1989 · Conference Championships · Game 1

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Conference Championships

Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos

Sun January 14, 1990 · Mile High Stadium, kickoff 1:30pm

Pregame

Pregame: Conference Championships
AI summary based on verified facts

AFC Championship at Mile High Stadium on Sun January 14, 1990. The Cleveland Browns (10-6-1) travel to face the Denver Broncos (12-5) for the AFC title and a trip to Super Bowl XXIV.

Dan Reeves year nine as head coach. John Elway at quarterback. Bobby Humphrey at running back. The Browns come off the 34-30 divisional win at Buffalo. Bud Carson in year one as head coach. Bernie Kosar at quarterback. Kevin Mack at running back.

The two teams met in the AFC Championship in 1986 and 1987 (Broncos won both).[1][2]

Columnist
AI summary based on verified facts

Dan Reeves' Denver Broncos host their third AFC Championship game in four years. John Elway has produced 41-7 record at home in the playoffs across his career. Bobby Humphrey, the rookie running back, has 1,151 rushing yards. The Browns come in off the divisional road win at Buffalo. Bernie Kosar threw three touchdowns in the divisional matchup; Webster Slaughter caught two scores.

The Sunday-afternoon AFC Championship is the third Broncos-Browns meeting in a conference championship game in four years. Denver beat Cleveland 23-20 in OT in 1986 (The Drive) and 38-33 in 1987 (The Fumble). The series has produced the kind of repeated heartbreak that Browns fans will remember for a generation.

Around the league
AI summary based on verified facts

Conference Championship Sunday is the league's most-watched playoff weekend. The Broncos (AFC #1) host the Browns (AFC #4). The 49ers (NFC #1) host the Rams (NFC #6) in the NFC Championship. The Sunday-afternoon AFC matchup is the third Broncos-Browns conference championship in four years and the year's marquee playoff event.

Trend analyst
AI summary based on verified facts

Through the regular season the Broncos finished 11-5 and the Browns finished 9-6-1. The two teams met twice during the year. John Elway 3,051 yards reg season, 18 TDs, 18 INTs. Bobby Humphrey 1,151 rushing. Vance Johnson 76 catches for 1,095. Bernie Kosar 3,533 yards reg season, 18 TDs, 14 INTs. Webster Slaughter 64 catches for 1,236. The Broncos beat the Steelers 24-23 in the divisional; the Browns beat the Bills 34-30 in the divisional.

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 (14-2).

AFC

AFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Cleveland Browns9-6-1W2
Pittsburgh Steelers9-7W3
Houston Oilers9-7L2
Cincinnati Bengals8-8L1

AFC East

TeamRecStrk
Buffalo Bills9-7W1
Indianapolis Colts8-8L1
Miami Dolphins8-8L2
New England Patriots5-11L3
New York Jets4-12L3

AFC West

TeamRecStrk
Denver Broncos11-5L1
Kansas City Chiefs8-7-1W1
Los Angeles Raiders8-8L2
Seattle Seahawks7-9L1
San Diego Chargers6-10W2

NFC

NFC West

TeamRecStrk
San Francisco 49ers14-2W5
Los Angeles Rams11-5W2
New Orleans Saints9-7W3
Atlanta Falcons3-13L7

NFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Green Bay Packers10-6W2
Minnesota Vikings10-6W1
Detroit Lions7-9W5
Chicago Bears6-10L6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers5-11L4

NFC East

TeamRecStrk
New York Giants12-4W3
Philadelphia Eagles11-5W1
Washington Redskins10-6W5
Phoenix Cardinals5-11L6
Dallas Cowboys1-15L7

Game video

▶ Open in YouTube 1989 AFC Championship - Browns @ Broncos · channel: Bart Simpson

