1987 Cleveland Browns season (Colony Crisis Averted)

The 1987 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 38th season in the American Football League. The Browns finished first in the AFC Central, and were AFC Champions for the second straight year. Quarterback Bernie Kosar was voted league MVP for 1987.

Led by another 3,000-yard season from Bernie Kosar, the Browns captured their third-straight AFC Central crown. In the divisional playoffs, against the Indianapolis Colts at Municipal Stadium, the Browns routed the Colts 38–21 to advance to their second-straight AFC Championship Game. For the second year in a row, the Browns were matched up against the Denver Broncos for a trip to Super Bowl XXII. The Browns fell behind early at Mile High Stadium, as the Broncos roared out to a big halftime lead. However, the Browns scored 30 points in the second half, and drove down the field in the late fourth quarter and with 1:12 left in the game, RB Earnest Byner scored a game-tying touchdown. Cleveland ran down the clock and scored a two-point conversion with 8 seconds left, and the Browns won 39–38. Cleveland returned to the Super Bowl for a second straight year at the expense of the Broncos.