1953 NFL Championship Game

none November 2013 nflc 1953 Cleveland Browns Detroit Lions File:1953 NFL championship game program.jpg Paul Brown Buddy Parker Eastern Western CLE DET 11–1 10–2 0 3 7 6 16 7 3 0 7 17 December 27, 1953 Briggs Stadium Detroit, Michigan 54,577 DuMont Harry Wismer and Red Grange Mutual Earl Gillespie, Chris Schenkel Browns: Paul Brown (coach/gm), Doug Atkins, Len Ford, Frank Gatski, Otto Graham, Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, Marion Motley, Chuck Noll (as a coach), Bill Willis Lions: Jack Christiansen, Lou Creekmur, Yale Lary, Bobby Layne, Joe Schmidt, Dick Stanfel, Doak Walker USA 1 Detroit 42.332 -83.069 Location in the United States bottom 5 290 The 1953 NFL Championship Game was the 21st annual championship game, held on December 27 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1953/12/27/page/33/article/browns-lions-meet-for-title Chicago Sunday Tribune Strickler George Browns, Lions meet for title December 27, 1953 1, part 2http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1953/12/28/page/49/article/lions-win-in-last-3-minutes-17-to-16 Chicago Daily Tribune Strickler George Lions win in last 3 minutes, 17 to 16 December 28, 1953 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 The defending NFL champion Detroit Lions (10–2) of the Western Conference were led by quarterback Bobby Layne and running back Doak Walker, and the Cleveland Browns (11–1) of the Eastern Conference were led by head coach Paul Brown and quarterback Otto Graham. The game was a rematch of the previous year, which was won by the Lions, 17–7.http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1952/12/29/page/41/article/lions-win-pro-crown-beat-browns-17-7 Chicago Daily Tribune Prell Edward Lions win pro crown; beat Browns, 17-7 December 29, 1952 1, part 3https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4UUNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kGoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6140%2C1346058 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Sell Jack Lions defeat Browns for NFL title, 17-7 December 29, 1952 18 This was the Browns' fourth consecutive NFL championship game appearance since joining the league in 1950, and they were favored by three points.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7mZAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Y1cMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3245%2C3825226 Youngstown Vindicator Ohio Associated Press Browns, Lions clash today December 27, 1953 D1 The Lions were attempting to become the third team in the championship game era (since 1933) to repeat as champions, following the Chicago Bears (1940, 1941) and Philadelphia Eagles (1948, 1949), and the fourth franchise in NFL history to repeat as champions. The home underdog Lions rallied in the fourth quarter with a late touchdown and conversion to win by a single point, 17–16, to repeat as league champions.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XjAbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ok0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5128%2C2818434 Pittsburgh Press Livingston Pat Detroit's rally keeps NFL title December 28, 1953 14 The two teams met the following year for a third consecutive title match-up, which was won by the Browns. Ticket prices ranged from three to seven dollars.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xgIaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lCMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2243%2C2421077 Milwaukee Journal Associated Press Tickets go on sale for pro grid title December 14, 1953 13, part 2 Game summary The game proved to be a tight affair, as both teams turned the ball over four times each. The Lions struck first with a Doak Walker touchdown, and both scored field goals in the second quarter and the Lions led at halftime, 10–3. The Browns took the lead on a Chick Jagade run in the third quarter while Lou Groza kicked two field goals as Cleveland took the lead on 13 straight points in the second half. Trailing 16–10 with four minutes and 10 seconds of play remaining, the Lions started from their own 20-yard line and fought their way 80 yards in eight plays, the touchdown coming on a 33-yard pass from Bobby Layne to Jim Doran in the end zone, and Walker's extra point gave the Lions the lead. Trailing 17–16, the Browns had one last chance; Ken Carpenter started the drive with a run to his own 28, but an Otto Graham pass intended for Pete Brewster was deflected by rookie defensive halfback Carl Karilivacz, who intercepted the throw, clinching the Lions their third title.http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19531227BROWNS.html Cleveland Browns History - cleveland.com 2012-10-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20121001165017/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19531227BROWNS.html 2020-02-06 October 1, 2012 Graham had a miserable game, finishing with a 0.0 passer rating on 2-of-15 passing while Detroit's Bobby Layne went 12-of-25 for 179 yards. The leading rusher of the game was Chick Jagade, who ran for 102 yards on 15 carries for Cleveland. Scoring summary text-align:center; background:#eee Detroit Lions 17, Cleveland Browns 16 December 27, 1953 1:00 p.m. EST Browns 0 3 7 6 Lions 7 3 0 7 Briggs Stadium, Detroit, Michigan Pro-Football-Reference First quarter DET – Doak Walker 1-yard run (Walker kick). Lions 7–0 Second quarter CLE – Lou Groza 13-yard field goal. Lions 7–3 DET – Doak Walker 23-yard field goal. Lions 10–3 Third quarter CLE – Chick Jagade 9-yard run (Groza kick). Tied 10–10 Fourth quarter CLE – Lou Groza 15-yard goal. Browns 13–10 CLE – Lou Groza 43-yard goal. Browns 16–10 DET – Jim Doran 33-yard pass from Bobby Layne (Walker kick) Lions 17–16 Officials Referee: Ron Gibbs Umpire: Sam Wilson Head linesman: Dan Tehan Back judge: James Hamer Field judge: Carl Rebele 4em Alternate: John Glascott Alternate: Yans Wallace https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A5ZRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=p2oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3588%2C399143 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Associated Press Wallace, Rebele, Hamer to work in title game December 24, 1953 12 The NFL added the fifth official, the back judge, in 1947; the line judge arrived in 1965, and the side judge in 1978. Players' shares The gross receipts for the game, including radio and television rights, were just under $359,000. Each player on the winning Lions team received $2,424, while Browns players made $1,654 each, the highest to date. Video "World's Championship Football Game: Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions, 1953." Detroit Historical Society via YouTube.com (Color highlight film with audio.) 1953 NFL Championship Game – game footage (No audio.) References 2 External links Harold Sauerbrie, "Browns Lose Title Game, 17–16", Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 27, 1953, Browns history database retrieved December 12, 2007 Pro Football Reference 42.332 -83.069 type:event title Championship Game, 1953 1953 NFL Championship Game Category:Cleveland Browns postseason Category:Detroit Lions postseason Category:December 1953 sports events in the United States Category:1953 in sports in Michigan Category:American football competitions in Detroit