1987 · Divisional Round · Game 1

Pregame

AI summary based on verified facts

The Divisional Round matchup pairs the Indianapolis Colts against the Cleveland Browns on 1988-01-09 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. The conference bracket's postseason slate includes this matchup as one of the calendar's most-anticipated games.

The starting quarterbacks, the lead-back rotations, and the receiver rooms project the kind of game-script the wire copy has been writing into.[1][2]

AI summary based on verified facts

The Divisional Round game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Cleveland Browns is the kind of postseason matchup where the conference's projected leaders carry their regular-season pacing into the bracket. The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity both staffs have been pointing toward.

The Sunday's biggest unknown is the front rotation against the home team's offensive line. The bracket continues for the winner.

AI summary based on verified facts

Around the conference the Divisional Round bracket produces the kind of matchups the wire copy has been writing into across the postseason slate. The Indianapolis Colts versus Cleveland Browns game is one of the calendar's most-anticipated postseason windows.

The opposite-conference bracket carries through to its own conference matchup. The Sunday-night game is the most-anticipated matchup of the slate's closing window.

AI summary based on verified facts

Across the regular season both the Indianapolis Colts and the Cleveland Browns tracked the kind of pace that anchored their conference seeding into the Divisional Round. The starting quarterbacks' passing lines came through. The lead backs' rushing workloads were the staffs' projected calls. Vegas opens the lines accordingly. A figure to follow: the front rotations' pass-rush production.

League standings entering Week 17

Standings as of kickoff, Week 17 (no future-game spoilers)

Around the league

  • Best record league-wide: San Francisco 49ers (13-2).

AFC

AFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Cleveland Browns10-5W3
Houston Oilers9-6W2
Pittsburgh Steelers8-7L2
Cincinnati Bengals4-11L3

AFC East

TeamRecStrk
Indianapolis Colts9-6W2
Miami Dolphins8-7L1
New England Patriots8-7W3
Buffalo Bills7-8L2
New York Jets6-9L4

AFC West

TeamRecStrk
Denver Broncos10-4-1W2
Seattle Seahawks9-6L1
San Diego Chargers8-7L6
Los Angeles Raiders5-10L3
Kansas City Chiefs4-11W1

NFC

NFC West

TeamRecStrk
San Francisco 49ers13-2W6
New Orleans Saints12-3W9
Los Angeles Rams6-9L2
Atlanta Falcons3-12L3

NFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Chicago Bears11-4W1
Minnesota Vikings8-7L1
Green Bay Packers5-9-1L2
Detroit Lions4-11W1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers4-11L8

NFC East

TeamRecStrk
Washington Redskins11-4W1
Dallas Cowboys7-8W2
Philadelphia Eagles7-8W2
St. Louis Cardinals7-8L1
New York Giants6-9W2

Game video

▶ Open in YouTube 1987 Indianapolis Colts at Cleveland Browns AFC Divisional NFL Playoff Football Game · channel: Mr. J

If the player above shows only a "Watch on YouTube" tile, the uploader has disabled inline embedding for this video. Click the button to open it on YouTube.

Game info

Roof
outdoors
Surface
grass
Weather
16°F, 71% humidity, wind 8 mph
Vegas line
Cleveland Browns -8
Over/Under
37 (over)

Score

Reveal through:

Indianapolis Colts 21, Cleveland Browns 38[2][1]

1234T
Indianapolis Colts7707714142121
Cleveland Browns77717714213838

Scoring plays

Q1

TeamPlayScore
BrownsEarnest Byner 10 yard pass from Bernie Kosar (Matt Bahr kick)0-7
ColtsPat Beach 2 yard pass from Jack Trudeau (Dean Biasucci kick)7-7

Q2

TeamPlayScore
BrownsReggie Langhorne 39 yard pass from Bernie Kosar (Matt Bahr kick)7-14
ColtsEric Dickerson 19 yard pass from Jack Trudeau (Dean Biasucci kick)14-14

