Fantastic Finishes to Start 1979

Brian SipeFOXBORO, MA - NOVEMBER 20: Quarterback Brian Sipe #17 of the Cleveland Browns turns to hand the ball off to running back Mike Pruitt #43 against the New England Patriots during an NFL football game November 20, 1983 at Foxboro Stadium in Foxoboro, Massachusetts. Sipe played for the Browns from 1974-83. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Posted By: County Sports Network April 9, 2026

Just as they did in 1978, the Browns began the 1979 season with a bang.

Only instead of winning their first three games, as they did in 1978, the Browns captured their first four in 1979.

And to add to the excitement, threr of those first four victories were by only three points, getting them started on a streak in which 13 of their 16 games were decided by seven points or less. It’s why they were called the Kardiac Kids.

Let’s take a look at the close finishes in the first half of the 1979 season (eight games):

*Week 1 — Sept. 2 — at New York — Browns 25, New York Jets 22 (OT) — The Browns tied the game 22-22 on Don Cockroft’s 35-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter and then won it on his 27-yard kick in overtime.

*Week 2 — Sept. 9 — at Kansas City — Browns 27, Kansas City Chiefs 24 — The Browns blew a 20-0 third-quarter lead, falling behind 24-20 in the fourth quarter, and then won it on Brian Sipe’s 21-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Reggie Rucker late in the game.

*Week 3 — Sept. 16 — at Cleveland — Browns 13, Baltimore Colts 10 — After falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter, the Browns managed to tie it 10-10 on Sipe’s 34-yard TD pass to wide receiver Dave Logan and then won it in the fourth quarter on Cockroft’s 28-yard field goal.

*Week 7 — Oct. 14 — at Cleveland — Washington Redskins 13, Browns 9 — In a battle of field goals, the Browns led 9-6 entering the fourth quarter and then lost when Washington scored a touchdown on Joe Theismann’s 14-yard pass to running back Clarence Harmon.

*Week 8 — Oct. 21 — at Cleveland — Browns 28, Cincinnati Bengals 27 — Falling behind 20-7 in the third quarter, the Browns managed to go ahead 28-20 on three consecutive Sipe touchdown passes, a two-yarder to wide receiver Ricky Feacher, a 50-yarder to fullback Mike Pruitt and a 27-yarder to tight end Ozzie Newsome. It gave Sipe four scoring passes on the day. The Browns then withstood Pete Johnson’s 32-yard touchdown burst to hold on for the victory.

We’ll look at the second half of the 1979 season next.

Steve King

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