Though no one knew it at the time – they had no way of knowing it, really – the stage was set for one of the greatest stories in Browns history by what happened 65 years ago today, on Oct. 22, 1950.
 
The Browns built a 10-point halftime lead and then got shut out the rest of the way in losing 17-13 to the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds to fall to 4-2.
 
The Giants also won the first game between the teams, 6-0 a month earlier at Cleveland, marking the first time in their five years of existence that the Browns had lost twice to a team in the same season.
 
The teams would end the regular season, the Browns’ first in the NFL, tied for first place in the American Conference (later the Eastern Conference) with 10-2 records. That necessitated a playoff to get into the NFL Championship Game, which the Browns won 8-3.
 
But more on that later.
 
The Browns erased a three-point deficit after one quarter and led 13-3 at halftime on two Lou Groza chip-shot field goals of 18 and 17 yards and quarterback Otto Graham’s one-yard touchdown run. The TD was set up when the Giants fumbled a kickoff at their 1.
 
The Browns, though could do nothing in the second half and ended the game with just 130 total yards.
 
Meanwhile, New York slashed Cleveland’s stout defense for 211 yards rushing.
 
The Giants had gotten the first two laughs that season, but, as mentioned, the Browns would get the last one, and by far the most important one.