1. Browns 37, Steelers 31 (overtime), Nov. 23, 1986 at Cleveland
Bernie Kosar hit Webster Slaughter in stride along the left sideline at the Pittsburgh 14 on the way to a 36-yard touchdown pass for the game-winner nearly seven minutes into overtime.
Second-year pro Kosar completed 28 of 46 passes for 414 yards and rookie wide receiver Slaughter made six catches for 134 yards. Brian Brennan (five catches for 87 yards), Herman Fontenot (five for 46) and Reggie Langhorne (four for 54) were other top Kosar connections. Kevin Mack ran for 106 yards on 24 carries as the Browns offense totaled 536 yards.
Cleveland built a 21-7 halftime lead on three second-quarter touchdowns: Curtis Dickey’s 2-yard run, Mack’s 1-yarder and Kosar’s 20-yard pass to Ozzie Newsome.
Dickey ran four yards for a score and a 28-21 Browns lead in the fourth quarter. Matt Bahr’s 25-yard field goal put Cleveland ahead 31-28 with 1:51 left in the fourth quarter, but Pittsburgh tied the game with seven seconds to go on Gary Anderson’s 40-yard boot.
The teams exchanged punts in overtime before the Kosar-to-Slaughter winner capped a 60-yard drive.
Seven weeks earlier, the Browns had defeated the Steelers 27-24 in Pittsburgh, snapping Cleveland’s 16-game losing streak in the Steel City. The victories over the Steelers helped the Browns finish 12-4 and win the AFC Central Division championship. They then topped the New York Jets 23-20 in the second overtime of a playoff game at Cleveland Stadium. Then, again at home, the Browns lost to the Denver Broncos 23-20 in overtime in the AFC championship game. Denver and quarterback John Elway forced overtime with the famed 98-yard touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter.
This win gave the Browns an 8-4 record. Pittsburgh became 4-8 and finished 6-10.
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