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1977 Cleveland Browns season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Cleveland Browns |
| year | 1977 |
| coach | Forrest Gregg |
| Dick Modzelewski (interim) | |
| owner | Art Modell |
| stadium | Cleveland Municipal Stadium |
| record | 6–8 |
| division_place | 4th AFC Central |
| playoffs | Did not qualify |
| pro bowlers | RB Greg Pruitt |
| shortnavlink | Browns seasons |
Dick Modzelewski (interim) The 1977 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 28th season with the National Football League. After a 6–4 start, the Browns lost their final four games of the season, to finish with a disappointing 6–8 record. With one game left in the season, head coach Forrest Gregg was fired and replaced by Dick Modzelewski.
Offseason
NFL draft
The following were selected in the 1977 NFL draft.
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | Robert L. Jackson | Linebacker | Texas A&M | |
| 2 | 46 | Tom Skladany | Punter | Ohio State | |
| 4 | 102 | Oliver Davis | Defensive back | Tennessee State | |
| 4 | 110 | Mickey Sims | Defensive tackle | South Carolina State | |
| 7 | 173 | Kenny Randle | Wide receiver | SMU | |
| 7 | 184 | Blane Smith | Linebacker | Purdue | |
| 7 | 188 | Bob Lingenfelter | Offensive tackle | Nebraska | |
| 8 | 213 | Bill Armstrong | Defensive back | Wake Forest | |
| 9 | 240 | Daryl Brown | Defensive back | Tufts | |
| 10 | 269 | Tom Burkett | Offensive tackle | North Carolina | |
| 11 | 296 | Charles Nash | Wide receiver | Arizona | |
| 12 | 325 | Leo Tierney | Center | Georgia Tech |
Personnel
Staff / Coaches
-
Owner and president – Art Modell
-
Executive vice president/general manager – Peter Hadhazy
-
Head coaches – Forrest Gregg, Dick Modzelewski (interim)
-
Running backs – George Sefcik
-
Wide receivers – Raymond Berry
-
Offensive line – Rod Humenuik
-
Defensive Coordinator — Dick Modzelewski
-
Linebackers – Walt Corey
-
Secondary / defensive backs – Billy Kinard
-
Special teams – Al Tabor
-
Film Coordinator – Ed Ulinski
-
Athletic Trainer – Leo Murphy
Roster
| Cleveland Browns | border=2}};" | 1977 Cleveland Browns roster |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterbacks |
Preseason
| Cleveland Browns | year=1977 | border=2}}" | Week | Cleveland Browns | year=1977 | border=2}}" | Date | Cleveland Browns | year=1977 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Cleveland Browns | year=1977 | border=2}}" | Result | Cleveland Browns | year=1977 | border=2}}" | Record | Cleveland Browns | year=1977 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Redskins | L 14–16 | 0–1 | 32,554 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at Minnesota Vikings | L 33–34 | 0–2 | 45,379 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| St. Louis Cardinals | W 19–10 | 1–2 | 31,308 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago Bears | W 14–7 | 2–2 | 36,598 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at Green Bay Packers | W 19–14 | 3–2 | 53,180 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at Detroit Lions | L 20–24 | 3–3 | 49,168 |
Schedule
| Cleveland Browns | year=1977 | border=2}}" | Week | Cleveland Browns | year=1977 | border=2}}" | Date | Cleveland Browns | year=1977 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Cleveland Browns | year=1977 | border=2}}" | Result | Cleveland Browns | year=1977 | border=2}}" | Record | Cleveland Browns | year=1977 | border=2}}" | Venue | Cleveland Browns | year=1977 | border=2}}" | Attendance | Cleveland Browns | year=1977 | border=2}}" | Recap | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 18 | at Cincinnati Bengals | W 13–3 | 1–0 | Riverfront Stadium | 52,847 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New England Patriots | W 30–27 | 2–0 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 76,418 | Recap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 14–28 | 2–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 80,588 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 9 | Oakland Raiders | L 10–26 | 2–2 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 80,236 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 16 | at Houston Oilers | W 24–23 | 3–2 | Houston Astrodome | 47,888 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 23 | at Buffalo Bills | W 27–16 | 4–2 | Rich Stadium | 60,905 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 30 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 44–7 | 5–2 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 60,381 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 6 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 7–10 | 5–3 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 81,932 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 13 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 31–35 | 5–4 | Three Rivers Stadium | 47,055 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 20 | at New York Giants | W 21–7 | 6–4 | Giants Stadium | 72,576 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 27 | Los Angeles Rams | L 0–9 | 6–5 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 70,352 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 4 | at San Diego Chargers | L 14–37 | 6–6 | San Diego Stadium | 37,312 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 11 | Houston Oilers | L 15–19 | 6–7 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 30,898 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 18 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 19–20 | 6–8 | Kingdome | 61,583 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cleveland Browns | year=1976 | border=2}}" | Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Game summaries
Week 1
The 1977 season started with a league rival and an impressive win.
;Browns
;Bengals
Week 2
The Cleveland Browns had not hosted nor been in a Monday Night Football game since the 1973 season, when they lost at home against the Miami Dolphins. The Cleveland Stadium was sold out that beautiful night along the lakefront and the crowd looked forward to a great game. Indeed, the game went into overtime, and with a little more than 10 minutes left in over time, Don Cockroft kicked a 35-yard field goal to end the game with a win for the Browns. Howard Cosell said that it was one of the most exciting finishes to a Monday Night Football game that he ever witnessed.
Week 3 vs Steelers
First quarter
- PIT – Lynn Swann 5-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick). ''Steelers 7–0. '''Drive:'''''
- CLE – Dave Logan 22-yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick). ''Tie 7–7. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
- CLE – Cleo Miller 1-yard run (Don Cockroft kick). ''Browns 14–7. '''Drive:'''''
- PIT – Frank Lewis 65-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick). ''Tie 14–14. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
- PIT – Lynn Swann 14-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick). ''Steelers 21–14. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 1-yard run (Roy Gerela kick). ''Steelers 28–14. '''Drive:''''' ;Top passers
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw — 10/17, 143 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
- CLE – Brian Sipe — 9/20, 81 yards, TD, INT ;Top rushers
- PIT – Franco Harris — 22 rushes, 72 yards
- CLE – Cleo Miller — 11 rushes, 49 yards, TD ;Top receivers
- PIT – Lynn Swann — 7 receptions, 71 yards, 2 TD
- CLE – Oscar Roan — 3 receptions, 43 yards
Week 5
The Browns beat the Oilers 24–23 on another Cockroft last-second field goal. Toni Fritsch kicks a 37-yarder with 4:28 left to give Houston a 23–21 lead, but running back Greg Pruitt leads the Browns on their final scoring drive with three runs and a 13-yard third-down completion to Cleo Miller. Cockroft's six points lift him past Jim Brown to the no. 2 spot (behind Lou Groza) on the Browns' all-time scoring list.
Week 7
Scoring their most points in 9 years, the Browns broke a team record with 34 first downs while rolling up 526 yards (322 rushing) in a rout over the Kansas City Chiefs 44-7. Greg Pruitt rushed for 153 yards. Brian Sipe threw for 200 yards and tight end Gary Parris caught two touchdown passes.
Standings
References
References
- "1977 NFL Draft Listing – Pro-Football-Reference.com".
- "1977 Cleveland Browns Starters, Roster, & Players".
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