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10 Best Rivalries in Detroit Sports History

By Zac Snyder

Sep 21, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions outside linebacker DeAndre Levy (54) tackles Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) in the end zone for a safety during the second quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions outside linebacker DeAndre Levy (54) tackles Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) in the end zone for a safety during the second quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /
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Detroit Lions vs. Cleveland Browns

It may be hard to fathom given their lack of success in recent, and even not so recent, memory, but the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns were once NFL royalty. The Browns appeared in the NFL Championship Game six times in seven years with four of those matchups coming against the Lions.

Back-to-back titles in 1952 and 1953 by the Lions made for three-straight Championship Game losses for the Browns. They did break through in stopping the Lions three-peat to win the title in 1954, but the Lions got revenge with a 59-14 blowout over the Browns to win the 1957 title.

The Lions and Browns met eight times between 1952 and 1953; four times with a championship on the line. The Lions went 7-1 in those games with their only loss sending them to a runner-up finish in 1954.

For all the success the Lions and Browns enjoyed before the AFL-NFL merger, neither team has reached the Super Bowl. Perhaps that makes it fitting these two teams would play each other for a preseason trophy.

Next: Number 8

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