Browns Catch Cowboys a Little Bit Short, 24-21 : Receivers Help Kosar for 3 Touchdowns

After the running game failed to materialize, Cleveland quarterback Bernie Kosar placed special emphasis on the passing game, and thanks to some help from his receivers the strategy worked.

“The wideouts did a tremendous job for us today,” Kosar said after he passed for 308 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Browns beat the Dallas Cowboys, 24-21.

While that may sound like a modest statement, Kosar knows full well that without the extra effort on the part of his three touchdown recipients, his team may not be alive in the playoff race.

Reggie Langhorne broke two tackles on his 73-yard touchdown play in the first quarter, and Herman Fontenot shook off a defender on his 14-yard score early in the fourth quarter.

Clarence Weathers, however, put on the best show of all, racing down the left sideline and reaching out with his left hand to grab a 36-yard touchdown pass with his fingertips with 13 minutes remaining in the game. It was his first touchdown since September, 1987.

“My initial reaction was, ‘I can’t run as fast as I’d like,’ ” Weathers said. “I was surprised I had the inclination to stick my hand out there. What you’re trying to do is stop the ball. You’re not trying to make the one-hand stick catch.”

The loss gave Dallas (2-12) its most defeats in a season. The Cowboys were penalized 17 times for 142 yards. Penalties wiped out two Roger Ruzek field goals, including a 40-yarder that would have tied the game with under than 2 minutes left. Randy White was called for tripping which forced Ruzek to attempt a 50-yarder, which came up short.

Despite the victory, the Browns lost a chance of a fourth straight AFC Central Division title because the division-leading Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Diego Chargers. However, Cleveland remains alive in the race for a wild-card playoff bid.

Dallas, on the other hand, matched a team record with its 10th straight loss.

Kosar completed 19 of 27 passes with no interceptions, offsetting Herschel Walker’s 134 yards in 25 carries for Dallas. Walker, who was playing a day after his brother’s funeral, scored on a 4-yard run to bring the Cowboys to within 3 points with 7:20 left. But the Cowboys could not get any closer.