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1971 Cleveland Browns season

{{short description|NFL team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NFL team season

| team = Cleveland Browns

| year = 1971

| coach = Nick Skorich

| general_manager = Harold Sauerbrei

| stadium = Cleveland Stadium

| radio = WHK

| record = 9–5

| division_place = 1st AFC Central

| playoffs = Lost Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Colts) 3–20

| pro bowlers = RB Leroy Kelly
TE Milt Morin

| shortnavlink = Browns seasons

}}

File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 31 - Rick Volk and Leroy Kelly.jpg]]

The 1971 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 22nd season with the National Football League.

After missing the playoffs the previous year, the Browns got off to a good start at 4–1 only to stumble losing four straight to fall to 4–5. However, the Browns would rebound to win the final five games of the season for the AFC Central Division title. Just as the 1967 Browns returned to the playoffs following a one-year absence, so, too, did the '71 club, which was in its first season under new head coach Nick Skorich after Blanton Collier's final team in 1970 had finished just 7–7, ending a string of three consecutive postseason berths.

As was the case in 1967, the '71 Browns went 9–5 and won a division crown. They captured the AFC Central for the first time, finishing three games in front of the soon-to-emerge Pittsburgh Steelers (6–8). In the playoffs the Browns would fall in the first round 20–3 to the Baltimore Colts. Running back Leroy Kelly was on the downside of his Pro Football Hall of Fame career, but he did manage to rush for 865 yards and 10 touchdowns – still good for a 14-game season. Wide receiver Fair Hooker led the team in receptions with 45.{{Cite web |url=http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/history/year-by-year-results/1971.html |title=Season statistics and summary at Cleveland Browns.com |access-date=2012-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025154547/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/history/year-by-year-results/1971.html |archive-date=2011-10-25 |url-status=dead }}

Offseason

=Draft=

{{main article|1971 NFL draft}}

{{NFL team draft start|year=1971|teamname=Cleveland Browns}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=1|pick=14|player=Clarence Scott|position=DB|college=Kansas State|maderoster=yes|probowl=yes|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=2|pick=40|player=Bo Cornell|position=LB|college=Washington|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=3|pick=66|player=Paul Staroba|position=WR|college=Michigan|notes=Played with Browns in 1972}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=3|pick=68|player=Charlie Hall|position=LB|college=Houston|maderoster=yes|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=4|pick=92|player=Bubba Pena|position=G|college=UMass|notes=Played with Browns in 1972}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=5|pick=118|player=Stan Brown|position=WR|college=Purdue|maderoster=yes|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=6|pick=142|player=Doug Dieken|position=T|college=Illinois|maderoster=yes|probowl=yes|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=6|pick=144|player=Jay Dixon|position=DE|college=Boston University|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=7|pick=170|player=Bob Jacobs|position=K|college=Wyoming|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=8|pick=196|player=Larry Zelina|position=RB|college=Ohio State|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=9|pick=222|player=Wilmur Levels|position=DB|college=North Texas State|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=10|pick=248|player=Steve Casteel|position=LB|college=Oklahoma|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=11|pick=274|player=Mike Sikich|position=G|college=Northwestern|maderoster=yes|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=12|pick=300|player=Tony Blanchard|position=TE|college=North Carolina|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=13|pick=326|player=Thad Jamula|position=T|college=Lehigh|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=14|pick=352|player=Rick Kingrea|position=LB|college=Tulane|maderoster=yes|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=15|pick=378|player=Bill Green|position=DB|college=Western Kentucky|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=16|pick=404|player=Dave Smith|position=WR|college=Mississippi State|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=17|pick=430|player=Leo Dillon|position=C|college=Dayton|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft end|hof=no}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1971_draft.htm|title=1971 Cleveland Browns Draftees|publisher=Pro Football Reference|access-date=June 12, 2022}}

