5. Browns 16, Steelers 15, Nov. 14, 1999 at Pittsburgh
It was the first season for the Browns as an expansion team after owner Art Modell moved the original Browns to Baltimore following the 1995 season.
The NFL scheduled the new Browns to open the regular season against the Steelers in a nationally televised Sunday night game at Cleveland. The Steelers romped to a 43-0 win while totaling 464 yards of offense to the Browns’ 40 and 33 first downs to the Browns’ two.
That’s what made this Cleveland win more than unlikely, though it was against one of the weaker Pittsburgh teams.
Phil Dawson’s 39-yard field goal on the final play won the game for the Browns.
Cleveland’s Tim Couch threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Johnson to open the scoring in the first quarter, but Pittsburgh led 12-7 at halftime.
Pittsburgh held a 15-7 lead in the fourth quarter before Browns defensive end John Thierry intercepted a Kordell Stewart pass and returned it eight yards to the Pittsburgh 15, setting up Couch’s 5-yard scoring pass to Marc Edwards with 5:12 left. Trailing 15-13, the Browns went for a two-point conversion on a running play but failed.
The Steelers picked up two first downs before punting, with the Browns taking over the football on their own 20 with 1:51 to go. Cleveland moved into position for Dawson’s game-winning kick with the help of a 23-yard Couch to Darrin Chiaverini pass and a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty on the same play, moving the ball to the Pittsburgh 37 with 1:43 left.
Couch completed 18 of 28 passes for 199 yards. Johnson had five catches for 73 yards.
The win made the Browns 2-8. They finished 2-14. Pittsburgh became 5-4 and faded to 6-10.
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