Strat-O-Matic simulation: Browns beat Giants in Super Bowl XXI on Kevin Mack's TD in overtime

Jul. 23—Editor's note: Part 1 in a five-part series highlighting five "What If" scenarios involving Cleveland pro sports played out in a Strat-O-Matic slmulation. Today: What if the Browns beat the Broncos in 1986 AFC Championship game and played the Giants in the Super Bowl?

Take a moment. Close your eyes. Imagine the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Imagine in the background the San Gabriel Mountains as the sun sets.

Then imagine the Browns playing in Super Bowl XXI in the Rose Bowl against the tough Bill Parcells-led Giants.

Then imagine Browns fullback Kevin Mack rumbling into the end zone from 10 yards for a touchdown that would have been brought Northeast Ohio to its knees.

Imagine the Browns being 33-27 winners over the Giants in Super Bowl XXI — in overtime, no less.

Of course, it did not play out this way. The Giants played the Broncos, whose 23-20 win in OT in the AFC Championship Game — the game known as "The Drive" — broke the hearts of Browns fans. New York ran away in the second half of Super Bowl XXI and won, 39-20.

But what if the Browns had beaten the Broncos?

The folks at Strat-O-Matic — the longtime simulation sports game — are here to provide some potential answers. John Garcia, the Chief Content Officer for Strat-O-Matic, recently ran a simulation of a Browns-Giants Super Bowl in 1986. Here are the details of the simulated 33-27 Browns' victory:

The 1986 Browns may come up short of a Super Bowl — thanks to the Broncos' John Elway and "The Drive" — but it will still go down as one of the best teams in Cleveland football history.

A 12-4 record in the regular season was followed with a stirring 23-20 double-overtime win over the Jets in the AFC Divisional Round. The game feature a NFL-record 489 passing yards by Bernie Kosar (a mark since broken by Tom Brady).

In Strat-O-Matic's simulation featuring a Browns-Giants Super Bowl at the Rose Bowl, Mack's 10-yard run with 6 minutes, 29 seconds remaining in the first overtime gave Cleveland a 33-27 win in a game that went back and forth.

The Browns began their winning drive on their own 41-yard line, driving 59 yards on eight plays, capped by Mack's winning score.

In the fourth quarter, the Giants went ahead, 27-24, on a Phil Simms 15-yard touchdown pass to Mark Bavaro with 9:45 remaining. The Browns answered when Mark Moseley kicked a 28-yard field goal to tie the game at 27 with 5:52 remaining.

The game was tied 10-10 at halftime. Mosley's 49-yard field goal at 4:27 of the first quarter was the game's first score. The Giants scored the next 10 points — including a Simms-to-Bavaro 11-yard TD — for a 10-3 advantage.

Kosar's 17-yard TD pass to Herman Fontenot tied the game at 10 at 12:11 of the second quarter. The Browns then took a 17-10 lead in the third quarter on Kosar-to-Brian Brennan 10-yard pass and catch.

A field goal and another Simms TD pass put the Giants head, 20-17, late in the third quarter. Fontenot's 5-yard TD reception from Kosar earlier in the fourth gave the Browns a 24-20 advantage, and set up a wild finish in regulation and in overtime.

Statistical leaders include Mack, who ran for 98 yards on 32 carries and the game-winning TD. Kosar completed 22 of 35 throws for 265 yards and three touchdowns, two to Herman Fontenot, whose 92 yards on 7 catches led the Browns.

Reggie Langhorne, Brennan and Webster Slaughter each had three receptions. Ozzie Newsome had two catches and Mack's one reception went 23 yards.

Simms was 17 of 33 for 200 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Running back Joe Morris ran for a game-high 121 yards on 25 carries. Bavaro had nine receptions for 80 yards. Lionel Manuel finished with three receptions for 47 yards and a TD. Phil McConkey had two catches for 58 yards.

The Giants led in total yards, 350-344. The Browns were 8 of 21 on third down, the Giants 3 of 12.

Kosar was sacked four times, Simms just once. Kosar threw two interceptions. The Giants turned it over four times. Simms was picked off once, and New York fumbled five times, losing the ball three times.

The Browns also led in time of possession, 36:02 to 32:29.

Box score

Browns 33, Giants 27 (OT)

Browns Giants

First downs 17 22

Rushing yards 104 154

Passing yards 240 196

Individual statistics

Rushing — Browns: Mack 32-98, Fontenot 3-3, Kosar 3-3, Giants: Morris 25-121, Anderson 4-9, Rouson 3-10, Carthon 2-12, Simms 2-1, Galbreath 1-1

Passing — Browns: Kosar 22-35-265-3TD-2INT, Giants: Simms 17-33-200-3TD-INT

Receiving — Browns: Fontenot 7-92, Langhnorne 3-46, Brennan 3-42, Slaughter 3-29, Newsome 2-18, Mack 1-23, Byner 1-9, Holt 1-3, Weathers 1-3, Giants: Bavaro 9-80, Manuel 3-47, McConkey 2-58, Morris 2-6, Robinson 1-9

Browns 3 7 7 10 6 — 33

Giants 0 10 10 7 0 — 27

First quarter

Browns — Moseley 49 FG

Second quarter

Giants — Allegre 36 FG

Giants — Bavaro 11 pass from Simms (Allegre kick)

Browns — Fontenot 17 pass from Kosar (Moseley kick)

Third quarter

B — Brennan 10 pass from Kosar (Moseley kick)

Giants — Allegre 45 FG

Giants — Manuel 27 pass from Simms (Allegre kick)

Fourth quarter

Browns — Fontenot 5 pass from Kosar (Moseley kick)

Giants — Bavaro 15 pass from Simms (Allegre kick)

Browns — Moseley 28 FG

Overtime

Browns — Mack 10 run