Historic Matchup: Cleveland Browns vs. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys and the Cleveland Browns have a rich history in the National Football League, reflected in their dedicated fan bases.

These teams have a rich history of Hall of Fame players, championships, and dramatic storylines.

All of which provide an intriguing historical backdrop for Sunday’s game.

As fans eagerly anticipate the Dallas Cowboys first game of the year, let’s explore the history shared by these two teams.

The Games Played

The Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns have played each other 32 times. Of these 32 games, the Cleveland Browns lead the historical series 18-14.

The Cowboys have a 13-16 regular-season record against the Browns and a 1-2 playoff record.

The first game was played on October 16, 1960, at the Cotton Bowl in Texas.

The Cleveland Browns won 48-7, with notable players such as Len Dawson, Milt Plum, Prentice Gautt, and Jim Brown. The Dallas Cowboys had Don Heinrich, Don Meredith, and Don McIlhenny on their team.

This game showcased multiple Hall of Fame players, including rookie Don Meredith and third-year player Jim Brown, although neither significantly impacted the game.

These two teams would meet several more times over the years:

32 Games Table

Rk | Date | Day | | Tm | | Opp | Tm | Opp
1 | 1960-10-16 | Sun | L | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 7 | 48
2 | 1961-10-01 | Sun | L | Dallas Cowboys | @ | Cleveland Browns | 7 | 25
3 | 1961-12-03 | Sun | L | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 17 | 38
4 | 1962-10-07 | Sun | L | Dallas Cowboys | @ | Cleveland Browns | 10 | 19
5 | 1962-12-02 | Sun | W | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 45 | 21
6 | 1963-09-22 | Sun | L | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 24 | 41
7 | 1963-11-24 | Sun | L | Dallas Cowboys | @ | Cleveland Browns | 17 | 27
8 | 1964-10-04 | Sun | L | Dallas Cowboys | @ | Cleveland Browns | 6 | 27
9 | 1964-10-18 | Sun | L | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 16 | 20
10 | 1965-10-17 | Sun | L | Dallas Cowboys | @ | Cleveland Browns | 17 | 23
11 | 1965-11-21 | Sun | L | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 17 | 24
12 | 1966-10-23 | Sun | L | Dallas Cowboys | @ | Cleveland Browns | 21 | 30
13 | 1966-11-24 | Thu | W | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 26 | 14
14 | 1967-09-17 | Sun | W | Dallas Cowboys | @ | Cleveland Browns | 21 | 14
15 | 1967-12-24 | Sun | W | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 52 | 14
16 | 1968-09-22 | Sun | W | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 28 | 7
17 | 1968-12-21 | Sat | L | Dallas Cowboys | @ | Cleveland Browns | 20 | 31
18 | 1969-11-02 | Sun | L | Dallas Cowboys | @ | Cleveland Browns | 10 | 42
19 | 1969-12-28 | Sun | L | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 14 | 38
20 | 1970-12-12 | Sat | W | Dallas Cowboys | @ | Cleveland Browns | 6 | 2
Rk | Date | Day | | Tm | | Opp | Tm | Opp
21 | 1974-12-07 | Sat | W | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 41 | 17
22 | 1979-09-24 | Mon | L | Dallas Cowboys | @ | Cleveland Browns | 7 | 26
23 | 1982-11-25 | Thu | W | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 31 | 14
24 | 1985-09-22 | Sun | W | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 20 | 7
25 | 1988-12-04 | Sun | L | Dallas Cowboys | @ | Cleveland Browns | 21 | 24
26 | 1991-09-01 | Sun | W | Dallas Cowboys | @ | Cleveland Browns | 26 | 14
27 | 1994-12-10 | Sat | L | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 14 | 19
28 | 2004-09-19 | Sun | W | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 19 | 12
29 | 2008-09-07 | Sun | W | Dallas Cowboys | @ | Cleveland Browns | 28 | 10
30 | 2012-11-18 | Sun | W | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 23 | 20
31 | 2016-11-06 | Sun | W | Dallas Cowboys | @ | Cleveland Browns | 35 | 10
32 | 2020-10-04 | Sun | L | Dallas Cowboys | | Cleveland Browns | 38 | 49

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/5/2024.

Thirty-two games over 64 years may not constitute a rivalry, but the history of these two programs lends a special significance to the game.

The Players Involved Throughout the Years

In the 64 years and 32 games played, both teams have fielded exceptional players with historical ties to the league.

Of the fans who have watched these teams play since the first game in 1960, they have had the opportunity to watch players such as:

Eddie LeBaron, Don Meredith, Don Heinrich, and L.G. Dupre for the Cowboys.

Jim Brown, Prentice Gautt, Ray Renfro, and Bernie Parrish for the Browns.

As the years passed, players like Bob Lilly, Don Bishop, and Chuck Howley became household names for Cowboys fans.

Most of the players went on to the Hall of Fame, demonstrating the game’s deep historical value.

Over the 64 years these two teams have met, numerous players have had their numbers called. There’s a long list of players, too many to include here, but fans can look it up if they want a trip down memory lane.

Football History Fans

For fans interested in the league’s history, the Dallas Cowboys and the Cleveland Browns are great teams to study.

These teams not only have too many Hall of Fame players to count, but the historical drama these two teams have brought to fans is significant.

From the drama of the Cleveland Browns relocating to the Dallas Cowboys parting ways with a legendary coach.

A thorough analysis of these teams would be a football historian’s dream.

The Cowboys and Browns undeniably hold a significant place in NFL history that fans cannot question.

The upcoming match between these two franchises might not feature as many Hall of Fame players as previous games, but it is still a must-watch event.

The history of these franchises will continue to expand. The league is fortunate to have two teams with dramatic storylines.