1948 Cleveland Browns season

NFL team season August 2023 March 2026 Cleveland Browns 1948 Paul Brown Arthur B. McBride Cleveland Stadium 14–0 1st AAFC Western Won AAFC Championship(vs. Bills) 49–7 Otto GrahamMarion MotleyMac Speedie Browns seasons The 1948 Cleveland Browns season was the team's third in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). After winning the AAFC crown in 1946 and 1947, the league's first two years of existence, the Browns repeated as champions in 1948 and had a perfect season, winning all of their games.2008-12-29 8 Underappreciated Undefeated Seasons https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/20467/8-underappreciated-undefeated-seasons 2022-07-17 Mental FlossJesse Drake 2020-10-10 The Greatest Cleveland Browns Team Of All-Time (1948 Browns) https://www.brownsnation.com/greatest-cleveland-browns-team-of-all-time/ 2022-07-17 Browns NationTop Moments: No. 22 - Browns win all four AAFC championships from 1946-1949 https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/top-moments-no-22-browns-win-all-four-aafc-championships-from-1946-1949 2022-07-17 www.clevelandbrowns.com The season began with a number of roster moves, including the addition of linebacker Alex Agase and halfbacks Ara Parseghian and Dub Jones. Following training camp and two preseason games, the Browns began the regular season with a win against the Buffalo Bills. Led by quarterback Otto Graham, fullback Marion Motley and ends Mac Speedie and Dante Lavelli, the Browns followed with a string of victories leading up to a November matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. Both teams had perfect records to that point, the 49ers relying heavily on the offensive production of quarterback Frankie Albert and end Alyn Beals to win their first 10 games. The Browns beat the 49ers 14–7, and followed two weeks later with another narrow victory over San Francisco, their closest competition in the AAFC in 1948.Throwback Thursday: 1948 Browns cap grueling Thanksgiving week with pivotal win https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/throwback-thursday-1948-browns-cap-grueling-thanksgiving-week-with-pivo-16378201 2022-07-17 www.clevelandbrowns.com By the end of the season, the Browns had a perfect 14–0 record and led the league's Western Division, setting up a championship-game matchup with the Bills, who had won a playoff to take the Eastern Division. Cleveland beat Buffalo 49–7 in December to win the championship and preserve its unbeaten record. It would be the only undefeated team in pro football history until the Dolphins did it in 1972, 24 years later.Cleveland Browns - 1948 Season Recap https://www.retroseasons.com/teams/cleveland-browns/1948/overview/ 2022-07-17 RetroSeasonsJuly 17th, 2022 1996 1996 1948 AAFC CHAMPIONSHIP: PERFECT ENDING http://www.profootballresearchers.org/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/18-04-658.pdf The Coffin Corner 18 6 1–3All-America Football Conference (AAFC) Standings (1946-1949) Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2005/01/news-all-america-football-conference-aafc-standings-1946-1949/ 2022-07-17 pfhofAAFC Championship 1948 https://goldenrankings.com/AAFCchampionshipGame1948.htm 2022-07-17 goldenrankings.comThe 1940s and Pro Football's Other Undefeated Teams Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/the-1940s-and-pro-footballs-other-undefeated-teams/ 2022-07-17 pfhof After the season, Graham, Motley and Speedie were included in many news organizations' All-Pro teams, alongside several other teammates.1947-12-12 Brown's Graham, Speedie Named On AP All-Pro Team 19 The Sandusky Register https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10115434/browns-graham-speedie-named-on-ap/ 2022-07-17 Graham was named the co-Most Valuable Player of the league alongside Albert.Robinson Sam The Forgotten NFL Quarterback Who Dominated the Pre-Super Bowl Era https://www.history.com/news/greatest-nfl-quarterbacks-otto-graham 2022-07-17 HISTORYESPN Classic - Graham won seven pro titles https://www.espn.com/classic/obit/s/2003/1217/1688946.html 2022-07-17 ESPNRemembering the greatness of Otto Graham, whose statue will be unveiled Saturday https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/remembering-the-greatness-of-otto-graham-whose-statue-will-be-unveiled-saturday 2022-07-17 www.clevelandbrowns.comGoldstein Richard 