Mention “The Fumble” to former Browns running back Earnest Byner, and he tears up.
It’s been that way since the 1987 AFC Championship Game 29 years ago. And it was that way again last Saturday night in the premiere of “Believeland,” the documentary that is part of ESPN’s “30 for 30” series.
Byner accepts the blame for the Browns losing that game 38-33 to the Denver Broncos and failing to make it to the Super Bowl. He fumbled the ball away to the Broncos at the Denver 3 with just over a minute remaining and the Browns trailing 38-31.
We appreciate Byner stepping up and manning up. A lot of players make excuses when they err, but all Byner has ever done is to make apologies, just as he did again in “Believeland.” That’s why Byner is not only one of the best players the Browns have ever had, but also among the most popular.
But it’s high time that the record be set straight concerning Byner and his culpability in the 1987 Browns not getting to the Super Bowl.
First of all, as has been pointed out countless times over the years, the Browns would never even have been in that game without Byner. He led the Browns in both rushing with 67 yards in 15 carries, and in receiving with seven catches for 120 yards. His back-to-back touchdowns in the third quarter, the first on a 32-yard pass from Bernie Kosar and the second on a four-yard run, enabled the Browns, who trailed 21-3 at halftime, to get to within 28-24.
If Byner had scored a TD on that ill-fated drive late in the game, it would not have put the Browns ahead. It would have merely tied the score at 31-31. The Broncos, who had moved the ball on the Browns most of the afternoon, would have had plenty of time – a little more than a minute – to drive into position for Rich Karlis to kick the game-winning field goal. That’s exactly what I think would have happened. I’ve always thought that way.
So while Byner didn’t win the game for the Browns – he couldn’t have – he didn’t lose it, either. It’s impossible to lose a lead you didn’t have. In fact, Cleveland never led in the game.
What magnifies Byner’s miscue is that the game was the Browns’ last great chance to go to the Super Bowl.
But as great as that opportunity was, it pales in comparison to the chance the Browns had in the previous year’s AFC Championship Game against the Broncos.
The Browns led 20-13 after Kosar’s 48-yard TD pass to wide receiver Brian Brennan with just under five minutes left in regulation. It looked for all the world that they were going to win and finally make it to their first Super Bowl. It looked even better for the Browns after the Broncos mishandled the ensuing kickoff and ended up falling on the ball at the Denver 2.
The Cleveland defense than collapsed – twice. Yes, Broncos quarterback John Elway came of age, but he was helped by the Cleveland defense collapsing – twice. The Browns allowed the Broncos to march 98 yards in 15 plays for the tying TD, then allowed them to drive again for the winning field goal as Denver prevailed 23-20 in overtime at Cleveland.
There were a lot of popular players – and great players – on that Browns defense. For that reason, it’s hard to say this, but the fact of the matter is that they melted in the biggest moment of their careers. They – and they alone – are to blame for the Browns blowing a lead – something, as mentioned, they never had the following year – and losing in a game when they had their greatest chance ever to make it to the Super Bowl.
So if you must blame someone, which I am not inclined to do, then don’t blame Byner in 1987. Blame the defense in 1986.
A defense can never let that happen in that situation.
And to let it happen at home, no less, is even more inexcusable.
Yes, inexcusable.
Earnest Byner didn’t offer excuses. Instead, he blamed himself for something he never did.
No one on that Cleveland defense has ever blamed himself for that loss, even though they were to blame. For that matter, they have never even offered an excuse for what happened.
Now, if you like to lay blame, that’s something about which to really shed some tears.
