Login
Login

1965 Cleveland Browns season

{{short description|NFL team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}}

{{Infobox NFL team season

| team = Cleveland Browns

| year = 1965

| coach = Blanton Collier

| general_manager = Harold Sauerbrei

| stadium = Cleveland Stadium

| radio = WERE

| record = 11–3

| division_place = 1st NFL Eastern

| playoffs = Lost NFL Championship
(at Packers) 12–23

| pro bowlers =Paul Wiggin, DE
Gene Hickerson, G
Frank Ryan,QB
John Wooten, G
Jim Houston, LB
Gary Collins, FL
Dick Schafrath, LT
Jim Brown, FB

| shortnavlink = Browns seasons

}}

The 1965 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 16th season with the National Football League.

With an NFL-best 11–3 mark, the 1965 team finished just a shade better than the year before (10–3–1) and, just as they had in 1964, the Browns returned to the NFL Championship Game; however, this time, they lost 23–12 to the Green Bay Packers in the last title contest held before the advent of the Super Bowl. It would be the first of three straight NFL crowns for the Packers, who went on to win the first two Super Bowls as well.

With his partner at wide receiver, 1964 rookie sensation Paul Warfield, missing almost all of the season with a broken collarbone, Gary Collins stepped up and led the Browns with 10 touchdown receptions, just less than half of the team's total of 23.

Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown, in what would turn out to be his final year before his unexpected retirement in the offseason, rushed for 1,544 yards, 98 more than the year before, and exceeded his TD total by 10, scoring 17 times. Quarterback Frank Ryan, who had thrown 25 TD passes in both 1963 and 1964, had just 18 in 1965 with 13 interceptions. His yardage was down considerably, too, to 1,751, as was his rating (75.3).

The Browns had a stretch in which they won nine of ten games, something the 1964 team did not come close to matching. And whereas the 1964 team needed to capture its regular-season finale to clinch the Eastern Conference title, the 1965 Browns claimed the championship with several weeks left, which explains why they were clobbered 42–7 in the next-to-last game by a Los Angeles Rams team that finished last in the Western Conference at 4–10; The Browns rested many of their starters and were just trying to get out of that game with no injuries.

Thus, the Browns could have very easily been 12–2. However, there was no such explanation for the Browns' only other one-sided loss, a 49–13 home decision to the St. Louis Cardinals. Although the Cards finished tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for next-to-last place in the East at 5–9, they were arguably the Browns' fiercest rival throughout the entire 1960s.

Offseason

=NFL draft=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|year=1968|border=2}}"| 1965 Cleveland Browns Draft

RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
217Jim GarciaTacklePurdue
222Gerry BussellDefensive backGeorgia Tech
227Walter JohnsonDefensive tackleCal State-Los Angeles
332Bo ScottRunning backOhio State
341Bobby MaplesLinebackerBaylor
569Bill IrwinTackleMississippi
672Arnie SimkusTackleMichigan
683Corwyn AldredgeWide receiverNorthwestern State (LA)
797Dale LindseyLinebackerWestern Kentucky
8111Mike HowellDefensive backGrambling
9125Gary LaneQuarterbackMissouri
10139Pat ScreenQuarterbackLSU
11153Ollie CordillBackMemphis State
12167Justin CanaleGuardMississippi State
13181Henry PickettBackBaylor
14195Dan SimrellQuarterbackToledo
15209Larry GagnerTackleFlorida
16223Mel AnthonyFullbackMichigan
17237John BoyetteTackleClemson
18251Dick ArringtonGuardNotre Dame
19265Ed OrazenGuardOhio State
20279Frank GoldbergLinebackerCentral Michigan

{{cite web|title=1964 NFL Draft Listing – Pro-Football-Reference.com |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1964.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623063749/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1964.htm |archive-date=June 23, 2009 |url-status=live |access-date=July 19, 2009 |df=mdy }}