2002-09-09 Frankie Albert, a Pioneering Quarterback, Is Dead at 82 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/09/sports/frankie-albert-a-pioneering-quarterback-is-dead-at-82.html 2022-07-17 0362-4331 Browns games were televised for the first time in 1948.Webster Gary http://worldcat.org/oclc/1073034931 The League That Didn't Exist: A History of the All-American Football Conference, 1946-1949 McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers 2018 978-1-4766-6534-4 1073034931 The season is recognized as perfect by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, although the National Football League (NFL), which absorbed the Browns when the AAFC dissolved in 1949, did not recognize it. Ohio senator Sherrod Brown wrote a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in 2008 asking the league to officially recognize AAFC team statistics, including the perfect season. The 2007 New England Patriots were vying to complete a 19–0 season at the time and join the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only teams to register a perfect record.Grossi Tony 2008-02-02 Browns put together a forgotten perfect season in 1948. https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2008/02/browns_put_together_a_forgotte.html 2022-07-17 Cleveland.com On April 1, 2025, the NFL at its annual meeting has decided to begin officially incorporating AAFC records into its NFL records, officially recognizing the undefeated season. Offseason and roster moves Cleveland finished the 1947 season with a 12–1–1 win-loss-tie record and beat the New York Yankees to win its second straight AAFC championship.Piascik 2007 80–82 While the team was successful in those first two years of existence, head coach Paul Brown made numerous roster changes before the 1948 season.Andy Piascik, The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns. Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Publishing, 2007; p. 106. He brought in linebacker Alex Agase and defensive tackle Chubby Grigg via a trade with the Chicago Rockets. Tommy James, a defensive back who stayed with the team through the 1955 season, came from the National Football League's Detroit Lions. Defensive back Warren Lahr also joined the team but did not play in 1948 after breaking a leg in the preseason. Offensive additions included halfback Ara Parseghian and quarterback George Terlep, but the most significant signing of the year was Dub Jones.Piascik 2007 107 Brown got Jones – who had a long and successful career in Cleveland – in a trade with the Brooklyn Dodgers for the rights to select Bob Chappuis in the 1947 AAFC draft.Piascik 2007 107 Author Andy Piasick describes this trade as one of the most astute in Browns history.Piascik 2007 107 The Browns also signed quarterback Y. A. Tittle from Louisiana State University, but were forced to send him to the Baltimore Colts as part of an effort to balance talent among the AAFC's teams during the league's third year of play.Piascik 2007 108 Browns center Mike Scarry left before the season to become the head coach at Western Reserve.Scarry Signs 2-Year Contract at Reserve's Head Football Coach Cleveland Plain Dealer January 29, 1948 17 Frank Gatski took over at the position after Scarry's retirement.Sauerbrei Harold Browns Get Tackle Palmer of Yankees; Waive Rights to Sarkisian Cleveland Plain Dealer December 23, 1948 18 Don Greenwood, a halfback who featured in the team's first two seasons, retired after sustaining a serious cheekbone injury in 1947 and accepted a job as head football coach at Cuyahoga Falls High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.Greenwood Gets Falls Grid Post Cleveland Plain Dealer January 24, 1948 15 The 25-year-old Greenwood, who announced his retirement from the professional football ranks after a severe cheek bone injury last fall, replaces Carl Spessard now athletic director at the Falls. ... This will be Greenwood's first full time coaching spot although he assisted Ed McKeever at Cornell in the spring of 1945 and in 1946 tutored the Reserve track team. Browns games were televised for the first time in 1948 on 84 stations across the country.Piascik 2007 108 Only away games were shown in northeast Ohio; they were presented by Bob Neal and Stan Gee, who had announced Browns games on WGAR-AM radio in 1946 and 1947.Piascik 2007 108 The entry of a new ownership group of the Brooklyn