This story originally appeared on OLBG and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Biggest blown leads by the Cleveland Browns
When the Cincinnati Bengals blew a 4-point lead over the Los Angeles Rams with 1:25 left in the 2022 Super Bowl, crushing though it was for Cincy fans, it fell far short of the biggest blown lead in Super Bowl history. That dubious honor falls to the 25-point margin the Atlanta Falcons gave up to the New England Patriots five years earlier. Nor did it come close to the record 32-point blown lead in one particular 1993 NFL playoff game.
Any time your favorite team blows a lead, it's heartbreaking. On the flip side, nothing is more thrilling than seeing your squad come back from a seemingly insurmountable deficit to take the win. Every football fan has certainly been on both sides of that equation, but it's those blown leads, those wasted advantages, that linger in the heart and mind and draw up calls for tougher effort and smarter play-calling in post-game press conferences.
To that end, OLBG researched details on the biggest blown lead by the Cleveland Browns and ranked them by just how crushing the comeback was. In the case of a tie, rank was awarded to the most recent game.
The 2022 Super Bowl stung and astounded in equal measure. As a very recent example of the kind of roughshod, take-it-in-the-teeth result every team in the league has faced, for good or ill, its memory serves as a good appetizer to this list of each team's worst (or best, depending on your allegiance) day.
Keep reading to find out your team's biggest blown leads, or see the list for every NFL team here.
#5. Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (1/5/2003)
- Blown lead: 17
- Final score: Pittsburgh Steelers 36, Cleveland Browns 33
#4. Cleveland Browns vs. Miami Dolphins (1/4/1986)
- Blown lead: 18
- Final score: Miami Dolphins 24, Cleveland Browns 21
#3. Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens (9/18/2016)
- Blown lead: 20
- Final score: Baltimore Ravens 25, Cleveland Browns 20
#2. Cleveland Browns vs. Detroit Lions (11/22/2009)
- Blown lead: 21
- Final score: Detroit Lions 38, Cleveland Browns 37
#1. Cleveland Browns vs. Philadelphia Eagles (11/10/1991)
- Blown lead: 23
- Final score: Philadelphia Eagles 32, Cleveland Browns 30