4. Browns 23, 49ers 13, Sept. 13, 1993 at Cleveland
Things looked promising for the Browns as they posted this Monday night win and became 2-0.
Bernie Kosar completed 17 of 32 passes for 186 yards, no interceptions and a 30-yard touchdown pass to Michael Jackson that helped the Browns to a 20-13 halftime lead.
The next week, though, the Browns fell behind the host Los Angeles Rams 13-0 at halftime, and Kosar was pulled from the game by coach Bill Belichick. Vinny Testaverde took over and the Browns rallied for a 19-16 win.
Kosar started the next two games but the Browns lost both. Belichick made Testaverde the starter, and Cleveland won two straight. Testaverde, however, was sidelined with a right (throwing) shoulder injury, and Kosar got the Game 8 start, a home contest against the Denver Broncos.
The Browns and Kosar had lost AFC championship games to Denver in the 1986, 1987 and 1989 seasons. This time when the Browns lost, 29-14, there was another dramatic effect. Belichick released Kosar the next day, infamously citing the quarterback’s “diminishing of his physical skills.” The Browns were 5-3 at the time and tied for first place in the Central Division with the Steelers. Testaverde missed three more games — all losses — and Cleveland faded to a 7-9 finish.
Matt Stover booted first-half field goals of 47 and 41 yards in the win over San Francisco and defensive lineman James Jones — occasionally used on offense in short-yardage situations — plunged one yard for a score. Stover’s 33-yard field goal provided the only second-half points for either team.
Jackson caught five passes for 105 yards and Eric Metcalf led the Browns’ running game with 71 yards on 12 carries. Cleveland’s defense stifled the potent 49ers offense, intercepting three Steve Young passes.
San Francisco was 1-1 and finished 10-6. The 49ers lost the NFC championship game to the Cowboys, 38-21. Kosar had signed with Dallas after his release from the Browns, and he helped the eventual Super Bowl champion Cowboys in their win over San Francisco, replacing the injured Troy Aikman for part of the second half and completing 5 of 9 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown.
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