Cleveland Browns are 0-2 for 12th time in team history; finished with at least 11 losses 8 times

Browns didn't begin a season 0-2 until 1967, their 22nd season as a franchise. They rebounded from 0-2 that season and in 1980 to make the playoffs, but the other 0-2 starts began losing seasons. A look at the previous 0-2 starts.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer Browns coach Eric Mangini reacts to a call during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Browns became 0-2 with the 16-14 loss.

By Mike Peticca

Plain Dealer Reporter

Cleveland, Ohio -- Counting their four seasons (1946-49) in the All-America Conference and, of course, not counting the three seasons (1996-98) after the original team's move to Baltimore, the Cleveland Browns are in their 62nd season.

The Browns are 0-2 after losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 17-14, and the Kansas City Chiefs, 16-14.

Remarkably, the Browns began each of their first 21 seasons (1946-66) with at least one win in their first two games. Not coincidentally, it was during that era that the team established its winning reputation -- a reputation that has diminished over, almost, the last four decades.

This is the 12th season in which the Browns have lost at least their first 12 games.

A capsule look at the first 11:

     1967

Final record: 9-5, won NFL Century Division, lost at Dallas Cowboys, 52-14, in divisional playoff game.

Coach: Blanton Collier 

Quarterback: Frank Ryan

First-game loss: 21-14 to Dallas. Browns' running backs Leroy Kelly and Ernie Green were held to 15 combined yards in 16 carries, while the Cowboys' Dan Reeves ran for 114 yards in 18 carries.

Second-game loss: 31-14 at Detroit Lions. Detroit quarterback Milt Plum -- the Browns' starter from 1957-61 -- completed 16 of 27 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown.

First win: After 0-2 start, 42-7 win at New Orleans Saints. Browns QB Frank Ryan threw two touchdown passes to Paul Warfield and one to Ernie Green, and Leroy Kelly ran for 110 yards and a TD.

     1975

Final record: 3-11 

Coach: Forrest Gregg

Quarterback: Mike Phipps

First-game loss: 24-17 at Cincinnati Bengals. Gregg's first game as Browns coach, going against the team he would coach to the 1981 AFC title. Bengals QB Ken Anderson was 17 of 27 for 287 yards and a TD. 

Second-game loss: 42-10 to Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota QB Fran Tarkenton threw for two TDs and ran for another.    

First win: After 0-9 start, 35-23 win over Cincinnati. Bengals came into Cleveland with an 8-1 record, but Browns QB Mike Phipps was 23 of 36 for 298 yards and two touchdowns.

     1980

Final record: 11-5, won AFC Central Division, lost to Oakland Raiders, 14-12, in divisional playoff game.

Coach: Sam Rutigliano

Quarterback: Brian Sipe

First-game loss: 34-17 at New England Patriots. QB Steve Grogan was 17 of 26 for 277 yards and three Patriots TDs. 

Second-game loss: 16-7 to Houston Oilers. QB Ken Stabler was 23 of 28 passing and Earl Campbell pounded 106 rushing yards as Houston controlled the football.

First win: After 0-2 start, 20-13 win over Kansas City Chiefs. Browns QB Brian Sipe was 23 of 36 for 295 yards and two TDs, including the 31-yard game-winner to RB Charles White, who totaled 159 receiving and rushing yards.

     1981

Plain Dealer file photoBrian Sipe and the Browns rallied from an 0-2 start in 1980, but couldn't duplicate the feat a year later.

Final record:

Coach: Sam Rutigliano

Quarterback: Brian Sipe

First-game loss: 44-14 to San Diego Chargers. Browns had no chance at stopping Chargers QB Dan Fouts (19 of 25, 330 yards, three TDs), RB Chuck Muncie (161 rushing yards) and wide receiver Charlie Joiner (six catches, 191 yards).

Second-game loss: 9-3 to Houston. Browns defense held Houston to 222 yards, but Brian Sipe was 25 of 53 passing.

First win: After 0-2 start, 20-17 win at Cincinnati. Sipe bounced back to complete 24 of 35 passes for 259 yards and a TD to Ozzie Newsome. 

     1984

Final record: 5-11 

Coach: Sam Rutigliano (with a 1-7 record, replaced by Marty Schottenheimer)

Quarterback: Paul McDonald

First-game loss: 33-0 at Seattle Seahawks. With Sipe nudged out of town and to the United States Football League, replacement Paul McDonald was 8 of 27 with two interceptions. 

Second-game loss: 20-17 at Los Angeles Rams. McDonald was 18 of 35 for 263 yards and a TD, but Rams rallied for 10 fourth-quarter points.

First win: After 0-3 start, 20-10 win over Pittsburgh Steelers. McDonald (15 of 28, 293 yards, two TDs) easily won the QB dual over Pittsburgh QB David Woodley (9 of 25).

     1992

Final record: 7-9 

Coach: Bill Belichick

Quarterback: Bernie Kosar (replaced because of injury for several games by Mike Tomczak)

First-game loss: 14-3 at Indianapolis Colts. Behind poorly-conceived offensive line, Browns QB Bernie Kosar was sacked 11 times, including four times by controversial former Browns linebacker Chip Banks. 

