<![CDATA[Nostalgia for old foe]]>I was looking for highlights of it but could not find it, so I found the boxscore for what I consider one of the best games that took place between the Cleveland Browns and the Houston Oilers. The game took place on December 23, 1989 with the Browns winning in the last minute on a Kevin Mack run 24-20.

I recall it vividly because I was at my in-laws in South Carolina at the time, and I was watching the game with some other in-law types who came from Houston:

1 2 3 4 Final Cleveland Browns (9-6-1) 10 7 0 7 24 Houston Oilers (9-7-0) 0 3 7 10 20
Game Info Stadium Houston Astrodome Start Time (ET) 8:00pm Roof dome Surface astroturf Vegas Line Houston Oilers -3.5 Over/Under 43.0 (over)

Scoring

CLE HOU 1st Browns Matt Bahr 32 yard field goal 3 0

Browns Eric Metcalf 68 yard pass from Bernie Kosar (Matt Bahr kick) 10 0

2nd Browns Webster Slaughter 40 yard pass from Bernie Kosar (Matt Bahr kick) 17 0

Oilers Tony Zendejas 30 yard field goal 17 3

3rd Oilers Drew Hill 9 yard pass from Warren Moon (Tony Zendejas kick) 17 10

4th Oilers Tony Zendejas 37 yard field goal 17 13

Oilers Drew Hill 27 yard pass from Warren Moon (Tony Zendejas kick) 17 20

Browns Kevin Mack 4 yard rush (Matt Bahr kick) 24 20

Team Stats
CLE HOU First downs 21 28 Rush-yards-TDs 26-105-1 19-102-0 Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT 18-36-228-2-0 32-51-414-2-1 Sacked-yards 1-9 5-33 Net pass yards 219 381 Total yards 324 483 Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-1 Turnovers 1 2 Penalties-yards 7-41 12-77 Time of Possession 29:46 30:14
Passing, Rushing, & Receiving
Passing Rushing Receiving Player Tm Cmp Att Yds TD Int Lng Att Yds TD Lng Rec Yds TD Lng
Bernie Kosar CLE 18 36 228 2 0 68 3 7 0 5
Eric Metcalf CLE 4 14 0 9 2 74 1 68
Webster Slaughter CLE 3 66 1 40
Kevin Mack CLE 12 62 1 12 1 3 0 3
Reggie Langhorne CLE 5 38 0 9
Brian Brennan CLE 4 34 0 11
Barry Redden CLE 6 23 0 8 1 6 0 6
Gerald McNeil CLE 1 6 0 6
Ozzie Newsome CLE 1 1 0 1
Tim Manoa CLE 1 -1 0 -1 P
Passing Rushing Receiving Player Tm Cmp Att Yds TD Int Lng Att Yds TD Lng Rec Yds TD Lng
Warren Moon HOU 32 51 414 2 1 37 4 20 0 12
Drew Hill HOU 10 141 2 37
Allen Pinkett HOU 8 63 0 27 4 36 0 13
Curtis Duncan HOU 7 85 0 19
Ernest Givins HOU 6 75 0 18
Alonzo Highsmith HOU 4 14 0 12 3 40 0 16
Chris Verhulst HOU 2 37 0 21
Mike Rozier HOU 3 5 0 4
Defense & Returns
Def Interceptions Fumbles Kick Returns Punt Returns Player Tm Sk Int Yds TD Lng FR Yds TD Rt Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Ret Yds Y/R TD Lng
Al Baker CLE 1.5 0 0 0 0
Robert Banks CLE 1.5 0 0 0 0
Mark Harper CLE 1.0 0 0 0 0
Clay Matthews CLE 1.0 0 0 0 0
Gerald McNeil CLE 0 0 0 0 4 61 15.3 0 0 2 8 4.0 0 0
Eric Metcalf CLE 0 0 0 0 1 21 21.0 0 0
Felix Wright CLE 1 22 0 22
Def Interceptions Fumbles Kick Returns Punt Returns Player Tm Sk Int Yds TD Lng FR Yds TD Rt Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Ret Yds Y/R TD Lng
Kenny Johnson HOU 0 0 0 0 1 1 1.0 0 0 3 4 1.3 0 0
Tracy Johnson HOU 0 0 0 0 1 11 11.0 0 0
Robert Lyles HOU 1.0 0 0 0 0
Lorenzo White HOU 0 0 0 0 1 29 29.0 0 0
Kicking & Punting
Scoring Punting Player Tm XPM XPA FGM FGA Pnt Yds Y/P Lng
Matt Bahr CLE 3 3 1 1 0 0 0
Bryan Wagner CLE 6 265 44.2 0
Scoring Punting Player Tm XPM XPA FGM FGA Pnt Yds Y/P Lng
Greg Montgomery HOU 4 172 43.0 0
Tony Zendejas HOU 2 2 2 3 0 0 0
]]>https://brownsboard.com/topic/30887/nostalgia-for-old-foeRSS for NodeThu, 01 Oct 2026 12:58:45 GMTWed, 12 Nov 2014 19:12:28 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Nostalgia for old foe on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 21:17:39 GMT]]>

@bob806 said:

Yeah, you're thinking of the season finale where Don Strock had to come in, and we rallied for a 28-23 win to put us in the playoffs.

Then, we hosted the Oilers the next weekend in a playoff game, and effing Jerry Markbreit ruined our Christmas Eve with one of the worst calls in NFL history. Warren Moon threw a lateral to Haywood Jeffires around the Houston 5. It fell incomplete and Clay Matthews recovered it. Markbreit disallowed the recovery, said the whistle blew and killed the play.

