1987 Cleveland Browns season

1987 Cleveland Browns season
Head coach	Marty Schottenheimer
Home field	Cleveland Stadium
Local radio	WWWE
Results
Record	10–5
Division Place	1st AFC Central
Playoff finish	Lost AFC Conference Championship
Uniform
Timeline
Previous season      Next season 1986      1988

The 1987 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 38th season in the National Football League.

Led by another 3,000-yard season by Bernie Kosar, the Browns captured their third straight AFC Central crown. In the divisional playoffs, against the Indianapolis Colts at Municipal Stadium, the Browns have no problem advancing to their 2nd straight AFC Championship Game as they rout the Colts 38–21. For the 2nd year in a row the Browns are matched up against the Denver Broncos for a trip to Super Bowl XXII. The Browns would fall behind early at Mile High Stadium, as the Broncos roared out to a big halftime lead. However, the Browns roar back scoring 30 points in the 2nd half, and driving for the game tying TD in the final 2 minutes. However, the Browns dreams would come up just a few yards short as RB Earnest Byner fumbles at the goal line (the play would simply be call The Fumble) Jeremiah Castille recovered, Denver ran down the clock taking an intentional safety with 8 seconds left as the Browns fall 38–33. Denver would return to the Super Bowl for a second straight year at the expense of the Browns.

Personnel

Staff

1987 Cleveland Browns staff
	Front Office President/Owner – Art Modell Executive Vice President of Football Operations – Ernie Accorsi Director of Player Personnel – Chip Falivene Head Coaches Head Coach – Marty Schottenheimer Offensive Coaches Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Lindy Infante Running Backs – Joe Pendry Receivers – Richard Mann Tight Ends – Charlie Davis Offensive Line – Howard Mudd			Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator – Dave Adolph Defensive Line – Tom Pratt Secondary – Bill Cowher Special Assistant/Defense – Darvin Wallis Special Teams Coaches Special Teams – Kurt Schottenheimer Strength and Conditioning Strength and Conditioning – Dave Redding

Schedule

Regular season

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 13, 1987	at New Orleans Saints	L 28–21	59,900
2	September 20, 1987	Pittsburgh Steelers	W 34–10	79,543
–	September 28, 1987	Denver Broncos	canceled
3	October 4, 1987	at New England Patriots	W 20–10	14,830
4	October 11, 1987	Houston Oilers	L 15–10	38,927
5	October 18, 1987	at Cincinnati Bengals	W 34–0	40,179
6	October 26, 1987	Los Angeles Rams	W 30–17	76,933
7	November 1, 1987	at San Diego Chargers	L 27–24	55,381
8	November 8, 1987	Atlanta Falcons	W 38–3	71,135
9	November 15, 1987	Buffalo Bills	W 27–21	78,409
10	November 22, 1987	at Houston Oilers	W 40–7	51,161
11	November 29, 1987	at San Francisco 49ers	L 38–24	60,248
12	December 6, 1987	Indianapolis Colts	L 9–7	70,661
13	December 13, 1987	Cincinnati Bengals	W 38–24	77,331
14	December 20, 1987	at Los Angeles Raiders	W 24–17	40,275
15	December 26, 1987	at Pittsburgh Steelers	W 19–13	56,394

Playoffs

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
Divisional	January 9, 1988	Indianapolis Colts	W 38–21	78,586
Conference Championship	January 17, 1988	at Denver Broncos	L 38–33	75,993

Standings

AFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
Cleveland Browns	10	5	0	.667	390	239
Houston Oilers	9	6	0	.600	345	349
Pittsburgh Steelers	8	7	0	.533	285	299
Cincinnati Bengals	4	11	0	.267	285	370

AFC Championship Game

• Denver Broncos 38, Cleveland Browns 33

	1	2	3	4	Total
Browns	0	3	21	9	33
Broncos	14	7	10	7	38

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

• Game attendance: 75,993