The Cleveland Browns and the Washington football team met regularly.

After joining the NFL in 1950, the Browns would face Washington twice a year virtually every season until Cleveland moved to the AFC in 1970 following the NFL-AFL merger.

It was a fruitful rivalry for the Browns, as they went 30-5-1 against Washington during those two decades. Although the two franchises have met just 12 times since the merger, the Browns still have a dominant 35-12-1 record in the series, including a neat 17-15-1 as a road team.

Very few games have been close, although one encounter in particular stands out in the series and it took place on November 27, 1988.

The Browns were at RFK Stadium that day, trying to hold on to a playoff berth in a season where Cleveland was forced to start four quarterbacks due to injuries.

Bernie Kosar was under center that day, but the Browns entered the fourth quarter trailing 10-3. Running back Kevin Mack tied the score at 10 with a 1-yard touchdown run that capped a 16-play drive. Washington answered back with a field goal and the situation looked bleak for the Browns.

With time running out and the playoffs slipping away, Kosar hit wide receiver Brian Brennan on a key third-down play. Cleveland soon faced another third down when running back Earnest Byner ran up the middle for a 27-yard touchdown to give the Browns the lead.

Moments later, cornerback Mark Harper intercepted a pass from Mark Rypien to secure the victory and keep Cleveland’s playoff hopes alive.

Today’s game may not have the same implications, but the Browns could use a win just as much as they did on that Sunday afternoon 36 years ago. And while we wait for kickoff, Dawgs By Nature has the latest news and notes on the Browns and the rest of the NFL in today’s edition of the Sunday Dawg Chow.

Dawgs by nature:

• Browns still believe Deshaun Watson gives them ‘best chance to win’ (Thomas Moore) – The Cleveland Browns held a players-only meeting this week to talk about the ongoing issues, but players reportedly still believe in their quarterback.

• Browns make 2 roster moves, raise 2 for Week 5 (Jared Mueller) – Cleveland’s move includes the return of guard Michael Dunn.

• Cleveland Browns vs. Washington Commanders NFL Week 5 Preview and Prediction (Chris Pokorny) – This Sunday the Cleveland Browns will take on the Washington Commanders, one of the hottest teams in football. Below we analyze some advantages, disadvantages or general thoughts about the two teams before arriving at our predictions for the match.

• Browns Roster: 6 Tradeable Players Who Could Get the Best Trade Returns (Jared Mueller) – Even if the Cleveland Browns beat the Washington Commanders on Sunday, the roster could look different when the NFL trade deadline arrives in a month. While rumors are generally sparse this early, besides Davante Adams hinting at joining the AFC North, Amari Cooper’s name has been swirling around in media discussions.

• Browns-Commanders FanDuel Week 5 prop bets: Bet on Cleveland’s defense limiting Jayden Daniels in some areas (Chris Pokorny) – The Cleveland Browns are on the road this Sunday against the Washington Commanders in Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season, The Browns are 3-point underdogs against the Commanders, and there are my favorite player prop bets from the Browns’ perspective in Week 5.

• Browns fans blame run defense for loss to Raiders, expecting Washington to demolish Cleveland in Week 5 (Chris Pokorny) – Every week during the season, Cleveland Browns fans vote in SB Nation Reacts to vote for their confidence in the team or express their opinions on other topics.

• Depth chart for Commanders: In Brian Robinson’s absence, two veterans could carry the load (Jared Mueller) – There’s a lot to know about the Week 5 game in our nation’s capital, including the fact that the final injury report includes some big names contains. For Washington, no one is bigger than RB Brian Robinson, who we had listed as one of three commanders who could devastate Cleveland’s defense.

Cleveland Browns:

N.F.L.: