns in the AFC Championship Game for the first of three times over the next four years. But we can still recall the euphoria and at least watch the video of the amazing Browns.