by Yesterday we posted some of the game call from the 1993 Monday Football Game of the SF 49ers at the Cleveland Browns. Fans seemed to enjoy it and recall being there themselves.
However, what many don’t seem to realize is that game was the last time Bernie Kosar, started, played the entire game, and won as a member of the Cleveland Browns. That night was truly his last great hurrah with the Brown and Orange.
Confused on how a guy could have a good game against one of the NFL’s top 3 teams, and then lose his job and be cut weeks later? Allow me to explain.
That Monday night was Bill Belichicks second game of this third season with the team, and he was already on the hot seat. Kosar had missed 9 games the year prior with an ankle injury, and Bill thought the team played better without him.
They did, but fans didn’t want to hear it. Kosar was beloved for winning 3 playoff games in the late 1980’s. He never won a road playoff game, but won three at home in 86,87 and 89 over the Jets, Colts and then Bills. Still, the fans loved him for it.
The 49ers came in heavy favorites, but the Browns defense played amazing that night. They sacked Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young once, but hurried him all night and picked him off three times. The three pickoffs created short field scenario’s for the Browns and they cashed in.
The Browns led 20-13 at the half and used a Matt Stover 33 yard field goal late in the third to put it away 23-13. The scoring was done at that point and Kosar would finish with 186 yards, a 30 yard touchdown toss to Michael Jackson, along with getting sacked twice. Not a bad night, but not great by any stretch either.
Still, a 2-0 record and a win over SF gave the Browns fans hope, only for a lot of it to start falling apart the very next week in Los Angeles against the Raiders. Yes, I said Los Angeles, go fact check it if you’re confused, Al Davis was a funny guy.
That was the game it all went downhill for good for the beloved Kosar in Cleveland. He was picked off three times, sacked three times, and left the game with the Browns trailing 16-3 in the fourth quarter. Kosar had only thrown for 71 yards, he was done.
Backup Vinny Testaverde came in and led a 16-point comeback as a 1 yard Metcalf rush in the closing moments capped of the 19-16 victory. Improving the Browns record to 3-0, and spelling doom for the Kosar Era.
The next two weeks it was more of the same as poor play by Kosar dug holes against the Colts on the road, and the Dolphins at home that the Browns simply couldn’t get out of. They lost both games as Kosar combined for 113 yards, only 1 touchdown and was sacked 8 times. Bill had seen enough as Kosar was benched.
At 3-2, Bill knew the season was far from being lost, they had a winning record and still high hopes for the playoffs. His gamble paid off as the Browns would win the next two weeks with wins over divisional foes Cincinnati, 28-17 on the road and 28-23 over Pittsburgh at home.
Vinny Testaverde threw for 5 touchdown passes over that 2-game stretch and appeared to be the right choice. Sadly, he got hurt late in the Pittsburgh game, and would be out for several weeks to follow. Eric Metcalf returned two punts in that game to secure the win for the Browns.
Bill was forced to go back to Bernie one last time as the 5-2 Browns hosted the hated Denver Bronco’s. The game turned into a nightmare as several times Kosar changed the play in the huddle and Bill slowly stewed on the sidelines.
The Browns would go on to get smashed 29-14. The last 7 points coming at the very end as Kosar hit Michael Jackson for a 38-yard touchdown pass in his final play as a Cleveland Brown.
Belichick would cut Kosar the very next day, and the rest was history. Who was right in all of this, click to page two for the clear answer.
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