Hue Jackson and Cleveland Browns coaching debuts
By Thomas Moore
Paul Brown: 1950 vs. the Philadelphia Eagles
After rolling through the All-America Football Conference for four years, the Browns joined the NFL for the 1950 season. Commissioner Bert Bell thought he would put the upstarts in their place by having the Browns open the season on the road against the two-time defending champion Eagles.
But with all summer to prepare for the game, the Browns unleashed a 35-10 beating on the Eagles that let the rest of the league know there was a new sheriff in town. Quarterback Otto Graham passed for three touchdowns and 346 yards as the Browns rolled up 448 yards of total offense.
Blanton Collier: 1963 vs. the Washington Redskins
Blanton Collier was promoted to head coach after Paul Brown was fired but picked right up where the legendary Brown left off as the Browns opened the season by hosting the Redskins and had 543 total yards of offense in an easy 37-14 win.
Jim Brown rushed for 162 yards and caught three passes for 100 yards, including an 83-yard touchdown reception and an 80-yard touchdown run. Making his first start as the full-time quarterback, Frank Ryan passed for 334 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Nick Skorich: 1971 vs. the Houston Oilers
Nick Skorich kept the tradition of opening-day blowouts alive as the Browns beat the Houston Oilers, 31-0, in front of 73,387 fans at Municipal Stadium.
Cleveland was coming off a poor preseason (where have we heard that before?) but quickly took control of the game on a pair of one-yard touchdown runs by Leroy Kelly. The defense held the Oilers to just 35 rushing yards and forced six turnovers — including three interceptions of Houston quarterback Lynn Dickey and two off of backup quarterback Charley Johnson.
Next: A sign of things to come