The 2002 season was the Cleveland Browns' 54th as a professional sports franchise, their 50th as a member of the National Football League, and the second season under head coach Butch Davis.
In their opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, linebacker Dwayne Rudd cost the Browns a victory when he threw his helmet in celebration while the play was still going on, incurring an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Because the clock expired during the play the Browns' unsportsmanlike conduct occurred on, the Chiefs had one untimed down. Chiefs' kicker Morten Andersen made the 30-yard field goal to win the game.
The Browns made their first playoff appearance since their re-activation. It was only the Browns' fourth year since returning to the league effectively as an expansion team, and their first winning season. The Browns then lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild card round. The Browns would not make the NFL playoffs again until 2020.
Offseason
2002 NFL Draft
Undrafted free agents
Roster
| 2002 Cleveland Browns final roster |
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
Practice squad
Rookies in italics
Active, Inactive, Practice squad
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[1]
Regular season
Schedule
Apart from their AFC North division games, the Browns played against the AFC South and NFC South according to the NFL's new conference rotation, and played the Chiefs and Jets based on 2001 standings with respect to the newly aligned divisions.
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Record |
Venue |
Attendance |
| 1 |
September 8 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
L 39–40 |
0–1 |
Cleveland Browns Stadium |
72,938 |
| 2 |
September 15 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
W 20–7 |
1–1 |
Cleveland Browns Stadium |
73,358 |
| 3 |
September 22 |
at Tennessee Titans |
W 31–28 (OT) |
2–1 |
Adelphia Coliseum |
68,804 |
| 4 |
September 29 |
at Pittsburgh Steelers |
L 13–16 (OT) |
2–2 |
Heinz Field |
62,864 |
| 5 |
October 6 |
Baltimore Ravens |
L 21–26 |
2–3 |
Cleveland Browns Stadium |
73,688 |
| 6 |
October 13 |
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
L 3–17 |
2–4 |
Raymond James Stadium |
65,625 |
| 7 |
October 20 |
Houston Texans |
W 34–17 |
3–4 |
Cleveland Browns Stadium |
73,248 |
| 8 |
October 27 |
at New York Jets |
W 24–21 |
4–4 |
Giants Stadium |
78,502 |
| 9 |
November 3 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
L 20–23 |
4–5 |
Cleveland Browns Stadium |
73,718 |
| 10 |
Bye |
| 11 |
November 17 |
at Cincinnati Bengals |
W 27–20 |
5–5 |
Paul Brown Stadium |
64,060 |
| 12 |
November 24 |
at New Orleans Saints |
W 24–15 |
6–5 |
Louisiana Superdome |
68,295 |
| 13 |
December 1 |
Carolina Panthers |
L 6–13 |
6–6 |
Cleveland Browns Stadium |
72,718 |
| 14 |
December 8 |
at Jacksonville Jaguars |
W 21–20 |
7–6 |
Alltel Stadium |
46,267 |
| 15 |
December 15 |
Indianapolis Colts |
L 23–28 |
7–7 |
Cleveland Browns Stadium |
73,098 |
| 16 |
December 22 |
at Baltimore Ravens |
W 14–13 |
8–7 |
M&T Bank Stadium |
68,348 |
| 17 |
December 29 |
Atlanta Falcons |
W 24–16 |
9–7 |
Cleveland Browns Stadium |
73,528 |
Game summaries
Week 8: at New York Jets
| Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- NYJ – Wayne Chrebet 8-yard pass from Chad Pennington (John Hall kick), 14:23. Jets 21–3. Drive: 8 plays, 62 yards, 4:22.
- CLE – Phil Dawson 26-yard field goal, 7:29. Jets 21–6. Drive: 7 plays, 41 yards, 3:39.
Third quarter
- CLE – Mark Campbell 5-yard pass from Tim Couch (Phil Dawson kick), 4:40. Jets 21–13. Drive: 11 plays, 60 yards, 4:41.
- CLE – André Davis 4-yard pass from Tim Couch (Tim Couch–Dennis Northcutt pass), 0:09. Tied 21–21. Drive: 3 plays, 11 yards, 1:26.
Fourth quarter
- CLE – Phil Dawson 35-yard field goal, 3:30. Browns 24–21. Drive: 14 plays, 61 yards, 8:33.
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Top passers
- CLE – Tim Couch – 32/48, 294 yards, 2 TD
- NYJ – Chad Pennington – 19/26, 183 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
- CLE – Jamel White – 14 rushes, 25 yards
- NYJ – Curtis Martin – 18 rushes, 65 yards
Top receivers
- CLE – Kevin Johnson – 5 receptions, 73 yards
- NYJ – Laveranues Coles – 5 receptions, 61 yards, TD
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Standings
Postseason
Game summaries
AFC Wild Card: (#6) Cleveland Browns at (#3) Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Browns |
7 |
10 |
7 |
9 |
33 |
| Steelers |
0 |
7 |
7 |
22 |
36 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh
| Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- CLE – Dennis Northcutt 32-yard pass from Kelly Holcomb (Phil Dawson kick), 14:28. Browns 14–0. Drive: 1 play, 32 yards, 0:06.
- PIT – Antwaan Randle El 66-yard punt return (Jeff Reed kick), 9:35. Browns 14–7.
- CLE – Phil Dawson 31-yard field goal, 0:49. Browns 17–7. Drive: 10 plays, 45 yards, 4:24.
Third quarter
- CLE – Dennis Northcutt 15-yard pass from Kelly Holcomb (Phil Dawson kick), 12:11. Browns 24–7. Drive: 3 plays, 14 yards, 0:49.
- PIT – Plaxico Burress 6-yard pass from Tommy Maddox (Jeff Reed kick), 3:50. Browns 24–14. Drive: 10 plays, 71 yards, 3:45.
Fourth quarter
- CLE – Phil Dawson 24-yard field goal, 14:52. Browns 27–14. Drive: 8 plays, 64 yards, 3:58.
- PIT – Jerame Tuman 3-yard pass from Tommy Maddox (Jeff Reed kick), 12:28. Browns 27–21. Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 2:24.
- CLE – André Davis 22-yard pass from Kelly Holcomb (pass failed), 10:17. Browns 33–21. Drive: 5 plays, 61 yards, 2:11.
- PIT – Hines Ward 5-yard pass from Tommy Maddox (Jeff Reed kick), 3:06. Browns 33–28. Drive: 10 plays, 77 yards, 2:24.
- PIT – Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala 3-yard run (Tommy Maddox–Jerame Tuman pass), 0:54. Steelers 36–33. Drive: 6 plays, 61 yards, 1:41.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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References
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| Franchise |
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| Stadiums |
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| Key personnel |
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| Culture |
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| Lore |
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| Rivalries |
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| Playoff appearances (30) |
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| Division championships (12) |
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| Conference championships (11) |
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| League championships (8) |
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| Retired numbers |
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| Hall of Fame inductees |
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| Current league affiliations |
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| Former league affiliation |
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- ↑ Cleveland Browns 2002 Roster accessed November 28, 2018.
