Are you a die-hard football fan? Want to gear up like it’s 1968 again? Check out Browns fan gear on Amazon or Buffalo Bills collectibles — perfect for game day or as historic keepsakes.
The First AFL Team the Browns Played Wasn’t the Jets
If you guessed the New York Jets as the first American Football League (AFL) team to face the Cleveland Browns, think again.
While the Jets played in Cleveland during the historic first Monday Night Football game on Sept. 21, 1970, they were actually the fifth AFL team the Browns ever faced. The first? The Buffalo Bills.
August 30, 1968: Browns vs. Bills at War Memorial Stadium
The Browns and Bills clashed for the first time during a preseason game on August 30, 1968, in Buffalo, New York. Played at War Memorial Stadium, the matchup drew a packed house of 45,994 fans, eager to witness this NFL-AFL showdown.
The game was part of the 1966 merger agreement between the NFL and AFL, which included interleague preseason matchups to prepare teams for the fully merged schedule starting in 1970.
Final Score:
-
Cleveland Browns: 22
-
Buffalo Bills: 12
A Glimpse into the Teams’ History at That Time
Cleveland Browns:
-
Won the 1964 NFL Championship against the Colts (27–0).
-
Lost to the Packers in the 1965 NFL title game.
-
Posted strong seasons in ’66 and ’67, going 9-5 each year.
-
Finished 10-4 in 1968, eventually losing to the Colts in the NFL Championship Game.
-
Frank Ryan, though the 1964 title-winning QB, was being phased out due to injury. He was replaced by Bill Nelsen early in the 1968 season.
Buffalo Bills:
-
AFL Champions in 1964 and 1965.
-
Declined to 4-10 in 1967, then dropped further to 1-12-1 in 1968.
-
The team’s star players from their title runs were aging and beginning to retire.
Preseason Meant Business in the 1960s
Unlike today, preseason games in the 1960s were taken seriously, especially interleague ones. Teams played their starters deep into games, and pride was on the line — particularly for the AFL, which was still fighting for respect against the more established NFL.
The Browns’ victory over the Bills wasn’t just a preseason win; it was a statement in the still-brewing NFL vs. AFL rivalry.
Other Early AFL Matchups for the Browns
After facing the Bills in 1968, the Browns met these AFL teams:
-
San Diego Chargers (1969) – 19-19 tie
-
Kansas City Chiefs (1970) – Lost 16-13
-
Cincinnati Bengals (1970) – Lost 31-24
-
New York Jets (1970) – Won 31-21 in the first-ever Monday Night Football game
Remembering History As Browns Face the Bills Again
As the Browns and Bills meet again in tonight’s preseason game at FirstEnergy Stadium, few fans may recall that their shared history dates back to a steamy August night in 1968. What was once a unique interleague battle is now just another NFL matchup — but the history still matters.
Football Fan Must-Haves
Want to relive the glory days or upgrade your game-day setup? Here are some fan-favorite picks from Amazon:
