AFC Divisional Playoff - "Red Right 88"
The temperature at kickoff for this AFC Divisional playoff game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium was 1 degree above zero. It was January 4, 1981, and the Browns were favored against the visiting Raiders. It was a low-scoring affair whose first touchdown was a 42-yard interception return by the Browns’ Ron Bolton. But the Raiders came back with their own touchdown, taking a 7-6 lead into halftime. Two 30-yard field goals by Cleveland’s Don Cockroft pulled the Browns ahead 12-7 after three quarters. In the fourth, the Raiders scored on a 1-yard rush by running back Mark van Eeghen, and led 14-12. The Browns, though, would have a chance to win after moving the ball to the Raiders’ 13. A field goal would win the game, but a Browns’ play call was made: “Red Right 88.” Quarterback Brian Sipe dropped back to pass, tossed one into the end zone, and it was picked off by Raiders’ safety Mike Davis to seal their victory. The Raiders beat the Chargers in the AFC title game and then topped the Eagles, becoming the first Wild Card team to ever win the Super Bowl.