The 1982 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 33rd season with the National Football League.

The Browns were among eight teams that qualified for the playoffs during this strike shortened season, and became one of only six teams to ever qualify for the playoffs despite having a losing record., The Browns and the Detroit Lions from the same year are the only two teams with a losing record to qualify as wildcards. In the first round of the NFL playoffs, Cleveland lost to the Los Angeles Raiders 27–10.

The Browns' first round draft pick, rookie sensation linebacker Chip Banks earned 6.5 sacks in just nine games.

NFL draft The following were selected in the 1982 NFL draft. 1982 Cleveland Browns draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes13Chip BanksLinebacker USC231Keith BaldwinDefensive end Texas A&M487Dwight WalkerRunning back Nicholls State5115Mike BaabCenter Texas6162Mike WhitwellDefensive back Texas A&M8199Mark KafentzisDefensive back Hawaii8204Van HeflinTight end Vanderbilt8211Bill JacksonDefensive back North Carolina9227Milton BakerTight end West Texas A&M10255Ricky FloydRunning back Southern Miss11282Steve MichutaQuarterback Grand Valley State12310Scott NicolasLinebacker Miami

Personnel Staff / Coaches

Roster 1982 Cleveland Browns roster Quarterbacks 12 Rick Trocano 16 Paul McDonald 17 Brian Sipe

Running backs 25 Charles White 26 Dino Hall 30 Cleo Miller 34 David Green 38 Johnny Davis 42 Dwight Walker 43 Mike Pruitt

Wide receivers 80 Willis Adams WR (IR) 81 Mike Whitwell 83 Ricky Feacher 85 Dave Logan 86 Danny Fulton Tight ends 82 Ozzie Newsome 84 McDonald Oden Offensive linemen 54 Tom DeLeone C 61 Mike Baab C 63 Cody Risien T 64 Joe DeLamielleure G 69 Robert Jackson G 70 Andy Frederick T 71 Matt Miller T/G 73 Doug Dieken T

Defensive linemen 79 Bob Golic NT 90 Marshall Harris DE 91 Henry Bradley NT 92 Mike Robinson DE 94 Elvis Franks DE 99 Keith Baldwin DE Linebackers 50 Tom Cousineau ILB 51 Eddie Johnson ILB 52 Dick Ambrose ILB 53 Bill Cowher OLB 55 Curtis Weathers OLB 56 Chip Banks OLB 57 Clay Matthews OLB 58 Scott Nicolas ILB 59 Kevin Turner ILB

Defensive backs 20 Judson Flint CB/S 22 Clarence Scott FS 23 Mark Kafentzis FS 28 Ron Bolton CB 29 Hanford Dixon CB 36 Bill Jackson SS 47 Larry Braziel CB 48 Lawrence Johnson CB (IR) 49 Clinton Burrell SS

Special teams  9 Matt Bahr K 15 Steve Cox P

rookies in italics

Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 12 at Seattle Seahawks W 21–7 1–0 Kingdome 55,907 2 September 19 Philadelphia Eagles L 21–24 1–1 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 78,830 Cincinnati Bengals canceled Cleveland Municipal Stadium October 3 at Washington Redskins RFK Stadium October 10 at Los Angeles Raiders Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum October 17 Baltimore Colts Cleveland Municipal Stadium October 24 at Pittsburgh Steelers postponed Three Rivers Stadium October 31 Houston Oilers canceled Cleveland Municipal Stadium November 7 New York Giants Cleveland Municipal Stadium November 14 at Miami Dolphins Miami Orange Bowl 3 November 21 New England Patriots W 10–7 2–1 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 51,781 4 at Dallas Cowboys L 14–31 2–2 Texas Stadium 46,267 5 December 5 San Diego Chargers L 13–30 2–3 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 54,064 6 December 12 at Cincinnati Bengals L 10–23 2–4 Riverfront Stadium 54,305 7 December 19 Pittsburgh Steelers W 10–9 3–4 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 67,139 8 December 26 at Houston Oilers W 20–14 4–4 Houston Astrodome 36,559 9 January 2 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 21–37 4–5 Three Rivers Stadium 52,312Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Season highlights Week 1 at Seattle Less than nine months after closing the 1981 season in Seattle, the Browns return to the Kingdome and defeat the Seahawks 21–7. Mike Pruitt accounts for 136 of Cleveland's 200 rushing yards and scores two touchdowns. The Browns sack Dave Krieg eight teams, three by rookie linebacker Chip Banks.

Week 3 vs. New England In their first game after the 1982 NFL strike that wiped out almost half the regular season, The Browns fight their way through a heavy Cleveland fog and beat New England, 10–7, on Matt Bahr's 24-yard field goal as time expires. Bahr's winner comes three plays after Browns safety Clinton Burrell recovers a fumble by Mark van Eeghen at the Patriots' 20.

Week 5 vs. San Diego James Brooks scores two touchdowns and Dan Fouts completes 18-of-23 passes as San Diego pounds the Browns 30–13, at Cleveland. Despite the loss, Brian Sipe completes 14 straight passes and stretches his overall streak to a club-record 33. He also surpasses the 20,000-yard career mark. Tight end Ozzie Newsome catches a career-high 10 passes and extends his streak of consecutive games with at least one reception to a club-record 45.

Week 7 vs. Pittsburgh Hanford Dixon intercepts three passes and the Browns keep their playoff hopes alive with a 10–9 win over Pittsburgh at rainy, muddy Cleveland Stadium. The poor conditions affect Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw more than Paul McDonald, who starts his first game in place of the slumping Sipe. Nose tackle Bob Golic enjoys a big game with eight tackles and one sack.

Week 8 at Houston The Browns escape with a 20–14 win, thanks to critical fumbles by running back Earl Campbell. The first comes at the Cleveland 4 and the second sets up the Browns' winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. Dave Logan scores one TD on a 56-yard pass from McDonald and Charles White scores the winner on a 1-yard run.

Postseason

Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Wild Card January 8, 1983 at Los Angeles Raiders (1) L 10–27 0–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 56,555 Recap

Standings

References

External links

1982 Cleveland Browns at Pro Football Reference 1982 Cleveland Browns Statistics at jt-sw.com 1982 Cleveland Browns Schedule at jt-sw.com at DatabaseFootball.com