Cleveland’s 12 Closest Championship Calls Since 1964

1968 Browns

Everyone in Cleveland remembers it was the Baltimore Colts whom the Browns shut out 27-0 in the 1964 NFL Championship Game. Four years later, the Browns handed the Colts their only regular-season loss — a 30-20 decision in Baltimore, no less — and crushed the Dallas Cowboys in a playoff game which sent Don Meredith into an early retirement.

But when coach Don Shula brought his Colts to town this time, the payback was on. For only the second time since being absorbed into the NFL in 1950, the Browns were held scoreless, with the Colts using three touchdown runs by Tom Matte to cruise to a 34-0 victory. On the other hand, imagine if it was the Browns rather than the Colts who were stunned by Joe Namath and the New York Jets of the upstart AFL two weeks later.

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