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When it comes to frantic finishes, the Cleveland Browns don't lack for strange memories
By Dennis Manoloff
November 25, 2009, 5:00AM
No list of strange Browns finishes could not include Phil Dawson's game-tying kick against the Ravens in 2007
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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns who were reborn in 1999 have packed many more losses than victories into their 11 seasons. Along the way, they have managed to produce a number of wild and wacky finishes.
Below is the Crazy Eight, a collection of finishes that must make any Browns fan's list of most bizarre, 1999-present. Games are listed in chronological order.
How would you rank them?
Oct. 31, 1999: Browns win at New Orleans, 21-16. Tim Couch completes a 56-yard pass to Kevin Johnson as time expires to give the new Browns their first victory after seven straight losses.
Play began with two seconds left. New Orleans defenders Tyronne Drakeford and Sammy Knight deflected the ball together, and it popped up and to the right, where Johnson was waiting. It had been more than 1,400 days since the old Browns won their last game (December 1995). Saints were coached by Mike Ditka.
Charles Cheaney/Associated PressMike Brown capped a bizarre collapse by the Browns as the Chicago Bears claimed a 27-21 overtime victory in 2001.
Nov. 4, 2001: Browns lose at Chicago, 27-21, in overtime. Bears score two touchdowns in final 30 seconds of regulation and win it on Mike Brown's interception return less than three minutes into OT.
Trailing, 21-7, the Bears took over at their 20 with 1:52 left. They scored a TD with 28 seconds remaining, then recovered an onside kick at the Cleveland 47. On the final play of regulation, quarterback Shane Matthews' pass was batted forward by a leaping Percy Ellsworth. Running back James Allen, trailing the play, caught the ball near the ground in the end zone for a 34-yard completion with no time remaining. The extra point tied it. Chicago won the OT coin toss but was forced to punt. With the Browns deep in their own end, Tim Couch's pass was deflected by Bryan Robinson and into the hands of Brown, who returned it 16 yards.
"This is worse than getting beat 100-0," tight end Aaron Shea said.
Marvin Fong/The Plain DealerA Browns Stadium worker can do little to clear the field after fans got ugly over a call in the fourth quarter of a loss to Jacksonville on Dec. 16, 2001.
Dec. 16, 2001: Browns lose to Jacksonville, 15-10. "Bottlegate."
With the Browns driving toward the Dawg Pound late in the fourth quarter, Couch connected with Quincy Morgan on fourth-and-1. It was good for a first down. After Couch spiked the ball to stop the clock, referee Terry McAulay reviewed Morgan's catch, saying that replay officials had buzzed him before the snap. Upon review, Morgan's catch was reversed and the Jaguars gained possession.
Fans in the Dawg Pound began throwing plastic beer bottles -- as well as batteries and assorted items -- onto the field. Fans in other sections copied. McAulay declared the game over and sent the teams to the locker rooms, but NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue overruled him via phone call. Players returned to the field after a lengthy delay. The Jaguars ran out the last seconds in a near-empty stadium.
Sept. 8, 2002: Browns lose to Kansas City, 40-39. Morten Andersen kicks a 30-yard field goal with no time on the clock, a play made possible by linebacker Dwayne Rudd's multiple brain cramps.
Rudd, thinking he had sacked quarterback Trent Green to effectively end the game, celebrated by taking off his helmet and heaving it. Rudd had his back to the play and didn't see Green flip the ball to 6-6 tackle John Tait, who ran 28 yards to the Cleveland 25. Rudd was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for removing the helmet. (A member of the Browns media-relations department had run on the field to celebrate and thought the flag was on him.)
Officials moved the ball half the distance to the goal line, setting up a chip-shot for one of the game's all-time great kickers. Chiefs had trailed, 30-17, with 11:19 left.
Dec. 8, 2002: Browns win at Jacksonville, 21-20. Couch completes a 50-yard pass to Morgan as time expires. Phil Dawson's extra point secures the avenging of Bottlegate.
Morgan made a one-handed catch over Fernando Bryant. The nearest official appeared to wait for Morgan to signal he had caught the ball before deciding it was a touchdown. The Jaguars insisted the ball hit the ground, but the call was upheld upon further review. Many pro quarterbacks more accomplished than Couch never complete a Hail Mary. Couch had two.
Nov. 18, 2007: Browns win at Baltimore, 33-30, in overtime. Phil Dawson kicks a 33-yard field goal in OT -- but that's not the headline.
In the final seconds of regulation, Dawson attempted a 51-yarder for the tie. The ball bounced off the left upright, onto the curved stanchion ("Dawson Bar") and back out over the crossbar and into the end zone. The kick originally was ruled no good and the Ravens ran off the field celebrating. After a discussion with the other officials on the field, the referee ruled it good.
Dec. 2, 2007: Browns lose at Arizona, 27-21. Derek Anderson's last-second pass to Kellen Winslow Jr. in the end zone is ruled incomplete.
Winslow caught Anderson's long pass but did not get both feet in as Antrel Rolle pushed him out of bounds. A ruling of forceout would have given the Browns the touchdown and a tie, with an extra point for the potential victory. The official said Winslow was not forced out. A replay confirmed that Winslow did not get both feet in. The forceout call was not subject to review. Browns out-gained Cardinals, 379-302.
Nov. 22, 2009: Browns lose at Detroit, 38-37. With the clock showing all zeros at the snap, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford throws a 1-yard TD pass to Brandon Pettigrew. Jason Hanson kicks the extra point.
On the previous play, Browns defensive back Hank Poteat was flagged for pass interference in the end zone during Stafford's desperation heave as time expired. Browns, who sank to 1-9, squandered a 24-3 lead against an equally awful team (2-8).
