Week 2, September 11th, 1988, New York Jets (1-0) @ Cleveland Browns (1-0)

Sunday, September 11th, 1988 4:00PM
New York Jets (1-0) @ Cleveland Browns (1-0)
Cleveland Municipal Stadium
Weather: 65 degrees, relative humidity 69%, wind 5 mph
Line: Cleveland -9.5 (cleveland), O/U 40 (under)

Attendance:  74,434 (80,098)

New York Jets 3, Cleveland 14

Bernie Kosar could not suit up for the game, so the Browns were forced to go with Gary Danielson for their game against the New York Jets.  This game proved to be a defensive battle.

The game started out favorably for the Browns as Frank Minnifield made his 3rd interception of the season on a Ken O'Brien deep pass intended for Wesley Walker.  The gave the Browns field position to start at mid-field in the 1st minute of action, but they could not convert it into points.  The 1st quarter was lacking in action, as the teams combined for 5 punts.

It was a tight, hard fought game played in the trenches.  Both teams struggled to gain a foothold.

The Jets took the last possession of the 1st quarter into jets' territory.  Johnny Hector (7-49, 2-18) caught a crucial pass on 3rd and 6 for a first down, and later ran for 16 yards on a 3rd and 15.  He also added another reception for 11 yards while Al Toon (6-72) kicked in 2 receptions for 37 yards.  The Cleveland defense held inside the 10, and it forced a 26 yard field goal by Pat Leahy for the Jets' only points on the afternoon.

The Jets got a boost on their next possession as Jojo Townsell returned a Max Runager 41 yard punt 49 yards to the Cleveland 36.  However, there was no offense to be found and a holding penalty pushed the Jets out of Leahy's range.  The Jets were flagged 12 times for 91 yards on the day.

The remainder of the half saw both teams' offenses struggle, featuring Joe Prokop and Max Runager punting the ball back and forth.  Quarterbacks Ken O'Brien and Gary Danielson exchanged interceptions in the last minute, preserving a 3-0 Jets lead at the half.  Outside the field goal drive, the Jets managed only 3 first downs on the half.  The Browns had 6 first downs total in the first half.

Jojo Townsell returns a punt for 49 yards in the 2nd quarter

The Browns got the ball in the second half and drove down the field behind some clutch passing from quarterback Gary Danielson, catches by Ozzie Newsome and Earnest Byner, and powerful running by Fullback Tim Minoa.  The Jets also took 2 penalties.  Kevin Mack scored on a run up the gut on 2nd and 2 to put the Browns ahead, suddenly, 7-3.  Ball possession would be the key phrase for the Browns in the 2nd half.

The Jets got the ball back, but a holding penalty again undermined the drive and they were forced to punt away from their 15, giving the Browns a decent drive start.  The clock stopped only once as the Browns drove 56 yards in 11 plays, again capped by a Kevin Mack power run.  Earnest Byner gained a lot of tough yards, Tim Minoa had a 14 yard run, and Reggie Langhorne had 2 catches.  The Browns were up 14-3 in what appeared to be an insurmountable advantage. 

Mickey Shuler caught a pass in the 4th quarter that was overturned due to one of many offensive holding calls.  Shuler was held without a catch.

The Browns had another long drive, however a 32 yard field goal attempt by Matt Bahr was blocked with 9:11 remaining.  The Jets picked up a couple first downs, when CB Hanford Dixon intercepted O'Brien, the Browns' 3rd interception of the day.  O'Brien had a miserable afternoon, going 12-31 for 125 Yards, 3 Interceptions and a 11.6 rating.  

The game ended with a 14-2 Browns victory.  The Browns defense prevailed in Bernie Kosar's absence, allowing 251 yards and only 11 first downs (6 on one drive).  The Browns dominated ball possession in the 2nd half, holding onto the ball for over 20 minutes thanks to a power running game and a solid short passing game.

Gary Danielson avoids a sack in the 3rd quarter.  Danielson did all that could be asked of a backup quarterback going 20-32 for 183 Yards, and an interception (on a desperation throw at the end of the 1st half)

Player of the Game:

Kevin Mack - Browns

Mack didnt produce gaudy numbers (15 carries for 38 yards), but was the only player to find the end zone today, scoring twice on 2 bruising goal line runs leading the Browns to a 2-0 start.

1988 New York AFC 3, 1988 Cleveland 14
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	Total
1988 New York AFC	0	3	0	0	0	3
1988 Cleveland	0	0	14	0	0	14

Scoring Plays
Qtr	Clock	Poss	Scoring Description(Extra Point)	Score
2	13:42	1988 New York AFC	P.Leahy 26 yd. field goal	3-0 NYA
3	10:14	1988 Cleveland	K.Mack 2 yd. run (M.Bahr kick)	7-3 CLA
3	3:14	1988 Cleveland	K.Mack 2 yd. run (M.Bahr kick)	14-3 CLA

Other Highlights
Qtr	Clock	Poss	Event	Player	Yards
1	13:59	1988 Cleveland	Intercept	Frank Minnifield	0
2	11:59	1988 New York AFC	Return	JoJo Townsell	49
2	1:30	1988 Cleveland	QBSack	Marty Lyons	-9
2	0:37	1988 New York AFC	Intercept	James Hasty	10
2	0:08	1988 New York AFC	QBSack	Bob Golic	0
2	0:01	1988 Cleveland	Intercept	Felix Wright	0
4	12:43	1988 Cleveland	Pass	Brian Brennan	33
4	8:59	1988 Cleveland	Missed Field Goal	Matt Bahr	32
4	6:06	1988 Cleveland	Intercept	Hanford Dixon	31

