National Football League

Here's how the Browns reached an all-time low with their loss to the Ravens

Published Nov. 15, 2016 1:41 p.m. ET

Andrew Lynch

The world might never have a real explanation for why the Cleveland Browns decided to switch quarterbacks at halftime of a game they led against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night. After Cody Kessler took a seat and Josh McCown entered the game, however, the Browns' veteran QB threw two interceptions as the Ravens scored 22 consecutive points en route to a 28-7 win.

Cleveland's loss dropped the Browns to their lowest point ever, as this once-proud franchise's all-time NFL win-loss record has fallen to .500 (461-461-1) for the first time in the team's history. (For the more attentive readers, it's worth pointing out that all-time record does not include the Browns' four seasons in the AFC.)

Now, you might be curious why that's at all noteworthy. These are the Browns, of course; .500 is a drastic improvement for them, right?

Yet that stat truly illustrates how miserable Cleveland has been since rejoining the NFL for the 1999 season. Prior to the Browns' initial move to Baltimore in 1996, Cleveland's all-time record stood at 374-266-1, for a .584 win percentage. That mark would top the Dallas Cowboys' current all-time win percentage record (.572, ahead of the Bears at .570 and Packers at .567).

Since the Browns came back into the league, however, they are 87-195. That .308 win percentage is worse than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' all-time record for the worst win percentage for a franchise (244-391-1; .384 win percentage).

In fact, Cleveland is far and away the worst NFL team since 1999. The Browns' 195 losses is 14 greater than the next-worst franchise, the Detroit Lions (181), who suffered through an 0-16 campaign in 2008, and 25 more than the "third-place" Oakland Raiders (170).

And the icing on the cake with all of this? The last time the Browns won a game, Johnny Manziel was their QB.

For first time, Cleveland Browns’ all-time record is at/below .500 (461-461-10), in #EliasSays https://t.co/9uZRVbYSf8 via @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/BLLG63PWOV
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 11, 2016

Not to rub salt, but @browns all-time record sits at .500 for the first time. And the last QB to win a game for them is still named Manziel.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) November 11, 2016