CLEVELAND, Ohio - Almost 30 years ago, on Dec. 14, 1986, the Cleveland Browns blew out the Cincinnati Bengals at old Riverfront Stadium, taking command of the AFC Central Division race and announcing their arrival under Bernie Kosar's leadership as a genuine Super Bowl contender.
It was the best the division ever got.
Marty Schottenheimer coached the Browns, Sam Wyche of the "You don't live in Cleveland" Wyches coached Cincinnati with quarterback Boomer Esiason, madcap Jerry Glanville was coaching the Houston Oilers with Warren Moon. The Pittsburgh Steelers' Chuck Noll had lost his mojo and the Three Rivers Stadium jinx, mainly because his quarterback was Mark Malone.