The Cleveland Browns face the Green Bay Packers in a Week 16 showdown on Christmas Day at Lambeau Field.
Though these teams do not meet often, it has been on average between 3 and 4 years between games since 1980, they often prove to be very interesting games.
Here are three things to know about the Browns and Packers history.
1. Last Game (Played In 2017) Was Decided In Overtime
On December 10, 2017, the Packers and Browns faced off at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The Browns earned 4 more yards than the Packers in the game, 345 to 341.
In the end, the Packers prevailed in overtime with a touchdown pass from Brett Huntley to Davante Adams.
This was another of the Browns’ heartbreaking losses as the team led 21-7 after 3 quarters.
The final score was 27 to 21.
A blown lead, a horrendous pass in overtime and a horrificly bad beat. Packers-Browns 2017 deserves a 30 For 30.
— Chris Earl (@chrisearlkansas) December 10, 2017
Aaron Rodgers did not play in this game as this was the season he was dealing with the broken collarbone.
Browns players of note on the roster for this game were David Njoku and Rashard Higgins.
The Browns punter was Britton Colquitt.
Josh Gordon, Duke Johnson, and Corey Coleman scored the touchdowns.
DeShone Kizer was the Browns quarterback.
2. Since 2001, Browns Have Lost 4 Of 5 In The Series
The Packers have owned this rivalry with a 13-7 record overall.
September 18, 2005 is the last time the Browns beat the Packers.
9-18-2005, Trent Dilfer threw for 336 yards & 3 touchdowns as the Browns upset the Packers 26-24 at Lambeau Field. @OfficialBraylon caught an 80 yard touchdown. Steve Heiden caught 6 passes for 104 yards & 2 TDs. pic.twitter.com/ea6neVNFMW
— Scott F (@TheFrizz87) September 19, 2020
They did it at Lambeau Field against Packers Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre.
Browns quarterback Trent Dilfer outperformed Favre by throwing 3 touchdown passes including an 80 yarder to Braylon Edwards.
Favre also threw 3 touchdowns but was intercepted by the Browns 2 times.
Phil Dawson had a blocked extra point in this game but converted 2 other extra points and 2 field goals.
The final score was 26 to 24.
The Browns had a 19 to 7 lead going into the fourth quarter and gave up 17 fourth-quarter points but managed to score one touchdown in the quarter to hang on to the lead.
3. The Browns Faced The Packers In 1966 For The NFL Championship
BOTD Willie Wood
Willie picks off Ryan in the 1965 #NFL Championship #Packers pic.twitter.com/j0mTFDyMlL— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) December 23, 2021
On January 2, 1966, the Browns traveled to Lambeau to play the Packers.
The 1965 NFL Championship was at stake.
This was the first NFL championship televised in color and the last one played prior to the Super Bowl era.
The Packers prevailed by a score of 23-12.
Over 50,000 fans gathered to watch the game despite a snowstorm that blanketed the stadium; the field was covered with a tarp.
As the game went on, both snow and rain fell so the field conditions turned from snow covered to muddy.
Spectators paid an average of $10-$12 for a ticket to watch this game.
At halftime, the game was tight with a 13-12 Packers lead.
The Browns were shut out in the second half.
Conclusion
There are years of history and legions of Hall of Famers including Bart Starr, Vince Lombardi, and Jim Brown that played one another in some of these Browns Vs. Packers games.
Though the Packers have won more games, there is a lot of respect between the two teams.
The odds are against the Browns on Christmas Day, but certainly few thought that Trent Dilfer could orchestrate a win over Brett Favre in 2005.
No one knows what will happen, and that is why they play the game.
NEXT: 2 Browns Players Who Need To Step Up The Most
