The air in Denver usually feels a bit thinner, but for Cleveland fans, it’s always felt downright suffocating. If you grew up a Browns fan in the late 80s, the words "The Drive" and "The Fumble" aren't just football terms. They’re deep-seated emotional triggers.
Honestly, the Cleveland Browns vs Denver Broncos matchup is one of the weirdest, most lopsided "rivalries" in the NFL. I say rivalry in quotes because, if we’re being real, Denver has owned this series for decades. But every time these two teams line up, there’s this specific tension that only exists because of that history.
The Numbers Don’t Lie (and They're Kind of Brutal)
Let’s look at the cold hard facts. Denver leads the all-time series 28–7. Think about that for a second. That is a staggering level of dominance in a professional sports league designed for parity. The Broncos have also swept all three of their playoff meetings.
Most recently, on December 2, 2024, we saw a total shootout. The Broncos won 41–32 in a game that was basically a fever dream. Jameis Winston, doing Jameis Winston things, threw for a franchise-record 497 yards. He looked like a superstar one minute and a disaster the next. He tossed four touchdowns but also had three interceptions—two of which were returned for touchdowns by the Broncos' defense.
Nik Bonitto and Ja'Quan McMillian both took picks to the house. It was classic Cleveland heartbreak, honestly. You put up nearly 500 yards of offense and still lose by nine because of back-breaking mistakes.
Recent Matchup Snapshots
- Dec 2024: Broncos 41, Browns 32 (The Winston yardage record game)
- Nov 2023: Broncos 29, Browns 12
- Oct 2021: Browns 17, Broncos 14 (A rare Cleveland win)
- Nov 2019: Broncos 24, Browns 19
Cleveland’s last win was a gritty 17–14 victory back in 2021. Before that? You have to go back to 2018 to find another W. It's been a rough road for the Dawg Pound when facing the Mile High crew.
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Why This Game Feels Personal for Cleveland
You can't talk about Cleveland vs. Denver without mentioning John Elway. To Browns fans, he’s the ultimate villain. In the 1986 AFC Championship, he marched 98 yards down the field—now forever known as "The Drive"—to tie the game and eventually win in overtime.
Then came 1987. "The Fumble." Earnest Byner was about to score the go-ahead touchdown, and then... he didn't. The ball came loose, Denver recovered, and Cleveland’s Super Bowl dreams died on the two-yard line.
These aren't just old stories. They’ve formed the DNA of how these two fanbases view each other. Even in 2026, when you see those orange and brown jerseys against the blue and orange, those ghosts are in the stadium.
The Jerry Jeudy Factor
The 2024 game had a spicy subplot: Jerry Jeudy. After being traded from Denver to Cleveland, he basically played with a vendetta. He put up 235 receiving yards and a 70-yard touchdown against his former team. That's actually an NFL record for a receiver facing his old squad.
It’s these little wrinkles—the trades, the "revenge" games—that keep the matchup interesting even when the records are lopsided.
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Where the Teams Stand Now in 2026
As of January 2026, the trajectories are pretty different. The Broncos have looked solid under Sean Payton’s leadership, recently wrapping up a strong 2025 season that saw them fighting for playoff positioning. They’ve found a rhythm with a balanced attack and a defense that specializes in opportunistic turnovers.
Cleveland, on the other hand, just finished a grueling 5–12 season in 2025. They’ve been cycling through talent and dealing with the typical AFC North grind. While they’ve shown flashes of brilliance—like beating the Steelers 13–6 late in December 2025—consistency has been their white whale.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
The NFL recently finalized the 2026 opponents. While the specific dates won't drop until the spring, we know the Broncos will be playing the AFC North as part of the scheduling rotation.
Expect a lot of talk about:
- Quarterback Stability: Can the Browns finally settle on a long-term solution that doesn't involve record-breaking yardage paired with back-breaking interceptions?
- Denver's Defense: They've consistently had Cleveland's number, especially in creating defensive touchdowns.
- The Venue: Playing at Empower Field at Mile High is a documented nightmare for the Browns, where they struggle with the altitude and the crowd noise.
What You Should Actually Do With This Info
If you’re a bettor or just a hardcore fan trying to win an argument at the bar, here’s the actionable takeaway. Don't just look at the "Cleveland is due" narrative. History shows that Denver's defensive scheme tends to bait Cleveland's quarterbacks into exactly the kind of mistakes that decide games.
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Keep an eye on the turnover margin. In almost every Broncos win over the Browns in the last five years, Denver has won the turnover battle or scored a defensive/special teams touchdown.
Watch the injury reports on the offensive line. Cleveland’s physical run game, led by Nick Chubb, is their best chance to neutralize the Denver pass rush, but it only works if the line is healthy. In the 2025 season, the Browns' line was a revolving door, which led to a lot of those 5–12 struggles.
Bet the "Revenge" narratives. As we saw with Jeudy, players who move between these two teams tend to play out of their minds. If there's a former Bronco on the Cleveland roster or vice versa, they are usually worth a look in DFS or prop bets.
To stay ahead of the curve, track the official 2026 schedule release in May to see if this game lands in the early-season heat or the late-season Denver snow, as weather has historically played a massive role in how these two teams interact on the field.