Browns vs. Lions: 5 memorable games
The Browns have won just one time in 13 tries as the road team against the Lions in a series that dates back to 1952. Detroit leads the all-time series 19-6, which includes a 3-1 mark in NFL Championship Games.
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Related: Browns 2025 Schedule Primer: Week 4, Detroit Lions
Here is a look at five of the most memorable games between the Browns and Lions.
December 28, 1952: Lions 17, Browns 7
Cleveland hosted Detroit in the NFL Championship Game, looking to avenge a loss earlier in the season, but it wasn't to be.
The Browns had 384 yards of total offense to Detroit's 258, but struggled to score, thanks in part to two turnovers. Trailing 14-0 in the third quarter, Cleveland finally got on the scoreboard thanks to a seven-yard touchdown run by Chick Jagade. The defense forced a punt on Detroit's ensuing possession, and Otto Graham drove the offense to Detroit's five-yard line with a chance to tie the game before the drive stalled with an incomplete pass on fourth down.
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Cleveland had one more chance as the defense forced another punt. But returner Ken Carpenter fumbled the ball, the Lions recovered, and a 36-yard field goal by Pat Harder closed out the scoring and handed Cleveland a second consecutive championship game loss.
December 27, 1953: Lions 17, Browns 6
It was a repeat engagement for the Browns and Lions as they met again for the NFL Championship, this time at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.
Otto Graham had a brutal day for Cleveland, completing just two of 15 passes and turning the ball over three times, including a fumble that led to Detroit's first touchdown. The Browns worked their way back into the game by scoring 13 consecutive points at one stretch, and after Lou Groza converted a 43-yard field goal, Cleveland led 16-10 with a little more than four minutes remaining.
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But Bobby Layne led the Lions on an 80-yard touchdown drive that culminated with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jim Doran. Graham tried to rally the Browns, but his second interception of the game allowed the Lions to run out the clock and hand the Browns their third consecutive title game defeat.
December 26, 1954: Browns 56, Lions 10
Cleveland finally broke through and took down the Lions in convincing fashion in the NFL Championship Game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
After spotting the Lions a 7-0 lead on a 50-yard run by Bill Bowman on the game's first play, the Browns exploded for 35 points in the first half as Otto Graham took over and redeemed his poor play from the previous title game. Two touchdown passes to Ray Renfro, one to Pete Brewster, and a pair of touchdown runs by Graham helped the Browns take a 35-10 lead into halftime.
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The Browns added 21 more points in the second half as Graham closed out the game with three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns. Cleveland's defense tormented Bobby Layne all afternoon, picking him off six times and forcing nine turnovers in total.
The win snapped Cleveland's three-game losing streak in the championship, was their first victory over the Lions in franchise history, and is the second-largest margin of victory in a title game in NFL history.
December 29, 1957: Lions 59, Browns 14
For the fourth time in the decade, the Browns and Lions met in the NFL Championship Game. And for the third time, the Browns came out on the wrong end of the scoreboard.
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Cleveland was favored by three points as the Lions were playing without Bobby Layne and were coming off a tough win over the San Francisco 49ers in a Western Conference playoff game. But six first-half turnovers by the Browns helped the Lions build a 31-7 lead at halftime as Tobin Rote, filling in for Layne, rushed for a touchdown and threw for another one, part of a day that saw him pass for 280 yards and four touchdowns.
The game was Cleveland head coach Paul Brown's final appearance in an NFL Championship Game, and remains the last title the Lions have won.
September 11, 1983: Browns 31, Lions 26
With only five regular-season wins against the Lions, it is a bit hard to pick a memorable one, so let's go with Cleveland's only road win.
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Led by four touchdown passes from Brian Sipe and 137 rushing yards from Mike Pruitt, the Browns built a 28-17 lead midway through the fourth quarter. But the Lions fought back on a 15-yard touchdown pass by Gary Danielson and a safety when Sipe was tackled in the end zone to trim Cleveland's lead to 28-26.
Cleveland's Mike Whitwell picked off Danielson, and Matt Bahr followed with a 25-yard field goal to push the lead back to five. The Browns defense had to hold the Lions one more time and finished off the day by stopping Detroit on downs after Danielson drove the Lions to Cleveland's 38-yard line with a minute remaining.
The Browns allowed 435 yards of offense to the Lions and committed 16 penalties in the game, but balanced that out by forcing five turnovers to earn their first, and to this day only, win against Detroit as the road team.
What is your most memorable game between the Browns and Lions? Have your say in the comments.
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