1972 Cleveland Browns season

1972 Cleveland Browns season
Head coach	Nick Skorich
Home field	Cleveland Stadium
Results
Record	10–4–0
Division place	2nd AFC Central
Playoff finish	Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs

The 1972 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 23rd season with the National Football League.

Season summary

1972 marked the end of a nine-year span in which the Browns made the playoffs seven times; it would be the Browns' last playoff appearance until 1980.

The 1972 Cleveland Browns not only made it to the postseason as a wild card team with a 10–4 record, but also nearly pulled off what would have been one of the biggest upsets in team and NFL playoff history. Playing in the AFC divisional round in Miami against a Dolphins team that would go 17–0 and win the Super Bowl, the Browns lost 20–14 after blowing a 14–13 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

The Browns started the year with veteran quarterback Bill Nelsen as their starter; Nelsen had arrived from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 1968 trade. But Nelsen, who had knee problems, struggled early, and the team followed suit by getting off to a rocky 2–3 start. The move was made to start Mike Phipps, drafted in 1970 with the No.3 overall pick the Browns obtained by trading Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Paul Warfield to Miami. Although Phipps didn't have a very good year statistically—he completed only 47.2 percent of his passes and threw for just 13 touchdowns with 16 interceptions—he was able to make plays when he had to.

The Browns were only 2–3 and had been outscored 48–7 in their last two games, and 74–17 in their three losses, before a six-game winning streak ensued. Included in the streak was a last-second, 26–24 comeback win at home over the Steelers, who were trying to win the AFC Central title and make the playoffs for the second time in franchise history and first time since 1947. The Browns finished second to the Steelers (11–3) by a game after winning eight of their last nine contests, the only loss being a 30–0 decision in the rematch in Pittsburgh. The Browns also turned back the Denver Broncos on the road 27–20.

Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Leroy Kelly, in his last productive season, rushed for 811 yards. Wide receiver Frank Pitts led the team in receptions with 36, good for eight touchdowns—or 62 percent of the team total of 13. But it was primarily the defense that saved the season for the Browns. The unit gave up over 30 points only twice all year, posted a shutout and kept foes to 17 points or less eight times.

Exhibition schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	August 4, 1972	at Los Angeles Rams	L 13–3	64,803
2	August 13, 1972	at San Francisco 49ers	L 20–13	58,364
3	August 20, 1972	at Detroit Lions	L 34–7	58,422
4	August 26, 1972	Minnesota Vikings	L 20–17	70,583
5	September 3, 1972	vs. Cincinnati Bengals at Columbus, Ohio	L 27–21	84,816
6	September 10, 1972	at New York Giants	L 27–13	60,152

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 17, 1972	Green Bay Packers	L 26–10	75,771
2	September 24, 1972	at Philadelphia Eagles	W 27–17	65,720
3	October 1, 1972	Cincinnati Bengals	W 27–6	81,564
4	October 8, 1972	Kansas City Chiefs	L 31–7	83,819
5	October 15, 1972	Chicago Bears	L 17–0	72,339
6	October 22, 1972	at Houston Oilers	W 23–17	38,113
7	October 29, 1972	at Denver Broncos	W 27–20	51,656
8	November 5, 1972	Houston Oilers	W 20–0	61,985
9	November 13, 1972	at San Diego Chargers	W 21–17	54,205
10	November 19, 1972	Pittsburgh Steelers	W 26–24	83,009
11	November 26, 1972	Buffalo Bills	W 27–10	70,104
12	December 3, 1972	at Pittsburgh Steelers	L 30–0	50,350
13	December 9, 1972	at Cincinnati Bengals	W 27–24	59,524
14	December 17, 1972	at New York Jets	W 26–10	62,614

Playoffs

Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
Wildcard	December 24, 1972	at Miami Dolphins	L 20–14	78,196

Standings

AFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Pittsburgh Steelers	11	3	0	.786	4–2	9–2	343	175	W4
Cleveland Browns	10	4	0	.714	5–1	9–2	268	249	W2
Cincinnati Bengals	8	6	0	.571	3–3	6–5	299	229	W1
Houston Oilers	1	13	0	.071	0–6	1–10	164	380	L11