(Note 1 - I'm not including the move of the Browns to Baltimore as one of those; that, of course, was devastating; however, that was like watching a slow motion train wreck. You could see it coming, you tried to stop it, but it happened anyway. I still hate that bastard Art Modell....)
(Note 2 - I truly don't believe that the 2016 World Series will make the list of losses I won't be able to talk about in 10 years. The run this year just seemed like a great party when someone turned the lights on and told people to go home too early. We had no starting pitching, and it was apparent our offense was on empty. Yes, we were up 3-1, but still....with that rotation we had for games 5, 6 and 7, I wasn't completely comfortable. Now, if we were in the Cubs situation and up 6-3 in the 8th with Miller pitching, and ended up losing....that would be a different story....)
The first raw nerve we will talk about is the 1987 AFC Championship game, in Denver. This, of course, was a rematch of the 86 Champ game in Cleveland, ended by the Drive and Denver's missed field goal in overtime. As I talked about earlier, that game didn't affect me much, since I knew the game was going to overtime before I watched it on tape. However, for the rematch, I was watching live at home.
It was a late start - 4 pm Eastern, I think. We came out flat and the Broncos were clearly ready to play. We had no defense in the first half and Kosar/Slaughter/Byner couldn't get going. We were down 21-3 at the half. But strangely, I clearly remember not being despondent. I took our dog for a walk at halftime and saw a strategy for us to win.
- We get the ball to start the half....we need a TD.
- We need just a few stops on D - our offense was moving but stalling around the 30 and 40. We just need to finish drives.
- Two stops, and two Cleveland completed drives - we are right back in this...
With that optimism, I returned to watch the 2nd half. The Browns got the 2nd half kickoff and scored.... 21-10. The Broncos then had a bomb to Nattiel to make it 28-10.
From then on, it was all Browns. Kosar was 16-22 for 246 ...in the second half alone! Think about that...this was 1988. 300 yard passing games were rare back then - and he threw for 246 in a half. We were unstoppable. We were moving the ball at will.
With 10:48 left in the 4th quarter, the comeback was complete; we tied it up at 31.
Four drives - 21 total plays - four touchdowns.
There's no way they can stop us. The question was - can we stop them?
Unfortunately, not on the next drive. Denver moved down the field and scored with 4:10 left. They were up 38-31. But still - 4 minutes is plenty of time for Kosar....
...and it was. With 1:05 left, we moved to the 8 yard line. We had 2nd and 5 at the 8. Reeves was quoted as saying he was already thinking about the coin toss to start overtime....
Marty called a draw to Byner...the rest is history. I don't have to recount what happened next. Apparently, Webster was supposed to block the safety, but he saw the hole that Byner was going to run through and he let up a moment to watch the touchdown - the safety came in and hit Byner on the blind side (Byner didn't see him) and that caused the fumble...
I was devastated.
Furiously, I was thinking of possible ways we can win... "we still have 2 timeouts...they will have to punt...maybe a Hail Mary????"
Denver did have a 4th down with about :10 left at their own 5; they called for an intentional safety to make the score 38-33; they kicked off with about :05 left but our laterals were useless.
I still can't believe they lost (or, at least, lost in regulation).
Layup (who technically has no connections to Cleveland) was becoming a Denver fan at the time (for no apparent reason), so that made it extra painful.
On that note, on to the games:
Buf 20, Mia 17. I can't figure this game out. I don't trust either of these teams - I've seen Miami blow these games on the road numerous times before.
Atl 26, Car 20. Car shot its wad last Monday night, and Atlanta needs these games to keep hope alive for a bye. I think the Falcons play hard.
Was 27, Chi 20. Chicago is just good enough to stay in this game, and I think the Skins are good enough to know they can't coast through games like last week. Desperation wins.
GB 20, Min 19. The Vikes have the Packers' number. Enough said.
Ten 24, Jax 17. Still don't trust the Titans to win the games they should down the stretch. Will Jax respond to a new coach?
NE 31, NYJ 10. Betting on the "if first division meeting is close, second is a blowout" axiom. Seen it all the time with Browns-Steelers.
Oak 28, Ind 17. Can't explain last week's Colts game. I think Oak scores at will against that Ind D, that is improving.
TB 27, NO 24. Surprised the Saints are favored here. They still have no / limited defense.
LA 23, SF 10. The Rams have more talent than the Niners, Can't see them losing this one.
Sea 23, Az 20. Two teams that have similar talent. I have to believe the Cardinals will get up for this one.
Hou 26, Cin 17. The Bengals will pack it in after the crushing loss last week to the Steelers.
Pit 28, Bal 17. Not a fan of the Ravens offense. Only way they can score is to capitalize on others' mistakes; not going to happen in Pittsburgh.
KC 24, Den 10. Someone explain to me how Denver will score in this game.
Dal 28, Det 20. It will be interesting to watch Dallas's O - that is coming a bit to earth - against the improving Lions D.
Best bets: 13 of them. Last week: 10-5; overall: 96-89-7
Atl -3
Was -3
Min +7
NE -17 (gulp)
Oak -3.5
Ind/Oak under 53.5
TB +3.5
LA -5
SF/LA under 39.5
Az +7.5
Hou -1
Pit -5.5
KC -3
My supercontest picks: Last week: 4-1; overall: 39-34-2
KC -3.5
Hou -1
Oak -3.5
Az +7.5
LA -3.5
Our combined supercontest picks: last week: 1-3-1; overall: 35-34-6
Oak -3.5
Bal +5.5
KC -3.5
Hou -1
Car +3
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