The Fumble - 1987 AFC Championship - Exclusive Footage

The Fumble refers to a specific incident in the AFC Championship Game between the Cleveland Browns and the Denver Broncos on January 17, 1988 at Mile High Stadium. With 1:12 left in the game, running back Earnest Byner appeared to be on his way to score the game-tying touchdown, but lost a fumble at the 3-yard line.

After spending another year with the Browns, he was traded to the Washington Redskins prior to the start of 1989 season for running back Mike Oliphant. In his five seasons with Washington, Byner was selected to play in the Pro Bowl twice (1990, 1991) and won a Super Bowl ring with the team in the 1991 season. In that season's Super Bowl XXVI, in 1992, he caught a touchdown pass in the second quarter, and the Redskins won, giving him the NFL Championship ring he could not win with the Browns. The Browns had another chance to win the AFC in 1989, but lost again to the Broncos (for the 3rd time in 4 years).

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Category:

Sports

Tags:

• The fumble
• AFC Championship
• 1987
• Byner
• Broncos
• Browns
• Mile High
• Fumble
• 1987 AFC Championship
• Old Mile High Stadium
• Art Modell
• John Elway

[TheGridironfilms]

Folks, relax on the comments. Stop with this bullshit.

[voslyn]

1:11 What is Dick Cheney doing in this clip?

[mkam11]

been a long time since I saw this replay, the thing that struck me is look at the body language of Byner. That is the look of a play that will haunt a man till he goes to the grave. Complete devastation.

[nobledb1023]

Amazing play by Castillo - lucky he backed off the bump-and-run.

[StFidjnr]

@mytimton that kinda made up for that play

[Bexly]

wrs not running routes and not blocking....typical

[papawx3]

Everyone envolved in the play was present in the film except for Ernest. Why do you suppose he wasn't asked to have his say in the film? {just kidding!}

[myespion]

@AlmightyKingCane Agreed. This game happened in 1988 but the playoff games in December/January are still called based on that year's NFL season. For example, the Giants-49ers NFC Championship occurring on 01/22/2012 will be called the 2011 NFC championship game even though it doesn't even take place that year.

[TPTGopher]

@keytardan Amen to that - and if Cleveland wins here, I think the Skins beat the Browns, but I doubt they put up 35 in a quarter doing it.

[mixer14316]

One of the greatest games ever played. As my late, GREAT Dad said when I walked in to visit him and my Mom moments after this game ended, "it's a shame someone had to lost this game". He was right. Unreal game, and fantastic memories. Poor Cleveland, who had a fantastic team back then.

[kcaj789]

@voslyn Dick Cheney's a much nicer guy.

[AlmightyKingCane]

No one has caught this but this happen in 1988, not 87

[SFEver1982]

@Evile9669, I'm with ya, GO STEELERS. CLEVELAND = CITY OF LOSERS