By The Numbers
The Packers have controlled this matchup, especially recently:
- Overall Record: Packers lead 14-8
- Regular Season: Packers lead 13-8
- Playoffs: Packers lead 1-0
- In Cleveland: Packers lead 7-5
Five Games That Matter Most
1. The 1965 NFL Championship – January 2, 1966
The Packers beat Cleveland 23-12 at Lambeau Field to win the 1965 NFL Championship Game. This game kicked off Green Bay’s run of three straight titles.
The field was a muddy mess after snow and rain. The Packers’ game plan was simple: stop Jim Brown. And they did. Ray Nitschke and the defense held Brown to just 50 yards on 12 carries. It was Brown’s final game – he retired that offseason.
While Cleveland’s best weapon struggled in the mud, Green Bay’s running game worked. Jim Taylor, who won MVP, gained 96 yards. Paul Hornung added 105 yards and scored a key touchdown in the third quarter.
Bart Starr threw a 47-yard touchdown to Carroll Dale on the opening drive. The Browns answered but missed the extra point. After trading field goals, Green Bay led 13-12 at halftime. The Packers shut out Cleveland in the second half. Hornung’s 13-yard touchdown run and Don Chandler’s late field goal sealed it.
This championship win marked the end of the Jim Brown era and started the Packers’ second dynasty under Vince Lombardi.
2. The 55-7 Destruction – November 12, 1967
At Milwaukee County Stadium, the Packers demolished Cleveland 55-7. This was a complete domination by the 1967 team that would go on to win Super Bowl II.
Green Bay scored 35 points in the first quarter and led 45-7 at halftime. Rookie Travis Williams returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in the first quarter alone – one from 87 yards and another from 85 yards.
Bart Starr threw two touchdown passes. Donny Anderson had a career day with four total touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving). The defense intercepted four passes and completely shut down the Browns.
3. Last Matchup Before Modell Deserts Cleveland – November 19, 1995
The Packers beat the Browns 31-20 in Cleveland, but the context made this game special. Browns owner Art Modell had just announced he was moving the team to Baltimore, devastating the city.
This was also a coaching matchup worth noting. Mike Holmgren was building the Packers into a Super Bowl team. Bill Belichick was struggling through what would be his only unsuccessful head coaching stint.
Brett Favre was in the middle of his first MVP season. He threw three touchdown passes to Dorsey Levens, Mark Chmura, and Anthony Morgan, plus ran for a 4-yard touchdown. The key play came in the fourth quarter when LeRoy Butler intercepted Vinny Testaverde and returned it 76 yards, setting up Favre’s rushing score.
4. The Overtime Comeback – December 10, 2017
With Aaron Rodgers out with a broken collarbone, the 6-6 Packers needed to beat the winless Browns (0-12) to stay alive for the playoffs. What should have been easy turned into a thriller.
Cleveland led 21-7 going into the fourth quarter. The Packers, led by backup Brett Hundley, mounted a comeback. Jamaal Williams scored early in the fourth to make it 21-14.
With two minutes left, Trevor Davis returned a punt 65 yards to set up the tying score. Hundley threw a 1-yard touchdown to Davante Adams with 17 seconds left to force overtime.
In overtime, Cleveland got the ball first but DeShone Kizer forced a bad pass that Josh Jones intercepted. A few plays later, Adams caught a short pass, spun away from a defender, and raced 25 yards for the winning touchdown.
The win kept Green Bay’s season alive and set up Rodgers’ return the next week.
5. Rodgers Breaks the Record – December 25, 2021
On Christmas Day at Lambeau, the Packers won a tight 24-22 game that featured history and controversy.
In the first quarter, Aaron Rodgers threw an 11-yard touchdown to Allen Lazard. It was Rodgers’ 443rd career touchdown pass, breaking Brett Favre’s franchise record. Favre himself sent a video message that played on the scoreboard, which Rodgers said made him emotional on the sideline.
Rodgers threw two more touchdowns to Davante Adams to build a 24-12 lead. But Cleveland’s running game, led by Nick Chubb (126 yards and a touchdown), brought them back. The Browns cut it to 24-22 with four minutes left.
Cleveland drove to midfield with under a minute left. On third down, Baker Mayfield looked for Donovan Peoples-Jones, but Rasul Douglas stepped in front for his second interception of the day. Many thought Douglas should have been flagged for holding, but no penalty was called.
Eras of Dominance
Looking at the history, the Browns dominated early, winning the first three meetings in the 1950s when they were a powerhouse.
Then the Packers won five straight during the Lombardi dynasty, including that crucial 1965 championship.
Recently, Green Bay has won six of the last eight games.