Exhibition schedule

class="wikitable"
style="background:#F15830;"| Week

! style="background:#F15830;"| Date

! style="background:#F15830;"| Opponent

! style="background:#F15830;"| Result

! style="background:#F15830;"| Score

! style="background:#F15830;"| Record

! style="background:#F15830;"| Stadium

! style="background:#F15830;"| Attendance

! style="background:#F15830;"| Time

! style="background:#F15830;"| Network

! style="background:#F15830;"| Local TV

! style="background:#F15830;"| Radio

style="background: #ddffdd; text-align: center"

| 1

| August 6, 1965 (Fri)

| vs. College All-Stars (at Chicago)

| W

| 24–16

| 1–0

| Soldier Field

| align="center" | 68,000

| 9:00 PM EDT

| ABC

|

| WJMO-AM

style="background: #ddffdd; text-align: center"

| 2

| August 15, 1965

| at San Francisco 49ers

| W

| 37–21

| 2–0

| Kezar Stadium

| align="center" | 22,000

| 4:00 PM EDT

|

| WEWS-TV

| WJMO-AM

style="background: #ddffdd; text-align: center"

| 3

| August 22, 1965

| at Los Angeles Rams

| W

| 21–19

| 3–0

| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

| align="center" | 29,508

| 4:00 PM EDT

|

| WEWS-TV

| WJMO-AM

style="background: #ddffdd; text-align: center"

| 4

| August 29, 1965

| at Detroit Lions

| W

| 28–14

| 4–0

| Tiger Stadium

| align="center" | 28,803

| 1:30 PM EDT

|

| WEWS-TV

| WJMO-AM

style="background: #ffdddd; text-align: center"

| 5

| September 4, 1965 (Sat)

| Green Bay Packers

| L

| 14–30

| 4–1

| Cleveland Municipal Stadium

| align="center" | 83,118

| 9:00 PM EDT

|

|

| WJMO-AM

style="background: #ddffdd; text-align: center"

| 6

| September 11, 1965 (Sat)

| vs. Pittsburgh Steelers at (Akron)

| W

| 28–16

| 5–1

| Rubber Bowl

| align="center" | 23,162

| 8:00 PM EDT

|

|

| WERE-AM

Notes:

{{refbegin}}

:{{note label|time|a|a}} All times in North American Eastern Time.

{{refend}}

There was a doubleheader on September 4, 1965, Giants vs Lions and Packers vs Browns.

Schedule

class="wikitable"
style="background:#F15830;"| Week

! style="background:#F15830;"| Date

! style="background:#F15830;"| Opponent

! style="background:#F15830;"| Result

! style="background:#F15830;"| Score

! style="background:#F15830;"| Record

! style="background:#F15830;"| Stadium

! style="background:#F15830;"| Attendance

! style="background:#F15830;"| Time

! style="background:#F15830;"| Network

! style="background:#F15830;"| Radio

style="background: #ddffdd; text-align: center"

| 1

| September 19, 1965

| at Washington Redskins

| W

| 17–7

| 1–0

| District of Columbia Stadium

| align="center" | 48,208

| 1:30 PM EDT

| CBS

| WJMO-AM

style="background: #ffdddd; text-align: center"

| 2

| September 26, 1965

| St. Louis Cardinals

| L

| 13–49

| 1–1

| Cleveland Stadium

| align="center" | 80,161

| 1:30 PM EDT

| CBS

| WJMO-AM

style="background: #ddffdd; text-align: center"

| 3

| October 3, 1965

| at Philadelphia Eagles

| W

| 35–17

| 2–1

| Franklin Field

| align="center" | 60,759

| 1:30 PM EDT

| CBS

| WJMO-AM

style="background: #ddffdd; text-align: center"

| 4

| October 9, 1965

| Pittsburgh Steelers

| W

| 24–19

| 3–1

| Cleveland Stadium

| align="center" | 80,187

| 8:00 PM EDT

| Sports Network Incorporated (SNI)

| WERE-AM

style="background: #ddffdd; text-align: center"

| 5

| October 17, 1965

| Dallas Cowboys

| W

| 23–17

| 4–1

| Cleveland Stadium

| align="center" | 80,432

| 1:30 PM EDT

| CBS

| WERE-AM

style="background: #ddffdd; text-align: center"

| 6

| October 24, 1965

| at New York Giants

| W

| 38–14

| 5–1

| Yankee Stadium (I)

| align="center" | 62,864

| 1:30 PM EST

| CBS

| WERE-AM

style="background: #ffdddd; text-align: center"

| 7

| October 31, 1965

| Minnesota Vikings

| L

| 17–27

| 5–2

| Cleveland Stadium

| align="center" | 83,505

| 1:30 PM EST

| CBS

| WERE-AM

style="background: #ddffdd; text-align: center"

| 8

| November 7, 1965

| Philadelphia Eagles

| W

| 38–34

| 6–2

| Cleveland Stadium

| align="center" | 72,807

| 1:30 PM EST

| CBS

| WERE-AM

style="background: #ddffdd; text-align: center"

