NFL game summary for 12/19/1971:
Mike Howell's 68-yard return with an intercepted pass set up a four-yard touchdown pass from Bill Nelsen to Chip Glass in the fourth period to provide Cleveland with its fifth straight victory. Washington finished with a 9-4-1 record, best by the Redskins since 1945.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 114.5 (20) | 165.0 (8) | 279.5 (17) | 43 |
| DEFENSE | 162.3 (22) | 133.7 (4) | 296.0 (17) | 36 | |
 | OFFENSE | 126.2 (14) | 157.2 (10) | 283.4 (15) | 31 |
| DEFENSE | 102.1 (4) | 151.8 (12) | 253.8 (4) | 39 |
Line: Redskins by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns (9-5-0) | 3 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| Washington Redskins (9-4-1) | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
( 3- 0) CLE Don Cockroft 30 yard field goal
( 3- 3) WAS Curt Knight 18 yard field goal
(10- 3) CLE Gary Collins 17 yard pass from Bill Nelsen (Don Cockroft kick)
(10-10) WAS Larry Brown 29 yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Curt Knight kick)
(10-13) WAS Curt Knight 35 yard field goal
(13-13) CLE Don Cockroft 32 yard field goal
(20-13) CLE Chip Glass 4 yard pass from Bill Nelsen (Don Cockroft kick)
CLE WAS
First Downs: 13 22
Rushes-yards: 28-69 35-117
Yards/rush: 2.5 3.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-23-165-2 18-33-229-2
Sacked-yards: 1-11 0-0
Net pass yards: 154 229
Net yards/pass: 6.4 6.9
Total net yards: 223 346
Total plays: 52 (53% run) 68 (51% run)
Yards/play: 4.3 5.1
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 3-2
Turnovers: 2 4
Penalties-yards: 4-20 3-23
Attendance: 53,041
Passing:
CLE: Bill Nelsen, 15 of 23 for 165 yards and 2 TDs (2 int) WAS: Billy Kilmer, 18 of 33 for 229 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
CLE: Leroy Kelly, 18 for 50 yards; Bo Scott, 9 for 19 yards; Bill Nelsen, 1 for 0 yards WAS: Larry Brown, 26 for 81 yards; Charlie Harraway, 9 for 36 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Milt Morin, 3 for 40 yards; Fair Hooker, 3 for 34 yards; Frank Pitts, 3 for 30 yards; Leroy Kelly, 2 for 30 yards; Bo Scott, 2 for 10 yards; Gary Collins, 1 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Chip Glass, 1 for 4 yards and 1 TD WAS: Larry Brown, 4 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Roy Jefferson, 4 for 46 yards; Charlie Harraway, 4 for 32 yards; Clifton McNeil, 3 for 55 yards; Jerry Smith, 3 for 27 yards
Kick returns:
CLE: Ken Brown, 3 for 42 yards WAS: Speedy Duncan, 4 for 134 yards; Jon Jaqua, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Leroy Kelly, 1 for 2 yards WAS: Speedy Duncan, 1 for 33 yards
Interceptions:
CLE: Mike Howell, 1 for 68 yards; Jerry Sherk, 1 for 3 yards WAS: Mike Bass, 1 for 0 yards; Ron McDole, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 4 for 149 yards WAS: Mike Bragg, 1 for 46 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 2/2 WAS: Curt Knight, 2/4
CLE: Bill Nelsen, 15 of 23 for 165 yards and 2 TDs (2 int) WAS: Billy Kilmer, 18 of 33 for 229 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
CLE: Leroy Kelly, 18 for 50 yards; Bo Scott, 9 for 19 yards; Bill Nelsen, 1 for 0 yards WAS: Larry Brown, 26 for 81 yards; Charlie Harraway, 9 for 36 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Milt Morin, 3 for 40 yards; Fair Hooker, 3 for 34 yards; Frank Pitts, 3 for 30 yards; Leroy Kelly, 2 for 30 yards; Bo Scott, 2 for 10 yards; Gary Collins, 1 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Chip Glass, 1 for 4 yards and 1 TD WAS: Larry Brown, 4 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Roy Jefferson, 4 for 46 yards; Charlie Harraway, 4 for 32 yards; Clifton McNeil, 3 for 55 yards; Jerry Smith, 3 for 27 yards
Kick returns:
CLE: Ken Brown, 3 for 42 yards WAS: Speedy Duncan, 4 for 134 yards; Jon Jaqua, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Leroy Kelly, 1 for 2 yards WAS: Speedy Duncan, 1 for 33 yards
Interceptions:
CLE: Mike Howell, 1 for 68 yards; Jerry Sherk, 1 for 3 yards WAS: Mike Bass, 1 for 0 yards; Ron McDole, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 4 for 149 yards WAS: Mike Bragg, 1 for 46 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 2/2 WAS: Curt Knight, 2/4