Dodgers in the offseason that included Branch Rickey affected the Browns' schedule in 1948.Piascik 2007 115 Rickey, an executive for baseball's Brooklyn Dodgers, convinced Brown to schedule a late-season road trip during which Cleveland would play three teams in eight days: the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Dons and the San Francisco 49ers.Piascik 2007 115 The plan was part of an effort to bring more attention to the AAFC and help attendance by sending its most successful team on a cross-country road trip, a strategy that had worked in baseball.Piascik 2007 115 Roster and coaching staff 1948 Cleveland Browns rosterQuarterbacks 60 Otto Graham S 64 George Terlep S Running backs 99 Bill Boedeker 70 Ollie Cline y 80 Bob Cowan y 86 Dub Jones American football CB 90 Edgar Jones running back 76 Marion Motley 85 Ara Parseghian y CB 94 Dean Sensanbaugher y Ends/Receivers 59 Horace Gillom P 53 Frank Kosikowski y 56 Dante Lavelli 58 Mac Speedie 50 John Yonakor 52 George Young American football player Linemen 42 Chet Adams DT/T 22 Frank Gatski C/LB 34 Bob Gaudio American football G 48 Chubby Grigg DT 46 Lou Groza T/K 32 Lin Houston G/MG 24 Mel Maceau C/LB 45 Ben Pucci T/DT 44 Lou Rymkus T/DT 49 Lenny Simonetti DT/T 36 Ed Ulinski G/MG 30 Bill Willis MG/G Linebackers 74 Tony Adamle OLB/FB 35 Alex Agase MLB/G 38 Weldon Humble MLB/G 72 Lou Saban OLBDefensive backs 92 Tommy Colella CB/RB 82 Tommy James American football CB/RB 62 Cliff Lewis quarterback S/QB Reserve Warren Lahr y CB/S (IR) 7px Head Coach Paul Brown Assistants John Brickels (Backfield) Blanton Collier (Backfield) Bill Edwards (Tackles) Dick Gallagher (Ends) Fritz Heisler (Guards) rookies in italics Preseason Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Gamerecap 1 August 22 Buffalo Bills W 35–21 1–0 Rubber Bowl 28,069 Recap 2 August 27 Baltimore Colts L 17–21 1–1 Glass Bowl 13,433 Recap Preseason game summaries Cleveland held its training camp at the campus of Bowling Green State University, as it had the previous two years.Sauerbrei Harold Can't Keep Young Off Brown Squad The Cleveland Plain Dealer August 8, 1948 Bowling Green, O. 3–C Two preseason games were scheduled, one against the Buffalo Bills at the Rubber Bowl in Akron, Ohio and a second against the Baltimore Colts at the Glass Bowl in Toledo, Ohio.Piascik 2007 108–109 Week 1: vs. Buffalo Bills 1948 Buffalo Bills (AAFC) season Bills 0 0 7 14 Browns 21 7 7 0 Sunday, August 22 Rubber Bowl, Akron, Ohio 28,069 Source: Plain DealerSauerbrei Harold Graham Tosses Two Touchdown Passes as Browns Whip Bills, 35–21, in Akron The Cleveland Plain Dealer August 23, 1948 Akron, O. 16 yes 1 CLE Cliff Lewis 60-yard interception return (Lou Groza kick) CLE 7–0 1 CLE Dean Sensanbaugher pass from Otto Graham (Groza kick) CLE 14–0 1 CLE Mac Speedie 80-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 21–0 2 CLE Dean Sensanbaugher 41-yard pass from Lewis (Groza kick) CLE 28–0 3 CLE Marion Motley 1-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 35–0 3 BUF Al Baldwin pass from George Ratterman (Bob Steuber kick) CLE 35–7 4 BUF Bill O'Connor pass from George Ratterman (Bob Steuber kick) CLE 35–14 4 BUF Bill Heywood 20-yard punt return CLE 35–21 yes Cleveland's first preseason game was a victory over the Bills in Akron. The Browns scored three touchdowns in the first quarter, first on an interception return by Cliff Lewis and then on a pair of passes from quarterback Otto Graham to Dean Sensanbaugher and Mac Speedie. Sensanbaugher scored another touchdown in the second quarter on a pass from Lewis, who came in to substitute for Graham. By the time fullback Marion Motley ran for a short touchdown in the third quarter to make the score 35–0, coach Paul Brown had pulled most of the team's starters. Buffalo proceeded to mount a comeback, scoring one touchdown in the third quarter and two in the fourth. Buffalo's final score came on a punt return received by Rex Bumgardner. As he was about to be tackled at the Cleveland 20-yard line, Bumgardner pitched the ball to teammate Bill Heywood, who ran the rest of the way for the touchdown. Cleveland and Buffalo both had 12 first downs and 206 yards of rushing, but the Browns had 159 yards of passing to Buffalo's 127, helping secure the 35–21 win. Week 2: vs. Baltimore Colts 1948 Baltimore Colts season Colts 0 14 0 7 Browns 10 7 0 0 Friday, August 27 Glass Bowl, Toledo, Ohio 