Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

There is an historic connection between the two subject cities which partly involved football.

[1] The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad’s mission was in part to connect the Delaware Bay with the Great Lakes. Lake Eire here was the obvious place.
[2] Schimdt’s of Philadelphia had a branch in Cleveland. This was a big seller in the industrial areas in Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Most taverns had it on draft.
[3] The Cleveland Browns came into the National Football League in 1950. They ruled the All American Conference during its brief existence. The Philadelphia Eagles from 1947 to 1949 had two NFL titles and one conference championship. When Cleveland came into Connie Mack Stadium in 1950, the odds were heavy in the Eagles favor. Most fans dismissed the All American Conference as a Mickey Mouse hole. Cleveland, with Otto Graham at quarterback, easily defeated the Eagles 35 to 10. The Browns dominated the series between the two teams until they left for the American Football Conference in 1970.
[4} In four of six seasons, from 1957 to 1962, each teams got its biggest win against the other.

1957. The Eagles defeated the Browns 17 to 7 at Connie Mack Stadium. Philadelphia was the only Eastern Conference team to defeat the Browns that season.
1960. On opening day, the Browns defeated the Eagles at Franklin Field 41 to 24. At Cleveland, the Eagles won a thriller 29 to 27.
1961. Once again on opening day, this time, the Eagles defeated the Browns 27 to 20 at Franklin Field. Timmy Brown returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. At Cleveland, the Browns won over the weak Eagles defense 45 to 24. Jimmy Brown gained 237 yards.
1962. The Eagles defeated the Browns 35 to 7 at Franklin Field. Sonny Jurgensen poked holes in the Browns defensive backfield. At Cleveland, it was a 14 all tie.

1979. Cleveland won 24-19, but the game is mostly remembered because Harold Carmichael broke the then-record most consecutive games with at least a pass reception, and he was given a very tall trophy. They most have figured thatr Carmichael was one of the tallest players in the NFL back then and he deserved a taller trophy.

Teo wrote:1979. Cleveland won 24-19, but the game is mostly remembered because Harold Carmichael broke the then-record most consecutive games with at least a pass reception, and he was given a very tall trophy. They most have figured that Carmichael was one of the tallest players in the NFL back then and he deserved a taller trophy.

I was at that game. It was one of three games that the Eagles lost that they should have won. The Eagles would have been first place in the NFC West and played the first round at home rather than going to Tampa.