The 1994Cleveland Brownsseason was the team's 45th season with theNational Football Leagueand 49th overall. It was the only season that the Browns qualified for the playoffs under head coachBill Belichick.The Browns finished as the NFL's number one defense in terms of points surrendered per game (12.8 points per game). In the playoffs, Belichick got his first playoff victory as a head coach in the AFC wild card game against theNew England Patriots(who would hire him less than a decade later) by a score of 20–13. The Browns would lose to the Steelers 29–9 in the divisional round.
| 1994Cleveland Brownsseason | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Art Modell |
| Head coach | Bill Belichick |
| Home field | Cleveland Municipal Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 11–5 |
| Division place | 2ndAFC Central |
| Playoff finish | WonWild Card Playoffs (vs.Patriots) 20–13 LostDivisional Playoffs (atSteelers) 9–29 |
| Pro Bowlers | FBLeroy Hoard RBEric Metcalf DERob Burnett DTMichael Dean Perry LBPepper Johnson FSEric Turner |
| All-Pros | OTTony Jones(2nd team) DTMichael Dean Perry(2nd team) FSEric Turner(1st team) PREric Metcalf(1st team) |
| Uniform | |
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The Browns would not return to the playoffs again until the2002 season.This would be the last time the Browns would win a playoff game until the2020 season.
Offseason
edit| Additions | Subtractions |
|---|---|
| QBMark Rypien(Redskins) | LBClay Matthews(Falcons) |
| CBDon Griffin(49ers) | LBMike Johnson(Lions) |
NFL draft
edit| 1994 Cleveland Browns draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | Antonio Langham | Cornerback | Alabama | 1993Jim Thorpe Award |
| 1 | 29 | Derrick Alexander | Wide receiver | Michigan | 1992All-American |
| 3 | 75 | Romeo Bandison | Defensive tackle | Oregon | |
| 5 | 141 | Issac Booth | Cornerback | California | |
| 6 | 171 | Robert Strait | Running back | Baylor | |
| 7 | 203 | Andre Hewitt | Offensive tackle | Clemson | |
| Made roster | |||||
Personnel
editStaff
edit|
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
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Roster
edit
Schedule
edit| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 4 | atCincinnati Bengals | W28–20 | 1–0 | Riverfront Stadium | 52,778 | |
| 2 | September 11 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L10–17 | 1–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 77,774 | |
| 3 | September 18 | Arizona Cardinals | W32–0 | 2–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 62,818 | |
| 4 | September 25 | atIndianapolis Colts | W21–14 | 3–1 | RCA Dome | 55,821 | |
| 5 | October 2 | New York Jets | W27–7 | 4–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 76,188 | |
| 6 | Bye | ||||||
| 7 | October 13 | atHouston Oilers | W11–8 | 5–1 | Houston Astrodome | 50,364 | |
| 8 | October 23 | Cincinnati Bengals | W37–13 | 6–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 77,588 | |
| 9 | October 30 | atDenver Broncos | L14–26 | 6–2 | Mile High Stadium | 73,190 | |
| 10 | November 6 | New England Patriots | W13–6 | 7–2 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 73,878 | |
| 11 | November 13 | atPhiladelphia Eagles | W26–7 | 8–2 | Veterans Stadium | 65,233 | |
| 12 | November 20 | atKansas City Chiefs | L13–20 | 8–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 69,121 | |
| 13 | November 27 | Houston Oilers | W34–10 | 9–3 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 65,088 | |
| 14 | December 4 | New York Giants | L13–16 | 9–4 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 72,068 | |
| 15 | December 10 | atDallas Cowboys | W19–14 | 10–4 | Texas Stadium | 64,826 | |
| 16 | December 18 | atPittsburgh Steelers | L7–17 | 10–5 | Three Rivers Stadium | 60,808 | |
| 17 | December 24 | Seattle Seahawks | W35–9 | 11–5 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 54,180 | |
Note:Intra-division opponents are inboldtext.
