The Loss That Stands Alone: Remembering Browns-Bears 2001

Posted By: County Sports Network December 12, 2025

There have been a number of a near-misses — games in which victory appeared to have been secured, only to have it slip away.

That’s what happens in the history of any franchise, including one such as the Browns, who will next year celebrate their 80th birthday.

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With that having been said, though, nothing comes close — not even remotely so, really — to what took place just over 24 years ago, Nov. 4, 2001, against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. That’s who and where the Browns play on Sunday.

🏈 For the Ultimate Browns Fan:

The Browns led by two touchdowns — 14 points, for goodness sakes, 21-7! — with just 30 seconds left. They were ready to beat — and decisively so, too — one of the best, and most surprising, teams in the league, as the Bears entered the game at 5-1 and riding a five-game winning streak after have had losing records in five consecutive seasons.

The Browns were also on the big upswing under first-year head coach Butch Davis. After having gone just 5-27 in their previous two seasons as they began the expansion era, they were 4-2.

The Browns’ three TDs — in the first three quarters — came on a 25-yard fumble return by defensive end Courtney Brown and two Tim Couch passes, a three-yarder to fullback Mike Sellers and a 55-yarder to his favorite target, wide receiver Kevin Johnson.

But the Bears scored two touchdowns on Shane Matthew passes in the final 28 seconds, a nine-yarder to Marty Booker and then, following their recovery of an onside kick, a 34-yarder to James Allen on a Hail Mary as time expired to tie the score at 21-21 and force overtime.

The Browns were stunned, not by as much as they were shortly thereafter when, after getting the ball to start OT, Couch’s pass on their second play was batted into air and intercepted by safety Mike Brown and returned 16 yards for the winning touchdown.

Chicago 27, Cleveland 21.

The Browns couldn’t believe it. It was a disaster of major proportions. The Bears couldn’t believe it, either. It was a miracle.

Try to top that in terms of letting victory slip through your hands. But you won’t be able to. When it comes to tough losses in Browns history, this one stands alone.

The Browns lost in overtime the next week as well, 15–12 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, to put their record at 4-4. They recovered and won their next two to go to 6-4, and if the season had ended right then, they would’ve been in the AFC playoffs. But they stumbled down the stretch, losing four in a row and five of their last six to finish 7–9. It was a tremendous improvement over those first two seasons, but it was still not a berth into the postseason. That would come the next season.

The Bears, feeling unbeatable after coming back against the Browns to win, continued their hot play, finishing 13–3 and making the playoffs.

The Bears are playing well again this season and are favored to beat the struggling Browns, just as they were 24 years ago. But if the Browns can get ahead late, perhaps they can hold on and win, something they sure couldn’t do in 2001 in a game you had to see to believe, and even then, it seemed unbelievable.

📚 For the Football Strategist:

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