1953 Cleveland Browns season

NFL team season November 2013 March 2026 Cleveland Browns 1953 Paul Brown Cleveland Stadium 11–1 1st Eastern Lost NFL Championship(at Lions) 16–17 Ray Renfro, FTommy James, DBChick Jagade, FBWarren Lahr, CBLou Groza, LTOtto Graham, QBLen Ford, DEAbe Gibron, GDante Lavelli, E 8 DE Len Ford (1st team) QB Otto Graham (1st team) E Dante Lavelli (1st team) T Lou Groza (1st team) C Frank Gatski (1st team) G Bill Willis (1st team) LB Tommy Thompson (1st team) CB Warren Lahr (2nd team) Browns seasons The 1953 Cleveland Browns season was the team's fourth season with the National Football League. Their start of eleven wins before losing their last game was the closest to a true perfect season in the NFL until the 1972 Miami Dolphins. After that fifteen-point loss at Philadelphia,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0cRRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mGoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4574%2C4269280 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Associated Press Eagles upset Cleveland, 42-27 December 14, 1953 24 the Browns met the Detroit Lions in the NFL Championship Game for the second straight year; the Lions won again, this time by a point at home.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BpZRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=p2oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6041%2C1283574 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Sell Jack Lions retain NFL title; edge Browns, 17-16 December 28, 1953 12https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dBpWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uOIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6746%2C6491637 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon United Press, Associated Press reports Lions capture pro title 17-16 December 28, 1953 2B This was the second of two NFL seasons that coach Paul Brown would win eleven games. It would be seventy years before another (Kevin Stefanski) would win eleven games in two seasons coaching the Browns, by which time the NFL regular season schedule had expanded from twelve to seventeen games. Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 August 23 at San Francisco 49ers W 20–7 1–0 Kezar Stadium 36,273 2 August 28 at Los Angeles Rams L 9–27 1–1 L.A. Memorial Coliseum 21,440 3 September 4 at Detroit Lions T 24–24 1–1–1 Briggs Stadium 39,985 4 September 7 vs. Baltimore Colts W 23–21 2–1–1 Rubber Bowl 20,000 5 September 11 at Chicago Bears W 20–14 3–1–1 Wrigley Field 36,796 6 September 19 Green Bay Packers W 21–13 4–1–1 Cleveland Stadium 22,336 Regular season 1953 NFL season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Sources 1 September 27 at Green Bay Packers W 27–0 1–0 County Stadium 22,604 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195309270gnb.htm Cleveland Browns at Green Bay Packers - September 27th, 1953 ProFootball Reference.com June 23, 2021 2 October 4 at Chicago Cardinals W 27–7 2–0 Comiskey Park 24,374 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195310040crd.htm Cleveland Browns at Chicago Cardinals - October 4th, 1953 ProFootball Reference.com June 23, 2021 3 October 10 Philadelphia Eagles W 37–13 3–0 Cleveland Stadium 45,802 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iB1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t-IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5663%2C1779704 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon United Press Browns beat Eagles, 37-13 October 11, 1953 1Chttps://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195310100cle.htm Philadelphia Eagles at Cleveland Browns - October 10th, 1953 ProFootball Reference.com June 23, 2021 4 October 18 at Washington Redskins W 30–14 4–0 Griffith Stadium 33,963 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195310180was.htm Cleveland Browns at Washington Redskins - October 18th, 1953 ProFootball Reference.com June 23, 2021 5 October 25 at New York Giants W 7–0 5–0 Polo Grounds 30,773 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195310250nyg.htm Cleveland Browns at New York Giants - October 25th, 1953 ProFootball Reference.com June 23, 2021 6 November 1 Washington Redskins W 27–3 6–0 Cleveland Stadium 47,845 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195311010cle.htm Washington Redskins at Cleveland Browns - November 1st, 1953 ProFootball Reference.com June 23, 2021 7 November 8 Pittsburgh Steelers W 34–16 7–0 Cleveland Stadium 35,592 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195311080cle.htm Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns - November 8th, 1953 ProFootball Reference.com June 23, 2021 8 November 15 San Francisco 49ers W 23–21 8–0 Cleveland Stadium 80,698 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195311150cle.htm San Francisco 49ers at Cleveland Browns - November 15th, 1953 ProFootball Reference.com June 23, 2021 9 November 22 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 20–16 9–0 Forbes Field 32,904 