The greatest comeback in Browns history?

There are enough of them that it would make for an interesting and lively discussion.

 

But one of the games that would have to be in the discussion occurred 28 years ago, on Dec. 18, 1988, before 74,620 snow-covered fans at Cleveland Stadium.

 

Down and out to the Houston Oilers by 16 points in the third quarter of the regular-season finale and with their postseason hopes seemingly all but gone, the Browns came back from the dead for a 28-23 victory on the arm of fourth-string quarterback Don Strock to earn a wild-card berth.

 

The Browns, who finished 10-6, had made it to the playoffs for the fourth straight year, but for the first time in that stretch as a wild card. The win set up a rematch with the Oilers six days later at Cleveland in the first round.

 

Because of injuries, the Browns had gonev through their first three quarterbacks that year in Bernie Kosar, Gary Danielson and Mike Pagel. Out of desperation, they signed the 38-year-old Strock off a golf course. He had retired after a long career as a backup with the Miami Dolphins,

 

The Oilers led 23-7 with just under 10 minutes left in the third quarter after taking advantage of Strock’s slow start – three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and a fumble. Cleveland’s TD came from the defense as rookie lineman Michael Dean Perry returned a fumble 10 yards.

 

The Browns might have pulled him if they had had someone else, but they didn’t. He remained in there, and the Browns hoped and prayed he would be able to turn back the clock and get his act together.

 

That’s exactly what happened.