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 10âÂÂ4 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 20âÂÂ14.
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 27âÂÂ17 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.
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 10âÂÂ4 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 17âÂÂ0 and win the Super Bowl, the Browns lost 20âÂÂ14 after blowing a 14âÂÂ13 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 2âÂÂ3 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 statisticallyâÂÂhe completed only 47.2 percent of his passes and threw for just 13 touchdowns with 16 interceptionsâÂÂhe was able to make plays when he had to.
The Browns were only 2âÂÂ3 and had been outscored 48âÂÂ7 in their last two games, and 74âÂÂ17 in their three losses, before a six-game winning streak ensued. Included in the streak was a last-second, 26âÂÂ24 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 (11âÂÂ3) by a game after winning eight of their last nine contests, the only loss being a 30âÂÂ0 decision in the rematch in Pittsburgh. The Browns also turned back the Denver Broncos on the road 27âÂÂ20.
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 touchdownsâÂÂor 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.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.