Standings
edit| AFC Central | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
| (1)Pittsburgh Steelers | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 316 | 234 | L1 |
| (4)Cleveland Browns | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 340 | 204 | W1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 276 | 406 | W1 |
| Houston Oilers | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 226 | 352 | W1 |
Game summaries
edit- Week One @Cincinnati
BothVinny Testaverdeand falling third-year BengalDavid Klinglerwere picked off twice. Testaverde got the better of the first round of 1994's Battle Of Ohio as he raced the Browns to a 28–13 lead, enough to absorb a Klingler touchdown in the fourth toDarnay Scott.The Browns won 28–20.
- Week Two vs.Pittsburgh
The Steelers ended a four-game road losing streak to the Browns as they erased a 10–0 Browns lead with 17 unanswered points.Vinny Testaverdewas picked off four times in the 17–10 loss.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Browns | 0 | 3 | 15 | 14 | 32 |
atCleveland Municipal Stadium,Cleveland, Ohio
- Date:September 18
- Game time:1:00 p.m.EDT
- Game weather:65 °F (18 °C), relative humidity 62%, round (wind) 11 mph (18 km/h)
- Game attendance:62,818
- TV announcers (Fox):Kenny Albert(play–by–play) andRon Pitts(color commentator)
- [1]
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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The Browns hostedBuddy Ryan,now coach of the Cardinals after his tumultuous stay with theOilers.Ryan had to bear witness asVinny Testaverdetossed two touchdowns and ran in a third whileJay SchroederandJim McMahoncombined for just 26 of 58 passes with three interceptions in a 32–0 Browns shutout win.
- Week Four @Indianapolis
In a 21–14 Browns win, Testaverde threw three more touchdowns as the game lead tied or changed on every score. Testaverde's scores offset scores byMarshall FaulkandJim Harbaugh,both destined to be important rivals of Browns coachBill Belichickin the future.
- Week Five vs.New York Jets
Eight years after their infamous playoff meeting, the Jets and Browns renewed acquaintances and the Browns raced to a 27–0 lead beforeJack Trudeau,subbing for regular starterBoomer Esiason,found the endzone from 24 yards out. Trudeau was picked off twice as well in the 27–7 Browns win. The game was the first meeting as head coaches of Jets coachPete Carrolland Browns coachBill Belichick.
- Week Six –BYE WEEK
- Week Seven @Houston
On a rare Thursday Night NFL game, the collapse of the Oilers following their1993 seasoncontinued as the Browns clawed out aVinny Testaverdetouchdown, a two-point conversion, and a field goal in the second quarter, offsetting a fourth-quarter score fromBilly Joe Tolliver.The 11–8 loss put the Oilers at 1–5 with the Browns now 5–1.
- Week Eight vs. Cincinnati
The winless Bengals clawed to a 13–10 halftime lead, then the Browns exploded to 27 unanswered points en route to a 37–13 rout; one touchdown came off a goalline fumble by the Bengals. FormerRedskinsheroMark Rypiencame in late and completed three of eleven passes.
- Week Nine @Denver
The Browns remained haunted by the ghost of their two bitter playoff failures toJohn Elwayas Elway led a Broncos offense putting up 457 yards of offense and 26 points to offset twoMatt Stoverfield goals and a touchdown fromMark Rypien.The 26–14 Broncos win was only the third of their season.
- Week 10 vs.New England
Bill Belichickfaced his former bossBill Parcellsand got the better of Parcells and second-year quarterbackDrew Bledsoe,intercepting him four times asMark Rypientossed a one-yard score toLeroy Hoard.The 13–6 outcome put the Browns at 7–2 while the Patriots fell to 3–6 awaitingthe Vikings.
- Week 11 @Philadelphia
The 7–2 Eagles were crushed 26–7 asRandall Cunninghamwas picked off once and held to just 242 yards of offense; the loss began a season-ending spiral for the Eagles and coachRich Kotite.
- Week 12 @Kansas City
Joe Montanamanaged only 169 passing yards but still got the better of the Browns 20–13 as three different passers for the Browns managed only 152 yards and a pick.
- Week 13 vs. Houston
The Browns completed a season sweep of the Oilers – now under new coachJeff Fisher– 34–10, limiting the Oilers to 182 yards of offense.