Staff

{{NFL final staff

| year = 1971

| team = Cleveland Browns

| front_office =

| head_coach =

| offensive =

| defensive =

| strength =

|}}

Roster

{{NFL season roster

| year = 1971

| team = Cleveland Browns

| quarterbacks =

{{NFLplayer|16|Bill Nelsen}}

{{NFLplayer|15|Mike Phipps}}

| running_backs =

{{NFLplayer|30|Ken Brown|d=running back}}

{{NFLplayer|33|Bo Cornell|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|44|Leroy Kelly}}

{{NFLplayer|26|Reece Morrison}}

{{NFLplayer|35|Bo Scott}}

| wide_receivers =

{{NFLplayer|21|Stan Brown|rookie=y|link=no}}

{{NFLplayer|86|Gary Collins|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|43|Fair Hooker}}

{{NFLplayer|41|Dave Jones|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|25|Frank Pitts}}

| tight_ends =

{{NFLplayer|83|Chip Glass|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|89|Milt Morin}}

| offensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|64|Jim Copeland|d=American football|C/G}}

{{NFLplayer|65|John Demarie|G}}

{{NFLplayer|73|Doug Dieken|rookie=y|T}}

{{NFLplayer|54|Fred Hoaglin|C}}

{{NFLplayer|66|Gene Hickerson|G}}

{{NFLplayer|74|Mitch Johnson|d=American football|T}}

{{NFLplayer|78|Bob McKay|T}}

{{NFLplayer|77|Dick Schafrath|T}}

{{NFLplayer|63|Mike Sikich|rookie=y|G}}

| defensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|84|Bob Briggs|d=American football|DE/DT}}

{{NFLplayer|81|Jack Gregory|d=defensive end|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|71|Walter Johnson|d=defensive tackle|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|80|Joe Jones|d=defensive end|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|72|Jerry Sherk|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|88|Ron Snidow|DE}}

| linebackers =

{{NFLplayer|52|Billy Andrews|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|50|John Garlington|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|59|Charlie Hall|d=linebacker|rookie=y|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|82|Jim Houston|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|58|Rick Kingrea|rookie=y|MLB}}

{{NFLplayer|51|Dale Lindsey|MLB}}

| defensive_back =

{{NFLplayer|28|Ben Davis|d=American football|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|34|Mike Howell|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|24|Ernie Kellermann|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|22|Clarence Scott|rookie=y|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|20|Freddie Summers|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|29|Walt Sumner|SS}}

| special_teams =

{{NFLplayer|12|Don Cockroft|K/P}}

| reserve_lists =

{{NFLplayer|40|Erich Barnes|S|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|36|Steve Engel|d=American football|RB|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|70|Joe Righetti|DT|IR}}

| practice_squad =

{{NFLplayer|11|Don Gault|QB}}

{{NFLplayer|68|Bubba Pena|rookie=y|G}}

{{NFLplayer|85|Paul Staroba|rookie=y|WR}}

{{NFLplayer|67|Craig Wycinsky|G}}

{{NFLplayer|75|William Yanchar|link=no|DT}}

}}

Exhibition schedule

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Week

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Recap

style="background:#fcc"

! 1

| {{dow tooltip|August 8, 1971}}

| at San Francisco 49ers

| L 24–38

| 0–1

| Candlestick Park

| 40,000

style="background:#fcc"

! 2

| {{dow tooltip|August 13, 1971}}

| Los Angeles Rams

| L 5–17

| 0–2

| Cleveland Municipal Stadium

| 52,503

style="background:#fcc"

! 3

| {{dow tooltip|August 20, 1971}}

| at Dallas Cowboys

| L 15–16

| 0–3

| Cotton Bowl

| 69,099

style="background:#fcc"

! 4

| {{dow tooltip|August 28, 1971}}

| vs. Chicago Bears

| L 19–20

| 0–4

| Notre Dame Stadium

| 43,568

style="background:#cfc"

! 5

| {{dow tooltip|September 4, 1971}}

| New York Giants

| W 30–7

| 1-4

| Cleveland Municipal Stadium

| 82,710

style="background:#fcc"

