1989
Record: 9-6-1 (1-1 playoffs)
Head Coach: Bud Carson
Postseason: Yes (Division Title)
Division Finish: First
Opening Day QB Starter: Kosar
Season-Finale QB Starter: Kosar (Postseason: Kosar)
Other QBs who started: None
Other QBs who played: Pagel
Leading Passer: Kosar
Noted: Kosar rebounded from the injury to start all 16 games. It would only be one of three times during this span of 21 seasons that a Browns QB will start all 16 games. Kosar struggled, throwing 14 interceptions compared to 18 touchdowns, with Marc Trestman fully running the offense. He also started the AFC Championship Game against Denver with a broken hand, using a special contraption to help alleviate the pain. Kosar threw two TD passes, but only completed 19 of 44 passes for 210 yards and three interceptions. This would be the third time in the last four years the Browns reached the AFC title game (and marked the fifth-straight playoff season). However, the Browns have yet to reach the AFC title game since then. This has also been the last time the Browns have won a division title.
1990
Record: 3-13
Head Coach: Carson/Jim Shofner (interim 7 games)
Postseason: No
Division Finish: Fourth
Opening Day QB Starter: Kosar
Season-Finale QB Starter: Pagel
Other QBs who started: None
Other QBs who played: Jeff Francis
Leading Passer: Kosar
Noted: Kosar struggled in 1990, starting all 13 games he played, but only throwing 10 TDs compared to 15 Ints. Kosar was pulled during a loss to San Francisco and Pagel rallied the team. However, the rally came up short and they lost, 20-17. The following week, Carson started Pagel over Kosar without telling the media or team owner Art Modell, and Carson was fired following a 42-0 blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills (and a 2-7 start). Kosar regained the starting job after the bye week, even leading the team to a 13-10 win over Atlanta in Week 14. However, he was injured following the game and Pagel started the final two games — both losses. Shofner, who was the offensive coordinator, was not retained.
1991
Record: 6-10
Head Coach: Bill Belichick
Postseason: No
Division Finish: Third
Opening Day QB Starter: Kosar
Season-Finale QB Starter: Kosar
Other QBs who started: None
Other QBs who played: Todd Philcox
Leading Passer: Kosar
Noted: For the final time in his career, Kosar started all 16 games during the regular season. The Browns showed improvement under Belichick, winning three more games and being competitive in most of their losses. Kosar had his best season since 1987, throwing for 3,487 yards with 18 TDs and only 9 Ints. The Browns were 6-7 heading into December with an outside chance of competing for playoff berth. However, the team lost their last three games in a row – 17-7 to Denver, 17-14 to Houston (in which kicker Matt Stover missed a chip-shot field goal on the final play), and 17-10 at Pittsburgh.
1992
Record: 7-9
Head Coach: Belichick
Postseason: No
Division Finish: Third
Opening Day QB Starter: Kosar
Season-Finale QB Starter: Kosar
Other QBs who started: Philcox, Mike Tomczak
Other QBs who played: Brad Goebel
Leading Passer: Tomczak
Noted: Kosar only started seven games, breaking his ankle during a Week 2 Monday Night loss to Miami. Philcox started the following game, a 28-16 win over Oakland, but he was injured following the contest. Tomczak, an Ohio State grad who was cut by the Chicago Bears prior to the season opener, was thrust into action in Week 3. Tomczak started eight games and played in 12, guiding the Browns to a 4-4 record in games he started. Kosar returned in Week 13 to lead the Browns to a 27-14 Monday Night win over Chicago and earned another win the following week against Cincinnati, 37-21, to put the Browns at 7-6. However, for the second-straight year, the Browns dropped their final three games in a row. Kosar was relieved by Tomczak during the 23-13 season finale loss at Pittsburgh and threw a TD pass.
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