Out of 31 other teams in the NFL, the Detroit Lions hold a winning record against just seven of them. Of those seven, none have suffered more at the hands of the Lions than the Cleveland Browns. Detroit boasts a .760 winning percentage versus Cleveland — the only team they’ve beaten at a .700 clip or better. The Lions are 19–6 in 25 meetings, outscoring the Browns by 164 points in the series.
The 1950s: Championship Clashes
The rivalry dates back to November 2, 1952, when Detroit claimed the first-ever matchup 17–6. Less than two months later, the teams squared off again in the 1952 NFL Championship, where the Lions once again prevailed, 17–7. They met in the title game the very next year, with Detroit squeaking out a dramatic 17–16 victory.
Detroit stretched its win streak to four with a 1954 regular-season win, but in that year’s Championship the Browns got their revenge, hammering the Lions 56–10. The Lions returned the favor in 1957, beating Cleveland in both the regular season and the NFL Championship — the latter a 59–14 blowout. They added one more win in 1958, marking an era when both franchises looked destined to be NFL powerhouses. But instead, both teams spiraled into decades of struggle.
The 60s–80s: Shifting Momentum
Over the next two decades, Detroit took five of six matchups. The tide turned in the 1980s, when the Browns claimed two of three, including their first back-to-back wins in franchise history behind Bernie Kosar in 1986. But in 1989, Barry Sanders introduced himself to Cleveland with a 145-yard rushing performance, carrying Detroit to a 13–10 win despite QB Bob Gagliano throwing for just 143 yards.
The 90s and 2000s: Stafford’s Moment
Detroit swept the 90s series, winning 24–14 in 1992 and 38–20 in 1995. The new millennium started with Cleveland winning 21–14 in 2001 behind Tim Couch. Four years later, Jeff Garcia led Detroit to a win on Jason Hanson’s game-winning field goal.
Then came the most famous Lions–Browns matchup in 2009. Rookie QB Matthew Stafford, fresh off Detroit’s 0–16 season, took a brutal hit late in the game. Injured, he was forced to the sideline — until a timeout gave him one more chance. Stafford demanded back onto the field and threw the game-winning touchdown. The play became the longest unedited sequence in NFL Films history and the moment Lions fans knew Stafford was someone they could believe in.
The 2010s to Today
Stafford would go on to beat Cleveland two more times in the 2010s before the series paused. Their most recent meeting came in 2021, with Tim Boyle starting for Detroit against Baker Mayfield. Nick Chubb and Jarvis Landry scored to give Cleveland a 13–0 lead, but D’Andre Swift and Aldrick Rosas pulled Detroit back within three. The Lions ultimately fell short, 13–10.
The 2025 Matchup
Now, nearly 73 years since their first meeting, the Browns return to Detroit for the 26th installment of this historic series. Cleveland is fresh off an upset of Green Bay, led by veteran QB Joe Flacco and a ferocious defensive front. Detroit, meanwhile, is coming off a gritty Monday night win in Baltimore — leaving them with one less day of preparation. The Lions enter as 10-point favorites, but this matchup won’t be easy.
Still, if history is any guide, Detroit has owned this rivalry. And with Dan Campbell’s Lions proving week after week they’re ready for any challenge, fans at Ford Field should expect their team to rise again on Sunday.