Cleveland Browns Most Memorable Prime Time Wins

As a little kid growing up in the 1980’s and 1990’s, I’ll never forget how cool it was watching those helmets collide right at 9pm every Monday night for 17 straights weeks in the fall and winter to symbolize Monday Night Football was on.  It was the only night of the week I was allowed to stay up far past my normal bedtime.  To this day, primetime football remains one of my favorite treasures of being a sports fan.  In recent years, Sunday Night Football has replaced Monday Night Football as the biggest and best game of the week, but both nights remain must watch!

Growing up I was always ready for Frank, Al and Dan to get the party started!  Now, every Sunday night, I cannot wait for Faith Hill to ask me if I have been “waiting all day for Sunday Night”.  I can assure Faith, I have been and will be!

The great thing about being a Browns fans, is despite how bad the team has been since it’s return to the NFL in 1999, because of the incredible fan base and history, we still have had a share of great primetime games.  In fact, what few people realize is that hated owner Art Model was instrumental to bringing Monday Night Football to national television in the first place. It was he that brought it to fruition and it was no shock that the Cleveland Browns hosted the New York Jets in the first ever Monday Night Football game held on September 21, 1970.

The Browns won that night, 31-21 over the visiting New York Jets. It was a very late start to the season, but the Monday Night showcase made the wait worth it.  The Browns jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter thanks in part to an 8-yard touchdown pass from Gary Collins to Bill Nelson.  Later in the quarter it was tailback Bo Scott taking it in from 2 yards out to extend the lead to 14-0.

The Jets held the Browns scoreless in the second quarter as they cut into the lead 14-7 with an Emerson Boozer 5-yard touchdown run.  If the Browns wanted to give the National Televised audience something special to remember, they did just that as they opened the second half by taking the Jets kickoff to the house as Homer Jones caught the kick and went 97 yards to score.

Down 21-7, Broadway Joe Namath attempted to lead a comeback.  He and the Jets cut the lead to 24-21 with possession of the ball and attempting a game winning drive in the closing moments.  It was then the Browns gave the Prime Time Nation and hometown fans something to remember them by as Billy Andrews picked off the Namath pass and took it back for a 25-yard touchdown to seal the game.

The Browns won 31 – 21 with 14 of those points coming on defense and special teams. Their defense picked off Joe Namath three times throughout the night.  He did throw for 298 yards in the Jets loss.  Namath was helped out by Matt Snell who ran for 108 yards on 16 carries but it wasn’t nearly enough.

It wasn’t the only Browns appearance on Monday Night that season as the Oilers would come town to visit the 5-6 Browns week 12.  The Browns overcame a horrendous performance by quarterback Bill Nelsen who threw 2 interceptions and only for 161 yards on 15 of 27 passing.  The Browns were powered that night by Leroy Kelley who toted the ball for 108 yards and a touchdown in the 21-10 win.

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