Perhaps you old-timers remember that game-Earnest Byner committed I think 3 personal fouls. That, combined with the prior year's "Fumble," lead to his trade to Washington-yikes.

Three personal fouls? I only remember one......and it was a total bullshit call.....but it did help the Oilers win that game.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/448855https://brownsboard.com/post/448855Thu, 13 Nov 2014 21:17:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Nostalgia for old foe on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 20:00:51 GMT]]>

@nickers said:

I remember that game. A friend and I watched it at the old Quinns Pub on Lakeshore Blvd in Euclid.. Mack carried the team that day.

Indeed he did. I think Mack came back from a drug suspension, and the last drive the Browns just kept feeding it to him, he would not be denied.

I also think this game had the infamous lateral by Clay Matthews to Big Daddy Hairston- it nearly cost them the game.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/448832https://brownsboard.com/post/448832Thu, 13 Nov 2014 20:00:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Nostalgia for old foe on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 19:56:11 GMT]]>

@nuckin-futz said:

I was there. Snowing like a motherfucker. Packed house. One of my fondest memories as a Browns fan. Clay Mathews was a beast that game.

Yeah, you're thinking of the season finale where Don Strock had to come in, and we rallied for a 28-23 win to put us in the playoffs.

Then, we hosted the Oilers the next weekend in a playoff game, and effing Jerry Markbreit ruined our Christmas Eve with one of the worst calls in NFL history. Warren Moon threw a lateral to Haywood Jeffires around the Houston 5. It fell incomplete and Clay Matthews recovered it. Markbreit disallowed the recovery, said the whistle blew and killed the play.

Perhaps you old-timers remember that game-Earnest Byner committed I think 3 personal fouls. That, combined with the prior year's "Fumble," lead to his trade to Washington-yikes.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/448831https://brownsboard.com/post/448831Thu, 13 Nov 2014 19:56:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Nostalgia for old foe on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 16:36:26 GMT]]>

Zombo said:

Yea, I found this game's highlights, from the previous 1988 WC game.....lost by Browns at home. But I couldn't find the 1989 final regular season game.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/448787https://brownsboard.com/post/448787Thu, 13 Nov 2014 16:36:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Nostalgia for old foe on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 16:35:13 GMT]]>

@tour2ma said:

Was that the Saturday nite game?

It very well may have been. It was a night game.

Only time ever that it snowed in the Astrodome...

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/448786https://brownsboard.com/post/448786Thu, 13 Nov 2014 16:35:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Nostalgia for old foe on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 16:34:26 GMT]]>

@nuckin-futz said:

I was there. Snowing like a motherfucker. Packed house. One of my fondest memories as a Browns fan. Clay Mathews was a beast that game.

Uh, the game I referenced was in the Astrodome. No snow in sight. You must be thinking of another.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/448785https://brownsboard.com/post/448785Thu, 13 Nov 2014 16:34:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Nostalgia for old foe on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 14:27:42 GMT]]>

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/448751https://brownsboard.com/post/448751Thu, 13 Nov 2014 14:27:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Nostalgia for old foe on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 12:43:26 GMT]]>Was that the Saturday nite game?

@nuckin-futz said:

I was there. Snowing like a motherfucker.

Only time ever that it snowed in the Astrodome...

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/448727https://brownsboard.com/post/448727Thu, 13 Nov 2014 12:43:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Nostalgia for old foe on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 12:31:01 GMT]]>I was there. Snowing like a motherfucker. Packed house. One of my fondest memories as a Browns fan. Clay Mathews was a beast that game.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/448726https://brownsboard.com/post/448726Thu, 13 Nov 2014 12:31:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Nostalgia for old foe on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 08:49:00 GMT]]>Gipper, I think I have that game in full on DVD courtesy of MarkO. I'm pretty sure it's that game - I'll have to make a copy and send it to you or pack it in my case when I come back for the playoffs.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/448709https://brownsboard.com/post/448709Thu, 13 Nov 2014 08:49:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Nostalgia for old foe on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 02:50:04 GMT]]>I remember that game. A friend and I watched it at the old Quinns Pub on Lakeshore Blvd in Euclid.. Mack carried the team that day.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/448678https://brownsboard.com/post/448678Thu, 13 Nov 2014 02:50:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Nostalgia for old foe on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 00:18:17 GMT]]>When we occasionally play the titans it kind of feels nostalgic. I do miss the Oilers kind of, though.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/448658https://brownsboard.com/post/448658Thu, 13 Nov 2014 00:18:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Nostalgia for old foe on Wed, 12 Nov 2014 23:02:18 GMT]]>i wish i had ur memory, i hardly remember the score of the game i went to a few weeks ago.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/448643https://brownsboard.com/post/448643Wed, 12 Nov 2014 23:02:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Nostalgia for old foe on Wed, 12 Nov 2014 19:44:34 GMT]]>a tony zendejas sighting? gtfo

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/448619https://brownsboard.com/post/448619Wed, 12 Nov 2014 19:44:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Nostalgia for old foe on Wed, 12 Nov 2014 19:19:48 GMT]]>If anyone can dig up highlights of this game and post it, muchos gracias

Also, here is the Oilers fight song. Oilers should never have been allowed to leave.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/448612https://brownsboard.com/post/448612Wed, 12 Nov 2014 19:19:48 GMT