- Week 14 vs.New York Giants
Facing his former team,Bill Belichicksaw the Giants unable to reach 300 yards of offense yet still win 16–13, picking offVinny Testaverdetwice while sacking him four times. The game was a penalty-laden affair with 21 combined fouls for 162 yards.
- Week 15 @Dallas
Once again Testaverde couldn't deliver much yardage – just 118 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception – but he did produce enough for a 19–14 win over the defendingSuper Bowlchampions. The Browns picked offTroy Aikmantwice while forcing two fumbles.Matt Stover's four field goals were sufficient for the win.
- Week 16 @ Pittsburgh
The measuring stick for the Browns has always been the Steelers and once again the Browns came up short, this time 17–7. Testaverde had one touchdown and two picks whileBarry Fosterrushed for 106 yards andNeil O'Donnellhad 175 passing yards and a touchdown. The win locked up theAFC Centralfor the Steelers, but the Browns nonetheless were also in the playoffs.
- Week 17 vs.Seattle
Vinny Testaverdescored three times, once on the ground, as five different Cleveland backs combined for over 100 rushing yards and two additional scores in a 35–7 rout of the Seahawks. With vaunted 1993 rookieRick Mirerfaltering, two different Seahawks quarterbacks combined for 229 yards and a pick.
Postseason
edit| Round | Date | Opponent (seed) | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Card | January 1, 1995 | New England Patriots(5) | W20–13 | 1–0 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 77,452 | Recap |
| Divisional | January 7, 1995 | atPittsburgh Steelers(1) | L9–29 | 1–1 | Three Rivers Stadium | 58,185 | Recap |
AFC Wild Card game
edit| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriots | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| Browns | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
| Game information | ||
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This was the Browns' most recent home playoff game and their last playoff victory until January 10, 2021, whenBaker Mayfieldled the Browns to a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card Playoff Game. This was alsoBill Belichick's first career playoff game and win as a head coach. As of the 2023 season, it remains his only such win withoutTom Brady.
AFC Divisional Game
edit| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| Steelers | 3 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 29 |
atThree Rivers Stadium,Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania
| Game information | ||
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The 1994 AFC Divisional Game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, held on January 8, 1995, at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, was a memorable and intense matchup that ended dramatically.
The game started with both teams showcasing their strong defenses, leading to a scoreless first quarter. The Steelers broke through in the second quarter with a touchdown pass from quarterback Neil O'Donnell to tight end Eric Green, taking a 7-0 lead. The Browns, however, were quick to respond with a drive capped off by a touchdown pass from quarterback Vinny Testaverde to running back Kevin Johnson, tying the game at 7-7.
As the game progressed, the momentum swung back and forth. The Steelers regained the lead with a field goal, but the Browns continued to fight, and Testaverde connected with receiver Michael Jackson for a touchdown to give Cleveland a 14-10 advantage heading into halftime.
In the second half, the intensity heightened, with both defenses tightening up. The Steelers managed to score again, pulling ahead 17-14 after another O'Donnell touchdown pass. Cleveland responded with a field goal to tie the game at 17-17, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion.
In a dramatic final quarter, the Steelers took a late lead with a field goal, making it 20-17. With time running out, the Browns mounted one last drive, but a crucial interception by Pittsburgh's defense sealed the game. The final score stood at 20-17 in favor of the Steelers, who advanced to the AFC Championship Game.
This playoff encounter is often remembered for the intense rivalry between the two teams, with a hard-fought battle that displayed the grit and determination of both the Browns and Steelers.
References
edit- ^"1994 Cleveland Browns draftees".Pro-Football-Reference.com.RetrievedNovember 12,2014.
- ^"All-Time Assistant Coaches".ClevelandBrowns.com.Archived fromthe originalon May 22, 2008.RetrievedFebruary 5,2009.
External links
edit- 1994 Cleveland Brownsat Pro Football Reference (Profootballreference.com)
- 1994 Cleveland Browns Statisticsat jt-sw.com
- 1994 Cleveland Browns Scheduleat jt-sw.com
- 1994 Cleveland Browns[usurped]at DatabaseFootball.com