Team Statistics
	1988 New York AFC	1988 Cleveland
First Downs by Rush-Pass-Pen-Total	4-7-0-11	9-11-1-21
Third Down Efficiency	5-15-33%	10-19-53%
Fourth Down Efficiency	0-1-0%	0-1-0%
Red Zone Efficiency (pts-poss-pct)	3-7-43%	14-21-67%
Total Offense-Plays-Avg Yards Per Play	251-58-4.3	294-76-3.9
Total Net Yards Rushing	126	120
Total Rushes	26	43
Average Per Rush	4.8	2.8
Passes Completed/Attempted	12/31 (38.7%)	20/32 (62.5%)
Net Yards Passing	125	174
Avg Yards Per Pass	4.0	5.7
Sacked/Yards Lost	1/0	1/9
Punts/Average	6/34.0	5/39.6
Punts Received/Return Yardage	4/77	4/20
Kickoffs/Returns	1/14	2/40
Interceptions/Returns	1/10	3/31
Penalties/Yards	12/91	4/35
Total Fumbles/Fumbles Lost	0/0	0/0
Time of Possession	24 mins 17 secs	35 mins 43 secs
Average Drive Start	NYA 27	CLA 33

Passing Stats
	Att	Comp	Yds	Comp %	Yds/Att	TD	TD %	INT	INT %	Long	Sack	Rating
1988 New York AFC
Ken O'Brien	31	12	125	38.7	4.0	0	0	3	9.7	25	1/0	11.6
1988 Cleveland
Gary Danielson	32	20	183	62.5	5.7	0	0	1	3.1	33	1/9	65.0

Rushing Stats
	No	Yds	Avg	Long	TD	2 Pt Conv	Fumbles/Lost
1988 New York AFC
Freeman McNeil	16	66	4.1	15	0	0	0/0
Johnny Hector	7	49	7.0	16	0	0	0/0
Roger Vick	3	11	3.7	5	0	0	0/0
1988 Cleveland
Earnest Byner	19	57	3.0	7	0	0	0/0
Kevin Mack	15	38	2.5	7	2	0	0/0
Tim Manoa	6	28	4.7	14	0	0	0/0
Gary Danielson	3	-3	-1.0	-1	0	0	0/0

Receiving Stats
	No	Yds	Avg	Long	TD	2 Pt Conv
1988 New York AFC
Al Toon	6	72	12.0	25	0	0
Freeman McNeil	2	16	8.0	9	0	0
Johnny Hector	2	18	9.0	11	0	0
Wesley Walker	1	11	11.0	11	0	0
Kurt Sohn	1	8	8.0	8	0	0
1988 Cleveland
Earnest Byner	6	48	8.0	16	0	0
Brian Brennan	5	71	14.2	33	0	0
Ozzie Newsome	3	24	8.0	9	0	0
Reggie Langhorne	3	21	7.0	10	0	0
Webster Slaughter	2	12	6.0	9	0	0
Clarence Weathers	1	7	7.0	7	0	0

Field Goals
	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	Totals	% Made
1988 New York AFC
Pat Leahy	0/0	1/1	0/0	0/0	0/0	1/1	100
1988 Cleveland
Matt Bahr	0/0	0/0	0/1	0/0	0/0	0/1	0.0

Punting
	No	Avg	Net	Tb	Inside 20	Long	Blocked
1988 New York AFC
Joe Prokop	6	34.0	30.7	0	3	43	0
1988 Cleveland
Max Runager	5	39.6	24.2	0	4	48	0

Kickoff Returns
	No	Yds	Avg	Long	TD
1988 New York AFC
Bobby Humphery	1	14	14.0	14	0
1988 Cleveland
Glen Young	2	40	20.0	22	0

Punt Returns
	Ret	FC	Yds	Avg	Long	TD
1988 New York AFC
JoJo Townsell	4	0	77	19.3	49	0
1988 Cleveland
Gerald McNeil	4	0	20	5.0	12	0

Individual Defense
	Tackles	Sacks	Fum Rec
1988 New York AFC
Alex Gordon	11	0	0
Troy Benson	9	0	0
Kyle Clifton	8	0	0
Bobby Humphery	6	0	0
Kevin McArthur	6	0	0
Erik McMillan	5	0	0
Scott Mersereau	4	0	0
Paul Frase	3	0	0
Rich Miano	3	0	0
Ken Rose	2	0	0
Marty Lyons	1	1	0
Carl Howard	1	0	0
1988 Cleveland
David Grayson	9	0	0
Eddie J. Johnson	8	0	0
Clay Matthews	6	0	0
Brian Washington	4	0	0
Bob Golic	3	1	0
Felix Wright	3	0	0
Hanford Dixon	2	0	0
Frank Minnifield	1	0	0
Mike C. Johnson	1	0	0
Anthony Blaylock	1	0	0
Charles Buchanan	1	0	0

Interceptions
	No	Yds	Avg	Long	TD
1988 New York AFC
James Hasty	1	10	10.0	10	0
1988 Cleveland
Hanford Dixon	1	31	31.0	31	0
Felix Wright	1	0	0.0	0	0
Frank Minnifield	1	0	0.0	0	0

Game Story

With a good effort Cleveland topped New York AFC by the score of 14 to 3. Gary Danielson threw 32 times for 183 yards. Cleveland enjoyed success on third down, converting on 10 of 19 opportunities. They won the air battle out-passing New York AFC 183 to 125 yards. Cleveland had the advantage in time of possession, having the ball for 35:43. Cleveland led after three quarters 14 to 3.