Opening Day Data

[The Gipper]

Here are some facts....no trivia, about past Browns opening days:

 

1. In the Browns first opening day ever in 1946 they defeated the Miami Seahawks 44-0. (you will note further on that is is the only time they beat a "Seahawks" team on opening day. I believe this may also have been their biggest home victory.

 

2. In their opening day after being "reactivated" in 1999 they lost to the Steelers 43-0. Their biggest home loss in an opener.

 

3. The Browns biggest road win...and biggest overall was the 51-0 drubbing the Browns put on the Steelers in 3 Rivers in 1989.

 

4. In their last title year, 1964 the Browns beat the Redskins 27-13 on the road.

 

5. In their last playoff season, 2002 the Browns lost at home to the Kansas City Chiefs 40-39, after having the game won, but were penalized for Dwayne Rudd taking his helmet off on the field.

(Can anyone think of any team in the last 10 years that has had a guy penalized for taking his helmet off after a play was essentially over?)

 

6. In their last home opener last year they lost an equally heartbreaking 17-16 game when a game preserving interception was dropped.

 

7. Their only win in an opening day game since 1999 was a 20-3 victory over the Ravens in 2004.

 

8. The Browns first game as a member of the NFL was a 35-10 asskicking of the NFL defending champion Philadelphia Eagles on the road in 1950.

 

9. In 1986 the Browns faced the defending champion Chicago Bears...which some claimed to be the greatest team of all time. The Browns played them close in Soldier Field, but lost by 41-31.

Few thought that a team could put 31 points up on the vaunted Bears defense.

 

10. In the Browns undefeated untied 1948 season they won their opening day game over the Los Angeles Dons by only a 19-14 score.

 

11. In their 1954 NFL title year the Browns lost the opening game 28-10 to the Eagles...but went on to go 9-3 that year and beat the Lions 56-10 in the NFL title game.

 

12. In their 1955 NFL title year the Browns lost the opening game 27-17 to the Redskins...but went 9-2-1 and beat the Rams 38-14 in the NFL title game

 

Here is the Browns opening day record vs all teams, just in the NFL years:

 

Eagles 3-3

49ers 1-1

Rams 2-0

Packers 1-1

Redskins 4-1

Cardinals 0-2

Giants 2-0

Steelers 2-3

Cowboys 0-3

Saints 1-2

Jets 3-0

Titans/Oilers 1-0

Colts 1-2

Bengals 3-4 (most frequent opening day opponent)

Patriots 0-2

Chargers 0-1

Seahawks (Seattle) 0-3

Vikings 0-2

Bears 0-1

Chiefs 1-1

Jaguars 0-1

Ravens 1-0

Buccaneers 0-1

 

This will be the first time ever the Browns have played the Dolphins on an opening day.

 

They have also never played the following teams on the first day of the season:

 

Bills

Texans

Raiders

Broncos

Lions

Falcons

Panthers

[Guest]

 

5. In their last playoff season, 2002 the Browns lost at home to the Kansas City Chiefs 40-39, after having the game won, but were penalized for Dwayne Rudd taking his helmet off on the field.

(Can anyone think of any team in the last 10 years that has had a guy penalized for taking his helmet off after a play was essentially over?)

 

 

No, I have never, ever seen a review called after another play was run either. (Bottlegate).

 

We are the kings of taking it up the tailpipe.

 

(metaphorically speaking)

 

Zombo