SoMFootball.com - Quick Leagues 1985R3 Championship Game

1985 RAIDERS @ 1985 BROWNS

By Mike Payne

1985 QUICK LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

The Raiders got off the plane at Cleveland Hopkins Airport last Tuesday to California type weather as it was sunny and 68 degrees here in Northeast Ohio.

But as the week progressed, the temperature dropped to a frigid 25 degrees with a fresh blanket of snow covering the stadium turf.

Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett led the Raiders to the field first as the snow blew across the field. With the stadium rocking and the Cleveland fans chanting DE-FENSE, DE-FENSE, the Raiders went 3 and out and punted.

The Browns gained only 8 yards on their possession and punted as well.
The Raiders began the next drive from their own 21. Plunkett threw 3 straight incomplete passes, but on the 3rd one on 3rd and 10, Clay Matthews was called for pass interference and the Raiders drive continued.

On the next play, Carl Hairston jumped off sides and on 1st and 5 Matthews nailed Allen for a loss of 4. But offsetting penalties negated that play.

Runs by Allen of 7, 7, and 4 yard got LA to the 41. 3 plays later on 4th and 2, Plunkett’s pass to Christensen fell incomplete and the Browns took over at their own 33.

A 17 yard pass to Mack got them to mid field but the drive was halted there by the Raiders defense and the Browns punted.

Fulton Walkers’ 32 yard return set the Raiders up at the 50 with 5:00 left in the 1st QTR.

A long pass to Jessie Hester was incomplete but Hanford Dixon mugged Hester and was called for interference on the play. With 3rd and 9 on the 24, Plunkett hit Christensen for 11 to the 13. A 9 yard pass to Hester set up Kenny King’s 1 yard TD run for the Raiders.

7-0 RAIDERS 2:24 1ST QTR.

The Browns offense still sputtering, Danielson was sacked by McKenzie for a loss of 9 and could not recover.

A nice punt by Gossett pinned the Raiders at their own 7.

But Plunkett drove the Raiders 86 yards to the Browns 7 in 12 plays. Some key plays on the drive…a 16 yard flat pass to Allen on 3rd and 4, and on 3rd and 1 from the LA 38, Allen ripped off a 39 yard run as he slipped by Chip Banks and Eddie Johnson for the big gain to the Cleveland 23. From the 7, Chris Bahr hit a 24 yard FG for the Raiders.

10-0 RAIDERS 8:42 2ND QTR.

The Browns again could not get going after another sack from the Raiders fierce pass rush. This time Rod Martin took down Danielson for a loss of 7 and the Browns punted from their own 22.

A big break for Cleveland as Walker muffed the return and Byner recovered for the Browns on the LA 36.

Still no offense for the Browns as they turned it over on downs with an incomplete pass on 4th and 9 from the LA 35.

The Cleveland fans grew restless and quiet as the first play had Plunkett floating a perfect pass to Christensen for a gain of 32 yards to the Browns 29.

A few plays later, Plunkett found Christensen again for 11 yards to the Browns 3. Trey Junkin beat Clay Matthews to the corner of the end zone for another LA score.

17-0 RAIDERS 2:00 2ND QTR.

The Browns get the ball with 1:45 left in the half, at their own 26.
A 15 yard pass to Mack and a 6 yard run by Byner, then another Raiders sack of Danielson, Rod Martin nails him for a loss of 3 to bring up 3rd and 7 at the Cleveland 44.

Mack on a draw play gains only 2 and with great faith in the Browns defense I went for it on 4th and 5 from my own 45.

A pass in the flat to Mack gained 9 yards to the Raiders 45 as the clock ticked down to 0:30. The Browns call a time out.

Mack off tackle, runs over Brad Van Pelt and past Mike Davis and gets the Browns on the board just before the half with a 45 yard TD run!!

17-7 RAIDERS 0:22 2ND QTR.

SECOND HALF

The Browns open the 3rd QTR with more lack of offense, as Mike Davis sacks Danielson for a loss of 7 forcing another Browns punt.

From their own 17, Marcus Allen rips off another big run and Dixon gets him before he clears the Browns secondary. But 34 yards later the Raiders are on the Cleveland 49.
2 plays later, on 2nd and 5, Plunkett’s bomb to Christensen is intercepted by Don Rogers at the Cleveland 15. Down the sideline he goes, bringing the Cleveland crowd to its feet, on his way to an 85 yard return for a Browns score!!

17-14 RAIDERS 12:18 3RD QTR.

The Browns defense now fired up, hold the Raiders and force a punt.
Cleveland takes over from their own 18 with 7:30 left in the 3rd QTR.
A 5 yard run by Byner on 3rd and 4 to the 29.

Then on 2nd and 6 from the 33, Danielson goes deep to Mack who lined up in the backfield way out to the right behind Ozzie Newsome.

Mack hauled in the long pass and was brought down immediately at the Raiders 36 after a 31 yard gain.

On 3rd and 10, Danielson hit Brennan for 8 to the 28, and on 4th and 2 the Browns went for it.

A 12 yard pass to Weathers got them a 1st down at the Raiders 16.

A 15 yard run by Byner on the next play was called back for a penalty on Center Mike Baab. On 1st and 15 from the 21, Mack went off tackle for 15 and a 1st down on the LA 6.
Then Danielson, looking for Newsome in the end zone is sacked again for a loss of 11 yards by Vann McElroy.

2nd and goal from the 17, Browns in PRO SET, Raiders in 3-3-5, Danielson hands off to Mack on a off tackle draw play. Bill Pickel’s rear end got its first taste of snow, and Howie Long got his first “whitewash” as Mack bulled them over en route to a 17 yard TD run as the Browns took the lead for the first time in the game.

21-17 BROWNS 2:42 3RD QTR.

On the Raiders next drive, they had a 3rd and 1 from their own 38.
Plunkett crossed up the Browns and threw deep vs a short yardage defense to Christensen who was finally dragged down at the Browns 14.

But on the very next play, Plunkett went to Todd again, this time Hanford Dixon was there in the end zone and intercepted the pass to end the 3rd QTR.

The Raiders were at mid field with 2:00 to play, but 3 straight incomplete passes and a 5 yard dump off on 4th and 10 gave the Browns the ball with 1:30 left.

The Raiders burned all 3 time outs and got the ball back with 0:45 left, as Gossett nailed the coffin corner punt out of bounds at the LA 6 yard line.

LA got to the 12 as time ran out and the Browns win the Title.

FINAL SCORE
BROWNS 21
RAIDERS 17

Great game John. Congrats on a great season.

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