Second-game loss: 27-23 to Miami Dolphins. Browns overcame 20-3 deficit and went ahead, 23-20, on 3-yard Kosar to tight end Mark Bavaro touchdown pass with 1:18 left. Dolphins QB Dan Marino then led an 84-yard drive, capped by Mark Higgs' 1-yard TD plunge with seven seconds left. 

First win: After 0-2 start, 28-16 win at Los Angeles Raiders. Kosar had broken an ankle in the Miami game. RB Eric Metcalf scored all four Browns touchdowns, including three on passes from QB Todd Philcox -- Kosar's short-term replacement.

     1999

Final record: 2-14 

Coach: Chris Palmer

Quarterback: Ty Detmer (replaced by Tim Couch late in season opener) 

First-game loss: 43-0 to Pittsburgh. The first game for the new Browns franchise. Steelers totaled 460 yards and 32 first downs to the Browns' 40 yards and two first downs.

Second-game loss: 26-9 at Tennessee Titans. QB Tim Couch, the first college draft pick of the expansion Browns and making his first start, was 12 of 24 for 134 yards and a TD, but Titans QB Neil O'Donnell was 31 of 40 for 310 yards and a TD. 

First win: After 0-7 start, 21-16 win at New Orleans. Tim Couch, who finished 11 of 19 for 193 yards and three TDS, threw the football as far and high as he could, he said, on the game's final play, and after two Saints deflected it, Browns WR Kevin Johnson caught it in the end zone for the game-winner.

     2003

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerEnd Courtney Brown (right) and the Browns defense contained Colts quarterback Peyton Manning (left), but the Browns offense failed in a 9-6, 2003 season-opening loss.

Final record:

Coach: Butch Davis

Quarterback: Kelly Holcomb/Tim Couch

First-game loss: 9-6 to Indianapolis. Colts QB Peyton Manning and Browns QB Kelly Holcomb both threw two interceptions and no TD passes. Mike Vanderjagt's 45-yard field goal with one second left won it for Indianapolis. 

Second-game loss: 33-13 at Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore running back Jamal Lewis shredded the Browns defense for 295 yards and two touchdowns in 30 carries, the second-best yardage total in NFL history. 

First win: After 0-2 start, 13-12 win at San Francisco 49'ers. Holcomb endured ankle and leg injuries to complete 17 of 20 passes on two fourth quarter touchdown drives, throwing the game-winning TD pass of 11 yards to WR Andre Davis with 29 seconds left.

     2006

Final record: 4-12 

Coach: Romeo Crennel

Quarterback: Charlie Frye/Derek Anderson

First-game loss: 19-14 to New Orleans. QB Charlie Frye was sacked five times, fled for his safety several other times and led the Browns with 44 desperation rushing yards.

Second-game loss: 34-17 at Cincinnati. Bengals QB Carson Palmer was 24 of 40 for 352 yards and two TDs, and Rudi Johnson ran for 145 yards and two TDs.

First win: After 0-3 start, 24-21 win at Los Angeles. Browns overcame a 21-3 lead against the winless Raiders, as Charlie Frye threw TD passes to Darnell Dinkins, Kellen Winslow and Joe Jurevicius. 

     2008

Final record: 4-12 

Coach: Romeo Crennel

Quarterback: Derek Anderson

First-game loss: 28-10 to Dallas. Browns WR Braylon Edwards set the tone for the season, dropping an early would-be touchdown pass from QB Derek Anderson. The Cowboys' offense totaled 487 yards.  

Second-game loss: 10-6 to Pittsburgh. Steelers held Browns RB Jamal Lewis to 38 yards in 19 carries. Trailing, 10-3, with 3:21 left and a fourth-and-seven play loomingat the Pittsburgh 21, Browns coach Romeo Crennel had Phil Dawson kick a 38-yard field goal, leaving the Browns still in need of a touchdown. They got the ball back with 26 seconds left on their own 26.

First win: After 0-3 start, 20-12 win at Cincinnati. Browns caught a break, as Bengals QB Carson Palmer was sidelined with an inflamed throwing (right) elbow. His replacement, Ryan Fitzpatrick, was 21 of 35 passing, but for just 156 yards with three INTs.  

     2009

Associated PressThe Vikings' Adrian Peterson (28) on his way to a 64-yard TD run during Minnesota's 34-20, 2009 season-opening win over the Browns.

Final record:

Coach: Eric Mangini

Quarterback: Brady Quinn/Derek Anderson

First-game loss: 34-20 to Minnesota. Vikings RB Adrian Peterson rambled for 180 and three touchdowns, including a 64-yard romp over, through and past an embarrassed Browns defense.

Second-game loss: 27-6 at Denver Broncos. Browns were outgained, 449 yards to 200.

First win: After an 0-4 start, 6-3 win at Buffalo Bills. Browns won despite Derek Anderson completing just 2 of 17 passes for 23 yards. His receivers had nine drops. Buffalo was whistled for nine false start penalties. A seven-play, 15-yard Browns drive was capped by Billy Cundiff's game-winning 18-yard field goal with 23 seconds left.