1982 Cleveland Browns season

The 1982 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 33rd season with the National Football League.

1982 Cleveland Browns season
OwnerArt Modell
Head coachSam Rutigliano
Home fieldCleveland Municipal Stadium
Local radioWHK
Results
Record4–5
Division place8th AFC (would have been 3rd in AFC Central)
Playoff finishLost First round Playoffs (Raiders 10–27)

The Browns were among 8 teams that qualified for the playoffs during this strike shorted season, and became one of only four teams to ever qualify for the playoffs despite having a losing record.[1][2][3] Browns and the Detroit Lions from the same year are the only two teams with a losing record to qualify as wildcards. In 2010, the Seattle Seahawks became the third team with a losing record to qualify for the playoffs and the first team to win a division title with a losing record (however, the Seahawks were the first to accomplish the former in a non-strike shortened season), followed by the Carolina Panthers four years later.[2] In 1982, the Los Angeles Raiders eliminated the Browns from the playoffs for a second consecutive season, 27–10.

The Browns' first round draft pick, rookie sensation linebacker Chip Banks earned 6.5 sacks in just nine games.

NFL Draft

The following were selected in the 1982 NFL Draft.

RoundOverallPlayerPositionSchool/Club Team
13Chip BanksLinebackerUSC
231Keith BaldwinDefensive endTexas A&M
487Dwight WalkerRunning backNicholls State
5115Mike BaabCenterTexas
6162Mike WhitwellDefensive backTexas A&M
8199Mark KafentzisDefensive backHawaii
8204Van HeflinTight endVanderbilt
8211Bill JacksonDefensive backNorth Carolina
9227Milton BakerTight endWest Texas A&M
10255Ricky FloydRunning backSouthern Miss
11282Steve MichutaQuarterbackGrand Valley State
12310Scott NicolasLinebackerMiami

[4]

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 12, 1982 at Seattle Seahawks W 21–7
55,907
2 September 19, 1982 Philadelphia Eagles L 24–21
78,830
3 September 27, 1982 Cincinnati Bengals canceled
4 October 3, 1982 at Washington Redskins canceled
5 October 10, 1982 at Los Angeles Raiders canceled
6 October 17, 1982 Baltimore Colts canceled
October 24, 1982 at Pittsburgh Steelers postponed until January 2, 1983
7 October 31, 1982 Houston Oilers canceled
8 November 7, 1982 New York Giants canceled
9 November 14, 1982 at Miami Dolphins canceled
11 November 21, 1982 New England Patriots W 10–7
51,781
12 November 25, 1982 at Dallas Cowboys L 31–14
46,267
13 December 5, 1982 San Diego Chargers L 30–13
54,064
14 December 12, 1982 at Cincinnati Bengals L 23–10
54,305
15 December 19, 1982 Pittsburgh Steelers W 10–9
67,139
16 December 26, 1982 at Houston Oilers W 20–14
36,559
17 January 2, 1983 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 37–21
52,312

Season Highlights

Week 1 at Seattle

Less than nine months after closing the 1981 season in Seattle, the Browns return to the Kingdome and defeat the Browns 21–7. Mike Pruitt accounts for 136 of Cleveland's 200 rushing yards and scores two touchdowns. The Browns sack Dave Krieg eight teams, three by rookie linebacker Chip Banks.

Week 3 vs. New England

In their first game after the 1982 NFL strike that wiped out almost half the regular season, The Browns fight their way through a heavy Cleveland fog and beat New England, 10–7, on Matt Bahr's 24-yard field goal as time expires. Bahr's winner comes three plays after Browns safety Clinton Burrell recovers a fumble by Mark van Eeghen at the Patriots' 20.

Week 5 vs. San Diego

James Brooks scores two touchdowns and Dan Fouts completes 18-of-23 passes as San Diego pounds the Browns 30–13, at Cleveland. Despite the loss, Brian Sipe completes 14 straight passes and stretches his overall streak to a club-record 33. He also surpasses the 20,000-yard career mark. Tight end Ozzie Newsome catches a career-high 10 passes and extends his streak of consecutive games with at least one reception to a club-record 45.

Week 7 vs. Pittsburgh

Hanford Dixon intercepts three passes and the Browns keep their playoff hopes alive with a 10–9 win over Pittsburgh at rainy, muddy Cleveland Stadium. The poor conditions affect Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw more than Paul McDonald, who starts his first game in place of the slumping Sipe. Nose tackle Bob Golic enjoys a big game with eight tackles and one sack.

Week 8 at Houston

The Browns escape with a 20–14 win, thanks to critical fumbles by running back Earl Campbell. The first comes at the Cleveland 4 and the second sets up the Browns' winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. Dave Logan scores one TD on a 56-yard pass from McDonald and Charles White scores the winner on a 1-yard run.

Playoffs
Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
Wildcard January 8, 1983 at Los Angeles Raiders L 27–10
56,555

Standings
AFC Central
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Cincinnati Bengals(3) 7 2 0 .778 3–1 6–2 232 177 W2
Pittsburgh Steelers(4) 6 3 0 .667 3–1 5–3 204 146 W2
Cleveland Browns(8) 4 5 0 .444 2–2 4–3 140 182 L1
Houston Oilers 1 8 0 .111 0–4 1–5 136 245 L7
American Football Conference
W L T PCT PF PA STK
Los Angeles Raiders(1) 8 1 0 .889 260 200 W5
Miami Dolphins(2) 7 2 0 .778 198 131 W3
Cincinnati Bengals(3) 7 2 0 .778 232 177 W2
Pittsburgh Steelers(4) 6 3 0 .667 204 146 W2
San Diego Chargers(5) 6 3 0 .667 288 221 L1
New York Jets(6) 6 3 0 .667 245 166 L1
New England Patriots(7) 5 4 0 .556 143 157 W1
Cleveland Browns(8) 4 5 0 .444 140 182 L1
Buffalo Bills 4 5 0 .444 150 154 L3
Seattle Seahawks 4 5 0 .444 127 147 W1
Kansas City Chiefs 3 6 0 .333 176 184 W1
Denver Broncos 2 7 0 .222 148 226 L3
Houston Oilers 1 8 0 .111 136 245 L7
Baltimore Colts 0 8 1 .056 113 236 L2

Roster
1982 Cleveland Browns roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive Linemen

Defensive Linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special Teams

Rookies in italics

References
  1. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN 978-0-7611-2480-1, p. 294
  2. Seahawks defeat Rams 16–6 to win NFC West title, January 2, 2011, retrieved January 3, 2011
  3. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24929639/panthers-are-fourth-team-ever-to-make-nfl-playoffs-with-losing-record
  4. "1982 NFL Draft Listing – Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on July 26, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
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