2. Browns 27, Broncos 20, Oct. 29, 1972 at Denver
Quarterback Mike Phipps plunged one yard for a touchdown to snap a 20-20 tie with 2:50 left, capping a 74-yard drive. Rookie safety Thom Darden clinched the win with an interception deep in Cleveland territory with 1:02 remaining. The pick was the first of Darden’s NFL career. He is the Browns’ all-time career interceptions leader with 45.
Phipps threw two yards to tight end Milt Morin for a touchdown and a 10-10 halftime tie. The Browns cut a Denver lead to 17-13 in the third quarter on Don Cockroft’s 57-yard field goal, the second-longest in NFL history at the time. Cleveland went ahead, 20-17, in the fourth quarter on Phipps’ 19-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Paul Staroba.
Phipps was 15-of-33 for 178 yards, the two TDs and one interception. Morin caught four passes for 51 yards and Fair Hooker had three receptions for 51 yards. Running backs Bo Scott and Hall of Famer Leroy Kelly rushed for 66 and 60 yards, respectively, each on 14 carries.
The win made the Browns 4-3, and was the second straight in what would grow to a six-game winning streak. Cleveland finished second to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Central Division with a 10-4 record, but earned the AFC’s lone wild card berth. The Browns led the host Miami Dolphins 14-13 in the fourth quarter of their playoff game, but lost, 20-14. Miami went on to complete its famed 17-0 Super Bowl championship season.
The loss put Denver at 2-5 on its way to a 5-9 campaign.
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