1988 Cleveland Browns season
The 1988 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 39th season with the National Football League.
Despite taking the Browns to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, head coach Marty Schottenheimer was fired at the end of the 1988 season. He left the Browns having compiled a record of 44-27 (a 62% winning percentage) with the team.
Offseason
NFL Draft
Personnel
Staff
| 1988 Cleveland Browns staff |
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Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
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Defensive Coaches
- Defensive Coordinator – Dave Adolph
- Defensive Line – Tom Pratt
- Secondary – Bill Cowher
- Special Assistant – Darvin Wallis
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
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[1]
Regular season
Schedule
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Attendance |
| 1 |
September 4, 1988 |
at Kansas City Chiefs |
W 6–3 |
55,654
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| 2 |
September 11, 1988 |
New York Jets |
L 23–3 |
74,434
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| 3 |
September 19, 1988 |
Indianapolis Colts |
W 23–17 |
75,148
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| 4 |
September 25, 1988 |
at Cincinnati Bengals |
L 24–17 |
54,943
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| 5 |
October 2, 1988 |
at Pittsburgh Steelers |
W 23–9 |
56,410
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| 6 |
October 9, 1988 |
Seattle Seahawks |
L 16–10 |
78,605
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| 7 |
October 16, 1988 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
W 19–3 |
78,787
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| 8 |
October 23, 1988 |
at Phoenix Cardinals |
W 29–21 |
61,261
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| 9 |
October 30, 1988 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
W 23–16 |
79,147
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| 10 |
November 7, 1988 |
at Houston Oilers |
L 24–17 |
51,467
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| 11 |
November 13, 1988 |
at Denver Broncos |
L 30–7 |
75,806
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| 12 |
November 20, 1988 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
W 27–7 |
77,131
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| 13 |
November 27, 1988 |
at Washington Redskins |
W 17–13 |
51,604
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| 14 |
December 4, 1988 |
Dallas Cowboys |
W 24–21 |
77,683
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| 15 |
December 12, 1988 |
at Miami Dolphins |
L 38–31 |
61,884
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| 16 |
December 18, 1988 |
Houston Oilers |
W 28–23 |
74,610
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Playoffs
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
| Wild Card |
December 24, 1988 |
Houston Oilers |
L 24–23 |
Standings
Roster
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| Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
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Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
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Reserve Lists
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Playoffs
AFC Wild Card Game
Oilers cornerback Richard Johnson's interception set up kicker Tony Zendejas' game-clinching 49-field field goal with 1:54 left in the game. After the Browns scored first on a 33-yard field goal by Matt Bahr, Houston marched 91 yards to score on quarterback Warren Moon's 14-yard touchdown pass to running back Allen Pinkett. Then on Cleveland's next drive, Oilers defensive lineman Richard Byrd recovered quarterback Don Strock's fumble to set up Pinkett's 16-yard touchdown run. Bahr later made two field goals to cut Houston's lead, 14–9, before halftime. In the third quarter, backup quarterback Mike Pagel, who replaced an injured Strock, threw a 14-yard touchdown completion to wide receiver Webster Slaughter to put the Browns ahead, 16–14. However, the Oilers marched on a 76-yard drive that was capped with running back Lorenzo White's 1-yard rushing touchdown. After Johnson's interception and Zendejas' subsequent game-clinching 49-yard field goal, Slaughter caught a 2-yard touchdown reception to close out the scoring.
Awards and records
Milestones
References
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| The Franchise |
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| Stadiums |
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| Culture |
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| Lore |
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| Head Coaches |
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| Division Championships (13) |
1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989
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| Championship Appearances (15) |
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| League Championships (8) |
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| Retired Numbers |
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| Seasons |
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| Current League Affiliations |
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| Media |
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