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🔎 Search YouTube for this game🏈 Around the league this week
More of this game (4):
1989 AFC Championship Game Cleveland v Denver1989 AFC Championship Game Cleveland v Denver1989 AFC Championship - Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos1989 AFC Championship - Cleveland Browns at Denver BroncosCleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos Highlights | 1989 AFC ChampionshipCleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos Highlights | 1989 AFC Championship1989 AFC Divisional Playoff Pittsburgh v Denver1989 AFC Divisional Playoff Pittsburgh v Denver
Around the league this week (1):
The CRAZIEST BROADCAST in AFC CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY | 1989 AFC ChampionshipThe CRAZIEST BROADCAST in AFC CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY | 1989 AFC Championship

Game info

Roof
outdoors
Surface
grass
Weather
47°F, 35% humidity, wind 13 mph
Vegas line
Denver Broncos -3.5
Over/Under
40 (over)

Score

Reveal through:

Cleveland Browns 21, Denver Broncos 37[2][1]

1234T
Cleveland Browns0021000212121
Denver Broncos371413310243737

Scoring plays

Q1

TeamPlayScore
BroncosDavid Treadwell 29 yard field goal0-3

Q2

TeamPlayScore
BroncosMike Young 70 yard pass from John Elway (David Treadwell kick)0-10

Q3

TeamPlayScore
BrownsBrian Brennan 27 yard pass from Bernie Kosar (Matt Bahr kick)7-10
BroncosOrson Mobley 5 yard pass from John Elway (David Treadwell kick)7-17
BroncosSammy Winder 7 yard rush (David Treadwell kick)7-24
BrownsBrian Brennan 10 yard pass from Bernie Kosar (Matt Bahr kick)14-24
BrownsTim Manoa 2 yard rush (Matt Bahr kick)21-24

Q4

TeamPlayScore
BroncosSammy Winder 39 yard pass from John Elway (David Treadwell kick)21-31
BroncosDavid Treadwell 34 yard field goal21-34
BroncosDavid Treadwell 31 yard field goal21-37

Recap

Recap
AI summary based on verified facts

John Elway threw three touchdowns including a 70-yard score to Mike Young and a 39-yard touchdown to Sammy Winder, and the Denver Broncos beat the Cleveland Browns 37-21 at Mile High Stadium in the AFC Championship. Elway finished 20 of 36 for 385 yards. Sammy Winder ran for 37 with a 7-yard touchdown. Bobby Humphrey added 23 rushing. Bernie Kosar threw two touchdowns to Brian Brennan but the Browns' two-touchdown second-half rally fell short. The Broncos improved to 13-5 and advanced to Super Bowl XXIV.[1][2]

Columnist recap
AI summary based on verified facts

John Elway's three-touchdown performance and a 70-yard touchdown to Mike Young in the second quarter set up the Denver Broncos' 37-21 AFC Championship home win over the Cleveland Browns at Mile High Stadium. The Broncos advance to Super Bowl XXIV.

Elway finished 20 of 36 for 385 yards with the three touchdowns (Mike Young 70, Orson Mobley 5, Sammy Winder 39). Mike Young caught two for 123 with the long touchdown. Vance Johnson caught seven for 91. Steve Sewell caught three for 55. Bobby Humphrey ran 8 for 23. Sammy Winder ran 21 for 37 with a 7-yard rushing touchdown.

Bernie Kosar finished 19 of 44 for 210 with two touchdowns (Brian Brennan 27, Brian Brennan 10) and three interceptions. The Browns' offense produced two third-quarter touchdowns to cut the deficit to 21-24 but the fourth-quarter David Treadwell field goals and the Sammy Winder touchdown closed the door. Tim Manoa added a 2-yard rushing touchdown for the Browns.

By the numbers
AI summary based on verified facts

Broncos 37, Browns 21. Margin: plus 16. AFC Championship.

