1971 Cleveland Browns season

Offseason

Draft

Main article: 1971 NFL draft

Staff

• Owner - Art Modell

• General Manager - Harold Sauerbrei

• Equipment Manager - Morrie Kono

• Assistant Equipment Manager - Bob Glenn

• Head Coach – Nick Skorich

• Offensive Coordinator - Nick Skorich

• Offensive Line - Ray Prochaska

• Offensive Backs - Howard Keys and then Jerry Williams

• Wide Receivers - Bob Nussbaumer

• Defensive Coordinator - Howard Brinker

• Defensive Line - Dick Modzelewski

• Linebackers/Film Coordinator - Ed Ulinski

• Secondary - Richie McCabe

• Trainer - Leo Murphy

• Team Physician - Vic Ippolito |}}

Roster

Exhibition schedule

There was a doubleheader on September 4, 1971 Jets vs Steelers and Giants vs Browns.

Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. [[Houston]]

The Browns open the regular season by blasting the Oilers, 31-0, in Nick Skorich's first game as coach. Leroy Kelly scores the Browns' first two touchdowns on 1-yard runs, and Bill Nelsen and Mike Phipps both throw a touchdown pass. The Browns intercept five passes (two by rookie Clarence Scott) and yield just 11 first downs.

Week 2: At [[Baltimore]]

The Browns survived a late mistake and upset the defending Super Bowl-champion Colts, 14-13 at Baltimore. After Walt Sumner intercepts a Johnny Unitas pass with five seconds left (Cleveland's fifth interception), he attempts to lateral to Scott, who never touches the ball as Baltimore's Ray Perkins recovers at the Cleveland 27. But the Colts, out of timeouts, watch the clock expire before they can get off a field-goal attempt.

Week 5: At [[Cincinnati]]

The Browns edge the Bengals, 27-24, at Cincinnati on Bo Scott's third touchdown - a 4-yard run with 39 seconds remaining. The win improves Cleveland's record to 4-1 and drops Paul Brown's defending AFC Central-champion Bengals to 1-4. The Browns get a break when defensive end Jack Gregory recovers a fumble at the Cincinnati 10, setting up a Nelsen-to-Scott TD pass. The players gave the game ball to Coach Howard Keys who was in the hospital with complications from cancer and died October 21, 1971.

Week 7: vs. [[1971 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta]]

First quarter

• ATL – Burrow 39 yard pass from Shiner (Bell kick) Falcons 7, Browns 0
• ATL – Hansen 40 yard interception return (Bell kick) Falcons 14, Browns 0 Second quarter
• ATL – Mitchell 23 yard pass from Shiner (Bell kick) Falcons 21, Browns 0 Third quarter
• ATL – Butler 1 yard rush (Bell kick) Falcons 28, Browns 0
• CLE – Scott 12 yard rush (Cockroft kick) Falcons 28, Browns 7 Fourth quarter
• ATL – Bell 27 yard field goal Falcons 31, Browns 7
• CLE – Collins 24 yard pass from Nelsen (Cockroft kick) Falcons 31, Browns 14 Top passers
• ATL – Dick Shiner 6/9, 115 yds, 2 TD
• CLE – Bill Nelsen 9/19, 108 yds, 1 TD, 4 INT Top rushers
• ATL – Cannonball Butler 21 carr, 63 yds, 1 TD
• CLE – Bo Scott 11 carr, 46 yds, 1 TD Top receivers
• ATL – Jim Mitchell 3 rec, 35 yds, 1 TD
• CLE – Fair Hooker & Milt Morin 3 rec, 30 yds Turnovers
• ATL – 0
• CLE – 4

Week 10 vs. [[New England]]

The Browns snap a four-game losing streak with a 27-7 win over the Patriots at Cleveland Stadium. Kelly rushes for 113 yards and scores two touchdowns, one on a 7-yard pass from Nelsen for the game's first score. The Browns intercept four passes by New England rookie Jim Plunkett, who has trouble adjusting on a windy day.

Week 12 vs. Cincinnati

The Browns clinch their first AFC Central Division title with a 31-27 win over Cincinnati at Cleveland. Leroy Kelly, who surpassed the 100-yard mark for the 26th time, scores the first and last touchdowns to complement a 224-yard passing performance by Nelsen.

Postseason

Standings

References

References

1. "Season statistics and summary at Cleveland Browns.com".
2. "1971 Cleveland Browns Draftees". Pro Football Reference.