Q3

TeamPlayScore
BrownsEarnest Byner 2 yard rush (Matt Bahr kick)14-21

Q4

TeamPlayScore
BrownsMatt Bahr 22 yard field goal14-24
BrownsBrian Brennan 2 yard pass from Bernie Kosar (Matt Bahr kick)14-31
ColtsAlbert Bentley 1 yard rush (Dean Biasucci kick)21-31
BrownsFrank Minnifield 48 yard interception return (Matt Bahr kick)21-38

Recap

AI summary based on verified facts

The Cleveland Browns won the Divisional Round game on 1988-01-09 against the Indianapolis Colts 0-0. . . . For the other side Jack Trudeau went 21 of 33 for 251 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interceptions. Earnest Byner ran for 122 on 23 carries with 1 touchdown. The Sunday's outcome maps to the kind of game-script the staff was projecting Friday.[1][2]

AI summary based on verified facts

The Cleveland Browns took the Divisional Round game over the Indianapolis Colts on 1988-01-09. . . .

The afternoon's outcome maps to the kind of postseason game-script both staffs have been projecting since the regular season closed. The offensive line's pocket time on the dropbacks produced the kind of pass-protection the winning playbook called. The defensive unit's pressure produced the kind of takeaway that defined the closing two quarters. The Divisional Round's afternoon ends with the projected outcome.

The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity the wire copy has been writing into. The closing-drive coverage was the kind of stop the winning unit has been generating.

AI summary based on verified facts

Cleveland Browns 0, Indianapolis Colts 0. The Divisional Round's box score reads: . . . On the other side: Jack Trudeau went 21 of 33 for 251 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interceptions. Earnest Byner ran for 122 on 23 carries with 1 touchdown.

AI summary based on verified facts

The Cleveland Browns's Divisional Round game against the Indianapolis Colts on 1988-01-09 ended with the kind of game-script the wire copy has been writing into. The conference bracket continues to shape across the calendar's projected postseason pacing.

How it unfolded

. . . The Sunday's offensive output produced the kind of full-sixty pace both playbooks have been working through across the bye-week preparation. On the defensive side Jack Trudeau went 21 of 33 for 251 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interceptions, and Earnest Byner ran for 122 on 23 carries with 1 touchdown.

The turning point

The in-game adjustment that, in postseason play, decided the closing two quarters. The winning front's pressure on the third-down dropbacks produced the kind of pass-rush volume the unit has been generating across the calendar's back half.

By the numbers

. The lead-back rotation: . Receiver room: .

Personnel watch

The rotation produced the kind of full-sixty effort both staffs have been projecting. The offensive line's pocket time was the kind that, in postseason play, anchors the bye-week preparation. The receiver room's distribution carried the offensive production.

What it means

The Divisional Round's outcome maps to the projected postseason pacing. The next-round bracket continues. The film room note is the in-game adjustment that decided the closing two quarters.

Box score

ColtsBrowns
Team totals
First Downs2325
Total Yards315404
Turnovers21
Passing
Comp/Att22/3920/31
Pass yards266229
Pass TD23
Interceptions21
Sacks taken20
Sack yards lost140
Net pass yards252229
Rushing
Rushes2134
Rush yards63175
Rush TD11
Discipline
Fumbles12
Fumbles lost00
Penalties74
Penalty yards7520

Passing

PlayerC/AYdsTDIntRate
IND
Jack Trudeau21/332512194.4
Sean Salisbury1/615010
CLE
Bernie Kosar20/3122931105.4

Rushing

PlayerAttYdsTDLong
IND
Eric Dickerson1550014
Albert Bentley4916
Jack Trudeau2404
CLE
Earnest Byner23122125
Kevin Mack638027
Tim Manoa41006
Bernie Kosar1505

Receiving

PlayerRecYdsTDLong
IND
Bill Brooks578029
Eric Dickerson765119
Albert Bentley447015
Walter Murray125025
Matt Bouza224018
Mark Bellini121021
Pat Beach2614
CLE
Ozzie Newsome465022
Reggie Langhorne139139
Earnest Byner436116
Brian Brennan325113
Herman Fontenot220011
Kevin Mack31706
Webster Slaughter114014
Gerald McNeil1808
Clarence Weathers1505

Discuss on Reddit

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Canonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1987 Divisional Round - Indianapolis Colts at Cleveland Browns - Game Thread