The Cleveland Browns raced out to a 20-3 halftime and never trailed, winning for the first time on the road this season. How unexpected was this victory by the 2-5 Browns over the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints? Not as surprising as you may think…

Cleveland has now knocked off the defending Super Bowl champion for the third straight season (2008 Giants, 2009 Steelers, 2010 Saints). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Browns are just the seventh team in NFL history to defeat a Super Bowl champion in at least three straight seasons, and the first since the Chargers in 2005-07.

The Saints have a history of struggling against the Browns and are just 4-12 (.250) versus them all-time. The Elias Sports Bureau also tells us that is the second-lowest winning percentage against any team the Saints have faced at least five times, ahead of only a 2-7 (.222) record versus the Broncos.

Drew Brees threw 56 times for 356 yards but tied a career high with four interceptions. He now has thrown eight interceptions in his last three games. It’s the 17th time Brees has thrown for at least 350 yards in a game with the Saints, and they fall to 9-8 in those games. It’s also the fourth time he has attempted at least 50 passes in a game for New Orleans, but the team remains winless in those games.