13,433 Source: Plain DealerSauerbrei Harold Browns Upset as Tittle Passes Baltimore to 21–17 Victory in Exhibition Game The Cleveland Plain Dealer August 28, 1948 Toledo, O. 14 yes 1 CLE Lou Groza 18-yard field goal CLE 3–0 1 CLE Ollie Cline 8-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 10–0 2 BAL Jake Leicht pass from Y. A. Tittle (Rex Grossman kick) CLE 10–7 2 CLE Ollie Cline 23-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 17–7 2 BAL Lamar Davis 25-yard pass from Y. A. Tittle (Rex Grossman kick) CLE 17–14 4 BAL Bus Mertes 38-yard rush (Rex Grossman kick) BAL 21–17 yes Cleveland lost its second preseason game, played against the Baltimore Colts in 100-degree heat in Toledo, Ohio. Browns placekicker Lou Groza opened the scoring with an 18-yard field goal in the first quarter, and a touchdown by fullback Ollie Cline later in the period put the Browns up 10–0. Baltimore responded in the second quarter with a touchdown pass by quarterback Y. A. Tittle to receiver Jake Leicht. Cline ran for another touchdown soon thereafter, however, once more giving the Browns a 10-point lead. Colts receiver Lamar Davis caught a 25-yard touchdown pass at the end of the second quarter. Cleveland led 17–14 at halftime. Neither team scored again until the fourth quarter, when Baltimore's Bus Mertes ran for a 38-yard touchdown and secured the 21–17 win. A number of Cleveland players suffered injuries during the game. Graham hurt his hand, Motley strained his back and end Dante Lavelli suffered a broken leg.Piascik 2007 109 Lavelli's injury sidelined him for the first seven games of the regular season.Piascik 2007 109 During the game, Baltimore players Hub Bechtol and Lew Mayne, a former Brown, tapped a phone line that went from Cleveland's press box to its sideline.Piascik 2007 109 This allowed the Colts to listen in on coaches' conversations and anticipate the Browns' play-calling.Piascik 2007 109 Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Gamerecap 1 September 3 Los Angeles Dons W 19–14 1–0 Cleveland Stadium 60,193 Recap 2 September 12 at Buffalo Bills W 42–13 2–0 War Memorial Stadium 35,340 Recap 3 September 17 at Chicago RocketsW 28–7 3–0 Soldier Field 30,874 Recap 4 September 26 Chicago Rockets W 41–21 4–0 Cleveland Stadium 37,190 Recap 5 October 5 at Baltimore Colts W 14–10 5–0 Memorial Stadium 22,359 Recap 6 October 10 Brooklyn Dodgers W 30–17 6–0 Cleveland Stadium 31,187 Recap 7 October 17 Buffalo Bills W 31–14 7–0 Cleveland Stadium 28,054 Recap 8 October 24 New York YankeesW 35–7 8–0 Cleveland Stadium 46,912 Recap 9 November 7 Baltimore ColtsW 28–7 9–0 Cleveland Stadium 32,313 Recap 10 November 14 San Francisco 49ersW 14–7 10–0 Cleveland Stadium 82,769 Recap 11 November 21 at New York Yankees W 34–21 11–0 Yankee Stadium 52,518 Recap 12 November 25 at Los Angeles Dons W 31–14 12–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 60,031 Recap 13 November 28 at San Francisco 49ers W 31–28 13–0 Kezar Stadium 59,785 Recap 14 December 5 at Brooklyn Dodgers W 31–21 14–0 Ebbets Field   9,821 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Game summaries Week 1: vs. Los Angeles Dons 1948 Los Angeles Dons season Dons 0 0 0 14 Browns 3 7 9 0 Friday, September 3 Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio 60,193 Source: Pro Football Reference yes 1 CLE Lou Groza 51-yard field goal CLE 3–0 2 CLE Ara Parseghian 17-yard pass from Otto Graham (Groza kick) CLE 10–0 3 CLE Safety, Glenn Dobbs CLE 12–0 3 CLE Bill Boedeker 6-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 19–0 4 LAD John Kimbrough 2-yard rush (Ben Agajanian kick) CLE 19–7 4 LAD Joe Aguirre 9-yard pass from Glenn Dobbs CLE 19–14 yes The Browns opened the regular season with a win at home against the Los Angeles Dons.Piascik 2007 109 The Dons had beaten the Chicago Rockets in their season opener the week before, but they struggled against the Browns.Piascik 2007 109 Cleveland built a 19–0 lead after the first three quarters on touchdowns by Ara Parseghian and Bill Boedeker, a Lou Groza field goal and a safety.Sauerbrei Harold Browns Repel Los Angeles, 19–14, in League Opener Before 60,193 http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19480903BROWNS.html July 20, 2013 Cleveland Plain Dealer September 3, 1948 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063844/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19480903BROWNS.html 