The 1972 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 23rd season with the National Football League. The Browns, after losing all six of their preseason games, finished at 10–4 which qualified the team for the NFL Playoffs as a Wild Card. In the Divisional Playoffs they played the undefeated Miami Dolphins and held a one-point lead in the 4th quarter. But a late Dolphins touchdown put them up for good, and the Browns lost 20–14.
For the first time since joining the league, the Browns had no players selected to the Pro Bowl.
Their week 2 game against the Eagles, which was a 27–17 win, as well as their first of ten on the season, marked head coach Nick Skorich's only return to Philadelphia after having been the head coach of the Eagles from 1961 to 1963.
Offseason
Staff
Roster
Season summary 1972 marked the end of a nine-year span in which the Browns made the playoffs seven times; it would be the Browns' last playoff appearance until 1980.
The 1972 Cleveland Browns not only made it to the postseason as a wild card team with a 10–4 record, but also nearly pulled off what would have been one of the biggest upsets in team and NFL playoff history. Playing in the AFC divisional round in Miami against a Dolphins team that would go 17–0 and win the Super Bowl, the Browns lost 20–14 after blowing a 14–13 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
The Browns started the year with veteran quarterback Bill Nelsen as their starter; Nelsen had arrived from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 1968 trade. But Nelsen, who had knee problems, struggled early, and the team followed suit by getting off to a rocky 2–3 start. The move was made to start Mike Phipps, drafted in 1970 with the No.3 overall pick the Browns obtained by trading Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Paul Warfield to Miami. Although Phipps didn't have a very good year statistically—he completed only 47.2 percent of his passes and threw for just 13 touchdowns with 16 interceptions—he was able to make plays when he had to.
The Browns were only 2–3 and had been outscored 48–7 in their last two games, and 74–17 in their three losses, before a six-game winning streak ensued. Included in the streak was a last-second, 26–24 comeback win at home over the Steelers, who were trying to win the AFC Central title and make the playoffs for the second time in franchise history and first time since 1947. The Browns finished second to the Steelers (11–3) by a game after winning eight of their last nine contests, the only loss being a 30–0 decision in the rematch in Pittsburgh. The Browns also turned back the Denver Broncos on the road 27–20.
Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Leroy Kelly, in his last productive season, rushed for 811 yards. Wide receiver Frank Pitts led the team in receptions with 36, good for eight touchdowns—or 62 percent of the team total of 13. But it was primarily the defense that saved the season for the Browns. The unit gave up over 30 points only twice all year, posted a shutout and kept foes to 17 points or less eight times.
Exhibition schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 at Los Angeles Rams L 3–13 0–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 64,803 2 August 13 at San Francisco 49ers L 13–20 0–2 Candlestick Park 58,364 3 August 20 at Detroit Lions L 7–34 0–3 Tiger Stadium 58,422 4 Minnesota Vikings L 17–20 0–4 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 70,583 5 September 3 vs. Cincinnati Bengals L 17–27 0–5 Ohio Stadium 84,816 6 September 10 at New York Giants L 13–27 0–6 Yankee Stadium 60,152
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 17 Green Bay Packers L 10–26 0–1 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 75,771 Recap 2 September 24 at Philadelphia Eagles W 27–17 1–1 Veterans Stadium 65,720 Recap 3 October 1 Cincinnati Bengals W 27–6 2–1 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 81,564 Recap 4 October 8 Kansas City Chiefs L 7–31 2–2 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 83,819 Recap 5 October 15 Chicago Bears L 0–17 2–3 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 72,339 Recap 6 October 22 at Houston Oilers W 23–17 3–3 Houston Astrodome 38,113 Recap 7 October 29 at Denver Broncos W 27–20 4–3 Mile High Stadium 51,656 Recap 8 November 5 Houston Oilers W 20–0 5–3 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 61,985 Recap 9 at San Diego Chargers W 21–17 6–3 San Diego Stadium 54,205 Recap 10 November 19 Pittsburgh Steelers W 26–24 7–3 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 83,009 Recap 11 November 26 Buffalo Bills W 27–10 8–3 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 70,104 Recap 12 December 3 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 0–30 8–4 Three Rivers Stadium 50,350 Recap 13 at Cincinnati Bengals W 27–24 9–4 Riverfront Stadium 59,524 Recap 14 December 17 at New York Jets W 26–10 10–4 Shea Stadium 62,614 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Postseason
Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Divisional December 24 at Miami Dolphins L 14–20 0–1 Miami Orange Bowl 78,196 Recap
Standings
References
External links 1972 Cleveland Browns at Pro Football Reference 1972 Cleveland Browns Statistics at jt-sw.com 1972 Cleveland Browns Schedule at jt-sw.com at DatabaseFootball.com