| 9

| November 14, 1965

| New York Giants

| W

| 34–21

| 7–2

| Cleveland Stadium

| align="center" | 82,426

| 1:30 PM EST

| CBS

| WERE-AM

style="background: #ddffdd; text-align: center"

| 10

| November 21, 1965

| at Dallas Cowboys

| W

| 24–17

| 8–2

| Cotton Bowl

| align="center" | 76,251

| 4:00 PM EST

| CBS

| WERE-AM

style="background: #ddffdd; text-align: center"

| 11

| November 28, 1965

| at Pittsburgh Steelers

| W

| 42–21

| 9–2

| Pitt Stadium

| align="center" | 42,757

| 1:30 PM EST

| CBS

| WERE-AM

style="background: #ddffdd; text-align: center"

| 12

| December 5, 1965

| Washington Redskins

| W

| 24–16

| 10–2

| Cleveland Stadium

| align="center" | 77,765

| 1:30 PM EST

| CBS

| WERE-AM

style="background: #ffdddd; text-align: center"

| 13

| December 12, 1965

| at Los Angeles Rams

| L

| 7–42

| 10–3

| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

| align="center" | 49,048

| 4:00 PM EST

| CBS

| WERE-AM

style="background: #ddffdd; text-align: center"

| 14

| December 19, 1965

| at St. Louis Cardinals

| W

| 27–24

| 11–3

| Busch Stadium I

| align="center" | 29,348

| 2:00 PM EST

| CBS

| WERE-AM

Notes:

{{refbegin}}

:{{note label|time|a|a}} All times in North American Eastern Time. (UTC–4 and UTC–5 starting October 24)

{{refend}}

Playoffs

class="wikitable"
style="background:#F15830;"| Round

! style="background:#F15830;"| Date

! style="background:#F15830;"| Opponent

! style="background:#F15830;"| Result

! style="background:#F15830;"| Score

! style="background:#F15830;"| Stadium

! style="background:#F15830;"| Attendance

! style="background:#F15830;"| Time

! style="background:#F15830;"| Network

! style="background:#F15830;"| Local Radio

! style="background:#F15830;"| National Radio

style="background: #ffdddd; text-align: center"

| 1965 NFL Championship Game

| style="text-align: left;" | January 2, 1966

| style="text-align: left;" | at Green Bay Packers

| L

| 12–23

| Lambeau Field

| align="center" | 50,852

| 2:00 PM EST

| CBS

| WERE-AM

| CBS

Notes:

{{refbegin}}

:{{note label|time|a|a}} All times in North American Eastern Time.

{{refend}}

Personnel

=Roster=

class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
colspan="7" style="text-align:center;{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns|border=2}};" | 1965 Cleveland Browns roster
style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

| style="width: 25px;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

| style="width: 25px;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

rookies in italics

{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1965_roster.htm|title = 1965 Cleveland Browns Starters, Roster, & Players| website=Pro-Football-Reference.com }}

=Staff/coaches=

class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
colspan="7" style="background:#312821; color:white; border:2px solid #de6108; text-align:center;"|1965 Cleveland Browns staff
colspan="7" style="text-align:right;"|
valign="top"|

| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Front office

Coaches

Offensive coaches

|width="35"| 

|valign="top"|

| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"| Defensive coaches

Strength & Coditioning

  • Athletic Trainer - Leo Murphy
  • Equipment Manager - Morris Kono

Standings

{{1965 NFL Eastern standings}}

See also

  • The Fortune Cookie – scenes were filmed during the 27–17 loss to the Vikings on October 31.

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1965.htm 1965 Cleveland Browns] at Pro Football Reference
  • [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/stats.nsf/Annual/1965-cle 1965 Cleveland Browns Statistics] at jt-sw.com
  • [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1965-cle 1965 Cleveland Browns Schedule] at jt-sw.com
  • {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060828154134/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=CLE&lg=nfl&yr=1965 1965 Cleveland Browns]}} at DatabaseFootball.com
  • {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111025154937/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/history/year-by-year-results/1965.html Season Results at Cleveland Browns.com]}}

{{Cleveland Browns}}

{{Cleveland Browns seasons}}

{{1965 NFL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1965 Cleveland Browns Season}}

Cleveland

Category:Cleveland Browns seasons

Cleveland Browns