Editor’s note: The following, about the regular-season opener against the New England Patriots, is the first in a series of stories on the games that made up the Browns’ 1980 Kardiac Kids season. This is the 35th anniversary of that memorable year.

Overall, the 1980 season was wildly exciting for the Browns.

But the regular-season opener on Sept. 7?

Uh, not so much.

Showing none of the flash they had displayed in 1979 in earning the moniker of Kardiac Kids, the Browns were completely dominated on both sides of the ball for 3½ quarters en route to losing 34-3 to the host New England Patriots at Schaefer Stadium. It was their first opening day loss in five years.

The Patriots led 13-3 at halftime, 27-3 after three quarters and 34-3 midway through the fourth quarter.
The Browns, whose only scoring all day had been Don Cockroft’s 25-yard field goal in the second quarter, finally got untracked at the end of the game with two Brian Sipe touchdown passes to wide receivers Dave Logan (10 yards) and Keith Wright (11). But that was way too little, way too late.

The problem was the running game. The Pats rushed for 186 yards, or 134 more than the Browns, who had but 52.

The Cleveland defense also got torched by giving up three touchdown passes to quarterback Steve Grogan.

But the Browns offense didn’t help things, either, losing two fumbles.

All in all, it was just a tremendously disappointing performance by the Browns.

Things had to get better, didn’t they?

 NEXT: Humbled at home.