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195311220pit.htm Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers - November 22nd, 1953 ProFootball Reference.com June 23, 2021 10 November 29 Chicago Cardinals W 27–16 10–0 Cleveland Stadium 24,499 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195311290cle.htm Chicago Cardinals at Cleveland Browns - November 29th, 1953 ProFootball Reference.com June 23, 2021 11 December 6 New York Giants W 62–14 11–0 Cleveland Stadium 40,235 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195312060cle.htm New York Giants at Cleveland Browns - December 6th, 1953 ProFootball Reference.com June 23, 2021 12 December 13 at Philadelphia Eagles L 27–42 11–1 Connie Mack Stadium 38,654 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195312130phi.htm Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles - December 13th, 1953 ProFootball Reference.com June 23, 2021 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Game summaries Week 1 at Milwaukee In the first-ever regular season meeting between Cleveland and Green Bay, the Browns rolled up 376 yards and Otto Graham completed 18 of 24 yards to highlight a 27–0 season opening win in at the new County Stadium in Milwaukee.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E5ExAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OxAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7192%2C3325627 Milwaukee Sentinel Larson Lloyd Browns' machine crushes Packers under 27-0 count September 28, 1953 2, part 2 The Browns yield 159 yards and allow the Packers to penetrate Cleveland territory just four times. Week 5 at New York Graham scores the game's only touchdown on a 4-yard run in the second period as the Browns beat the Giants, 7–0, on a muddy Polo Grounds field. Graham, who attempts only five passes as the inclement conditions, scores after an offsides penalty on Lou Groza's missed field goal attempt gives the Browns a critical first down. Week 6 vs. Washington The undefeated Browns make life miserable for Redskins quarterback Eddie LeBaron by intercepting four passes in a 27–3 win at Cleveland Stadium. Tommy James ties his own Browns record with three as Cleveland scores 24 points off turnovers. Week 8 vs. San Francisco A Cleveland Stadium crowd of 80,698 watches the Browns dispatch longtime rival San Francisco, 23–21. With the Browns leading 10–0, Graham is knocked out of bounds by defensive back Fred Bruney and elbowed in the face by linebacker Art Michalik, who opens a gash that requires 15 stitches and nearly incites a riot. Graham returns for the third quarter wearing a clear plastic protective bar in front of his face, a device that will evolve into today's face mask. Showing little effect from his injury, Graham leads the Browns to 13 second half points and the victory. Week 11 vs. New York The Browns improve to 11–0 by winning a 62–14 laugher over the Giants at Cleveland Stadium. George Ratterman starts in place of Graham and completes 15-of-27 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns. Graham plays briefly and completes 3-of-4 passes, two for touchdowns. Pete Brewster catches seven passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns in the most productive game of his career. Standings thumb|right|260px|Program for the Week 3 home game against the divisional rival Philadelphia Eagles. NFL Championship Game 1953 NFL Championship Game Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Sources Championship December 27 at Detroit Lions L 16–17 0–1 Briggs Stadium 54,577 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195312270det.htm Championship - Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions - December 27th, 1953 ProFootballReference.com June 23, 2021 Source: Roster 1953 Cleveland Browns rosterQuarterbacks 14 Otto Graham 16 George Ratterman Running backs 20 Ken Carpenter gridiron football 30 Sherman Howard American football CB 32 Chick Jagade 40 Dub Jones American football 36 Marion Motley LB 26 Ray Renfro 46 Billy Reynolds American football y Receivers 88 Pete Brewster 84 Horace Gillom P/DE 86 Dante LavelliOffensive linemen 66 Gene Donaldson y no G 52 Frank Gatski C 64 Abe Gibron G 76 Lou Groza T/K 62 Lin Houston G 65 Chuck Noll y G 78 John Sandusky T Defensive linemen 83 Doug Atkins y DE 70 Don Colo DT 80 Len Ford DT 79 Jerry Helluin MG 72 Derrell Palmer DT 74 Don Steinbrunner y MG/DT/T 60 Bill Willis MG 82 George Young American football player DE Linebackers 65 Tom Catlin y 34 Walt Michaels Defensive backs 15 Ken Gorgal S 42 Tommy James American football CB 22 Ken Konz y S 24 Warren Lahr CB Reserve lists -- Harold Bradley Jr. y MG (Military) -- Bob Gain DT (Military) -- Mike McCormack American football T (Military) -- Joe Skibinski G (Military) 54 Tommy Thompson linebacker LB (IR) 7px rookies in italics Source: Awards and records Otto Graham, NFL MVP References External links 1953 Cleveland Browns at Pro Football Reference (profootballreference.com) 1953 Cleveland Browns Statistics at jt-sw.com 1953 Cleveland Browns Schedule at jt-sw.com 1953 Cleveland Browns at DatabaseFootball.com Cleveland Category:Cleveland Browns seasons Cleveland Browns