There have been any number of NFL games over the years in which time has simply run out on the losing team.
 
But what happened 15 years ago today, on Sept. 17, 2000, at what was then known as Cleveland Browns Stadium. might be unique.
 
Time ran out on the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it shouldn’t have. What resulted was a 23-20 victory for the Browns, who beat their arch rivals for the second consecutive time dating back to the previous year and improved their record on the young season to a hopeful 2-1.
 
The game started as if the Browns were going to win in a rout. They raced to a 14-0 first-quarter lead on two Tim Couch touchdown passes, a two-yarder to rookie tight end Aaron Shea and a 21-yarder to fullback Marc Edwards. The second-year quarterback had a great day, completing 23 of 31 passes for 316 yards and the two scores with no interceptions.
 
The Browns still led 14-10 at halftime but could get only a 23-yard field goal by Phil Dawson in the third quarter and trailed 20-17.
 
Dawson’s two fourth-quarter field goals of 28 and 19 yards put the Browns back on top 23-20 with 2:45 left and set up a wild – and confusing – finish.
 
Pittsburgh marched to the Cleveland 6 with just 14 seconds remaining. Head coach Bill Cowher surmised – correctly so — that he had plenty of time to run one more play to try to score the game-winning touchdown, and if that failed, then it would call on Kris Brown to kick the chip-shot field goal to tie the score at 20-20 and force overtime.
 
Rookie defensive end Courtney Brown, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, dashed the Steelers’ touchdown hopes when he broke through and sacked quarterback Kent Graham, the ex-Ohio Stater.
 
But instead of the clock being stopped, it continued to run until time expired. Cowher screamed vehemently as he ran onto the field trying to plead his case, but the officials didn’t listen. They trotted off the field as the ex-Browns linebacker and assistant coach stood there fuming.
 
The next day, one of the Browns beat reporters approached head coach Chris Palmer after his Monday press conference.
 
“Chris, I meant to ask you this question yesterday and simply forgot in all the confusion after the game, but shouldn’t the clock have been stopped when Graham got sacked?” he asked.
 
Palmer smiled.
 
“Yes, it should have been stopped,” the coach said. “It always stops when there’s a sack. I was praying that the officials wouldn’t realize their mistake.
 
“That would have been a great question. Next time, make sure you ask it.”  

By Steve King