2016-03-04 dead The Dons, however, almost pulled off a comeback with just 30 seconds remaining in the game. Los Angeles fullback John Kimbrough scored a touchdown on a short run with time ticking down, and the Dons recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff. Dons quarterback Glenn Dobbs then threw a long pass to end Joe Aguirre. It fell incomplete, but Cleveland was called for pass interference, and the ball was placed on the Browns' nine-yard line. Dobbs then threw a completion to Aguirre for a second touchdown with five seconds left to play. Time expired on the ensuing kickoff, however, and Cleveland won 19–14. Groza's 51-yard field goal matched a professional football record he set two years earlier. Week 2: vs. Buffalo Bills 1948 Buffalo Bills (AAFC) season Browns 14 7 7 14 Bills 0 13 0 0 Sunday, September 12 Civic Stadium, Buffalo, New York 35,340 Source: Pro Football Reference yes 1 CLE Bob Cowan 11-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 7–0 1 CLE Marion Motley 18-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 14–0 2 BUF Julie Rykovich 25-yard rush (kick failed) CLE 14–6 2 CLE Mac Speedie 10-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 21–6 2 BUF Chet Mutryn 12-yard rush (Graham Armstrong kick) CLE 21–13 3 CLE Otto Graham 1-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 28–13 4 CLE Tommy Colella 23-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 35–13 4 CLE Dean Sensanbaugher 3-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 42–13 yes The Browns beat the Bills in the second game of the regular season.Piascik 2007 109 Cleveland dominated the game from beginning to end, scoring 42 points and amassing 504 total yards on offense.Sauerbrei Harold Browns Pile Up 504 Yards in Whipping Buffalo, 42–13, for Second Straight http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19480912BROWNS.html July 20, 2013 Cleveland Plain Dealer September 12, 1948 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061525/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19480912BROWNS.html 2016-03-04 dead The scoring began with touchdowns in the first quarter by halfback Bob Cowan and Marion Motley. End Mac Speedie caught another touchdown in the second quarter, giving the Browns three scores in a span of just 18 minutes. Buffalo scored two touchdowns of its own in the second period, however, and the score stood at 21–13 at halftime. The Browns pulled away in the second half, scoring three more unanswered touchdowns. Otto Graham ran for a score in the third period, but was taken out of the game when the Browns' lead widened. Motley ran for 136 yards on 17 carries, and Speedie matched an AAFC single-game record by recording 10 receptions for 151 yards. Despite the loss, Bills backs Vic Kulbitski and Julie Rykovich ran for 187 yards combined. The final score was 42–13. Week 3: vs. Chicago Rockets 1948 Chicago Rockets season Browns 7 7 14 0 Rockets 0 7 0 0 Friday, September 17 Soldier Field, Chicago 30,874 Source: Pro Football Reference yes 1 CLE Otto Graham 12-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 7–0 2 CLE Bill Boedeker 4-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 14–0 2 CHR Elroy Hirsch 13-yard pass from Angelo Bertelli (Steve Juzwik kick) CLE 14–7 3 CLE Bob Cowan 39-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 21–7 4 CLE Bob Cowan 40-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 28–7 yes The Browns beat the Chicago Rockets in Chicago for their third straight victory.Piascik 2007 109 The matchup was a messy one, marked by turnovers and rough play by both sides.Sauerbrei Harold Graham Runs for One Score and Hurls 3 More as Browns Rip Rockets, 28–7 http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19480917BROWNS.html July 20, 2013 Cleveland Plain Dealer September 17, 1948 https://web.archive.org/web/20110905172220/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19480917BROWNS.html 2011-09-05 Chicago dead The teams combined for eight fumbles and four interceptions, and play was stopped several times to break up fights. Chicago was penalized 30 yards for unnecessary roughness, while Cleveland was penalized 15 yards. Despite the interruptions and frequent turnovers, Cleveland quarterback Otto Graham had his best game of the season, throwing three touchdowns and rushing for a fourth. Bob Cowan caught two of the touchdowns. