The Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns both have a long and storied history--one that intersected 36 times between 1950-69 and just six times since. In NFL history, the Redskins have won five NFL championships (including three Super Bowls) and the Browns have won four NFL championships, the last one in 1964.
The last time the Redskins and Browns played was in 1991, a Super Bowl season for Washington. Joe Gibbs was on the coaching sidelines opposite Bill Belichick, who was in his first season as Browns head coach.
The Redskins won convincingly, 42-17, as Gerald Riggs and Ricky Ervins each scored two touchdowns. Earnest Byner, now the Redskins' running backs coach, had 12 rushes for 65 yards and a touchdown.
The last time the Redskins played in Cleveland was 1985. Washington, guided by Gibbs, defeated Marty Schottenheimer's Browns by a score of 14-7. John Riggins rushed 30 times for 112 yards and a touchdown. Gary Clark hauled in a 19-yard pass from quarterback Joe Thiesmann.
The Browns lead the all-time series 32-9-1, but the Redskins have won four of the last five games.
The Redskins and Browns have several connections, most notably Byner. He played for Cleveland from 1984-88 and then moved on to Washington in 1995.
Among current players, Kenard Lang was drafted by the Redskins in the first round of the 1997 draft and played through the 2001 season. He accumulated 21.5 sacks as a Redskin.
On the Browns coaching staff, Terry Robiskie serves as offensive coordinator and George Edwards is linebackers coach. Robiskie was the Redskins' wide receivers coach from 1994-2000 and became interim head coach for three games in 2000 after Norv Turner was fired. Edwards was the Redskins' defensive coordinator last season.
The Redskins and Browns also share two Hall of Famers.
Bobby Mitchell was a halfback for Cleveland from 1958-61 and a flanker for the Redskins from 1962-68. Mitchell would go on to serve in the Redskins' front office as a scout and assistant general manager through the 2002 season.
Otto Graham was the Browns' quarterback from 1946-55 and head coach of the Redskins from 1966-68.
