Dawgs By Nature
Cleveland and Detroit have been playing each other since 1952. Here are 5 memorable games in the series.
The Cleveland Browns will visit their personal house of horrors when they face the Detroit Lions in Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
