The Cleveland Browns have given their fans far too many moments over the years that they simply can’t unsee, no matter how hard they try.
Dwayne Rudd’s helmet toss cost the Browns a win against the Kansas City Chiefs. Eric Mangini called a timeout so that an injured Matthew Stafford could compose himself and throw a game-winning touchdown for the Detroit Lions. The Baltimore Ravens returned a blocked kick for a game-winning touchdown as time expired.
The list goes on and on.
But on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, the Browns gave the faithful a memory they will long remember in their 13-10 victory over the previously undefeated Packers.
Consider that:
- Green Bay had a 94 percent chance of winning the game with 11 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, according to ESPN.
- The Browns scored all of their 13 points in the final 3:38 of the game.
- The victory was the first in franchise history, which now encompasses 1,127 games, where the Browns won a game in which they had no points and trailed by at least 10 points with four minutes remaining, according to ESPN.
- Grant Delpit’s interception of Green Bay’s Jordan Love was Cleveland’s first of the season and the first interception that Love has thrown in 10 regular-season games.
- The last time Green Bay blew a 10-point lead in the final three minutes of a game was in 1967, a streak of 300 games.
- The Browns had lost 145 consecutive games when trailing by 10 or more points in the final four minutes, according to CBS Sports.
- The Browns perfectly executed their final offensive play as Joe Flacco spiked the ball with three seconds remaining to give Cleveland a chance at a game-winning field.
- Andre Szmyt’s 55-yard, game-winning field goal was the longest game-winner in franchise history.
- The win gives the Browns a 13-5 record at home against teams with winning records under head coach Kevin Stefanski. Only the Buffalo Bills (10-3) and Kansas City Chiefs (12-4) have a better winning percentage, according to The Athletic.
The win over the Packers provides the Browns and their fans with at least one day of enjoyment after what was a rough first two weeks of the season.
Now it is up to the Browns to build some momentum, starting this week with their road game against the Detroit Lions. Cleveland has only won once in 13 tries as the road team against the Lions, so another improbable Sunday might be in store if the Browns are to pull out a win.