! 6

| {{dow tooltip|September 10, 1971}}

| at St. Louis Cardinals

| L 13–27

| 1-5

| Busch Memorial Stadium

| 46,171

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

Schedule

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Week

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Attendance

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Recap

style="background:#cfc"

! 1

| September 19

| Houston Oilers

| W 31–0

| 1–0

| Cleveland Municipal Stadium

| 73,387

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197109190cle.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 2

| September 26

| at Baltimore Colts

| W 14–13

| 2–0

| Memorial Stadium

| 56,837

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197109260clt.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 3

| {{dow tooltip|October 4, 1971}}

| Oakland Raiders

| L 20–34

| 2–1

| Cleveland Municipal Stadium

| 84,285

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197110040cle.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 4

| October 10

| Pittsburgh Steelers

| W 27–17

| 3–1

| Cleveland Municipal Stadium

| 83,391

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197110100cle.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 5

| October 17

| at Cincinnati Bengals

| W 27–24

| 4–1

| Riverfront Stadium

| 60,284

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197110170cin.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 6

| October 24

| Denver Broncos

| L 0–27

| 4–2

| Cleveland Municipal Stadium

| 75,674

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197110240cle.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 7

| October 31

| Atlanta Falcons

| L 14–31

| 4–3

| Cleveland Municipal Stadium

| 76,825

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197110310cle.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 8

| November 7

| at Pittsburgh Steelers

| L 9–26

| 4–4

| Three Rivers Stadium

| 50,202

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197111070pit.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 9

| November 14

| at Kansas City Chiefs

| L 7–13

| 4–5

| Municipal Stadium

| 50,388

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197111140kan.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 10

| November 21

| New England Patriots

| W 27–7

| 5–5

| Cleveland Municipal Stadium

| 65,238

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197111210cle.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 11

| November 28

| at Houston Oilers

| W 37–24

| 6–5

| Houston Astrodome

| 37,921

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197111280oti.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 12

| December 5

| Cincinnati Bengals

| W 31–27

| 7–5

| Cleveland Municipal Stadium

| 82,705

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197112050cle.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 13

| December 12

| at New Orleans Saints

| W 21–17

| 8–5

| Tulane Stadium

| 72,794

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197112120nor.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 14

| December 19

| at Washington Redskins

| W 20–13

| 9–5

| RFK Stadium

| 53,041

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197112190was.htm Recap]

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.

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

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 7: Atlanta Falcons at Cleveland Browns – Game summary

|date=October 31

|time=1:00 p.m. EST

|road=Falcons

|R1=14|R2=7|R3=7|R4=3

|home=Browns

|H1=0|H2=0|H3=7|H4=7

|stadium=Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

|attendance=76,825

|weather={{convert|63|F}}, relative humidity 72%, round (wind) {{convert|11|mph|abbr=on}}

|referee=

|TV=CBS

|TVAnnouncers=Don Criqui (play–by–play), Irv Cross (color commentator) and Frank Clarke (sideline reporter)

|reference= [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197110310cle.htm]

|scoring=

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

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

|stats=

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

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

{{see also|1971–72 NFL playoffs}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Round

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Attendance

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1971|border=2}}"| Recap

style="background:#fcc"

! Divisional

| December 26

| Baltimore Colts

| L 3–20

| 0–1

| Cleveland Municipal Stadium

| 74,082

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197112260cle.htm Recap]

Standings

{{1971 AFC Central standings}}

{{Cleveland Browns}}

{{Cleveland Browns seasons}}

{{1971 NFL season by team}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1971.htm 1971 Cleveland Browns] at Pro Football Reference
  • [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/stats.nsf/Annual/1971-cle 1971 Cleveland Browns Statistics] at jt-sw.com
  • [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1971-cle 1971 Cleveland Browns Schedule] at jt-sw.com
  • {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060828204521/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=CLE&lg=nfl&yr=1971 1971 Cleveland Browns]}} at DatabaseFootball.com

{{DEFAULTSORT:1971 Cleveland Browns Season}}

Cleveland

Category:Cleveland Browns seasons

Category:AFC Central championship seasons

Cleveland Browns