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Moment 2: Oh, those Oilers

12.29.2006

Each Friday, check out Browns Huddle for one of the team's 60 Memorable Moments. Browns Huddle, the official publication of the Cleveland Browns, is available in newsstand editions of Friday's Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Browns Huddle also is available free online in .pdf format for season ticket holders and Browns Backers each Saturday by visiting the Browns Huddle link under the "News" tab, or by clicking here.

Below is a taste of Steve King's article on this week's moment, the team's matchups against the Houston Oilers in consecutive weeks in 1988. Get the full article, along with a feature on Kellen Winslow, in this week's Huddle.

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The Browns went into their last regular-season game of 1988 hoping it wouldn't be their last game of the season, period. After qualifying for the playoffs the previous three years, winning three straight division crowns and twice going to the AFC Championship Game, the Browns were in danger of not even getting into the postseason.

Because of the worst injury situation at quarterback in team history, the Browns had an up-and-down season. They could never really get any momentum going. Just when they thought things had settled down and they were ready to get on a roll, another quarterback would get hurt and they'd get knocked back to square one.

With Gary Danielson having already been lost for the year with a career-ending broken ankle suffered in the second game, and Mike Pagel not quite ready to return from a separated shoulder he sustained nine weeks before, the Browns were down to two "extremes" at quarterback. Their starter for the Oilers game was Don Strock, a 14-season Miami Dolphins backup who had been coaxed out of retirement to add much-needed depth to the depleted and desperate Browns.

Literally signed while playing a round of golf, the 38-year-old Strock had come on in relief of Kosar against the Dolphins in Week 15 and played well, rallying the Browns to a 31-31 tie with two fourth-quarter TD passes to wide receiver Reggie Langhorne, though the Browns eventually lost 31-38.

Now, Strock and the Browns had to prepare for the Oilers, who had already beaten them 24-17 at Houston six weeks before. This time, beating the 10-5 Oilers was an absolute must if they wanted to make the playoffs. A loss and they were out.