  • Elway: 20 of 36, 385, 3 TDs (Mike Young 70, Orson Mobley 5, Sammy Winder 39), 0 INTs; 5 carries for 39.
  • Mike Young: 2 catches for 123, 1 TD (70y).
  • Vance Johnson: 7 catches for 91.
  • Sammy Winder: 21 carries for 37, 1 rushing TD (7y), plus 2 catches for 39, 1 receiving TD.
  • Bobby Humphrey: 8 carries for 23.
  • Steve Sewell: 4 carries for 17, plus 3 for 55.
  • David Treadwell: 3 FGs (29, 34, 31).
  • Kosar (CLE): 19 of 44, 210, 2 TDs (Brennan 27, Brennan 10), 3 INTs.
  • Brian Brennan (CLE): 5 catches for 58, 2 TDs.
  • Kevin Mack (CLE): 6 carries for 36.
  • Tim Manoa (CLE): 2 carries for 5, 1 rushing TD (2y).
  • Reggie Langhorne (CLE): 5 catches for 78.
  • Webster Slaughter (CLE): 3 catches for 36.
  • Broncos 13-5; Browns out. Broncos advance to Super Bowl XXIV.
Film room
AI summary based on verified facts

A 37-21 AFC Championship home win for the Denver Broncos over the Cleveland Browns at Mile High Stadium. Denver advances to Super Bowl XXIV at the Louisiana Superdome.

How it unfolded

David Treadwell's 29-yard field goal opened the scoring. Mike Young caught a 70-yard touchdown from Elway to make it 10-0. Brian Brennan caught a 27-yarder to cut it to 10-7. Orson Mobley caught a 5-yarder for 17-7. Sammy Winder ran in a 7-yard touchdown to extend it to 24-7. Brennan caught a 10-yarder to cut it to 24-14. Tim Manoa ran in a 2-yarder for 24-21. Treadwell's 34-yarder made it 27-21. Sammy Winder caught a 39-yarder for 34-21. Treadwell added a 31-yarder for the final 37-21.

The turning point

The Sammy Winder 39-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. With the Broncos clinging to a 27-21 lead and the Browns' offense having produced two third-quarter touchdowns, Elway's screen pass to Winder turned into a 39-yard score that ended Cleveland's comeback hopes.

By the numbers

Elway 20 of 36 for 385 with three touchdowns. Mike Young's 123 receiving yards on the 70-yarder. Bobby Humphrey 23 on eight carries; the back's lowest single-game workload of the year. Vance Johnson seven for 91. Kosar 19 of 44 for 210 with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Brian Brennan five for 58 with two touchdowns. The 49ers' postseason has now passed; Denver advances to Super Bowl XXIV.

What it means

13-5. Super Bowl XXIV at the Louisiana Superdome against the 49ers. The Broncos' third Super Bowl appearance in four years. Dan Reeves' third Super Bowl as head coach.

Box score

BrownsBroncos
Team totals
First Downs1422
Total Yards256497
Turnovers32
Passing
Comp/Att19/4420/36
Pass yards210385
Pass TD23
Interceptions30
Sacks taken41
Sack yards lost208
Net pass yards190377
Rushing
Rushes1439
Rush yards66120
Rush TD11
Discipline
Fumbles32
Fumbles lost02
Penalties81
Penalty yards555

Passing

PlayerC/AYdsTDIntRate
CLE
Bernie Kosar19/442102344.7
DEN
John Elway20/3638530120.7

Rushing

PlayerAttYdsTDLong
CLE
Kevin Mack636019
Bernie Kosar222016
Tim Manoa2513
Eric Metcalf3402
Reggie Langhorne1-10-1
DEN
John Elway539025
Sammy Winder213719
Bobby Humphrey82309
Steve Sewell417012
Mel Bratton1404

Receiving

PlayerRecYdsTDLong
CLE
Reggie Langhorne578027
Brian Brennan558227
Webster Slaughter336016
Lawyer Tillman115015
Kevin Mack2805
Tim Manoa1808
Eric Metcalf2704
DEN
Mike Young2123170
Vance Johnson791023
Steve Sewell355043
Sammy Winder239139
Mark Jackson225013
Bobby Humphrey123023
Orson Mobley222117
Mel Bratton1707

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Canonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1989 Conference Championships - Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos - Game Thread