Notable Browns/Chiefs games that come to mind
Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 2:21 pm
Today's divisional round match between these two marks the first time ever that both meet in the post-season! As a matter of fact, before this very season, they only ever were in the playoffs simultaneously in '69, '71, '86 and '94 - the first of those years, of course, they both being in the 'final four'.
As for notable contests between the two, how about starting off with two TIES?
I'll start with the first that comes to my mind...their '89 affair. Schottenheimer returning to Cleveland in Week #11 with his 4-6 Chiefs; Browns at 7-3! A low-scoring 10-10 final with Cleveland fumbling away the ball four times and Nick Lowery very uncharacteristically missing a total of three very-makeable-for-him FGs! Had Chiefs won, and the rest of the season still plays-out as it did, Browns still win their division due to sweeping Houston, but because the Chiefs themselves beat the Oilers as well (34-0 the following week en route to their 4-1 finish), they would have not only made the playoffs, but hosted the WC game (against Houston - Steelers out)!
Interestingly enough, in '73, both finished at 7-5-2 (Denver as well) in that final season before OT was implemented. And, yes, both tied each other, 20-20, in Week #12! With two weeks to go, Browns were now 7-3-2 with KC at 6-4-2. Both teams were still in the hunt to not only make the playoffs, but each still could win their division as well. But thanks to convincing losses the following week to divisional-foes Bengals & Raiders respectively, they were now out thus ending an era of perennial contention for both franchises.
As for notable contests between the two, how about starting off with two TIES?
I'll start with the first that comes to my mind...their '89 affair. Schottenheimer returning to Cleveland in Week #11 with his 4-6 Chiefs; Browns at 7-3! A low-scoring 10-10 final with Cleveland fumbling away the ball four times and Nick Lowery very uncharacteristically missing a total of three very-makeable-for-him FGs! Had Chiefs won, and the rest of the season still plays-out as it did, Browns still win their division due to sweeping Houston, but because the Chiefs themselves beat the Oilers as well (34-0 the following week en route to their 4-1 finish), they would have not only made the playoffs, but hosted the WC game (against Houston - Steelers out)!
Interestingly enough, in '73, both finished at 7-5-2 (Denver as well) in that final season before OT was implemented. And, yes, both tied each other, 20-20, in Week #12! With two weeks to go, Browns were now 7-3-2 with KC at 6-4-2. Both teams were still in the hunt to not only make the playoffs, but each still could win their division as well. But thanks to convincing losses the following week to divisional-foes Bengals & Raiders respectively, they were now out thus ending an era of perennial contention for both franchises.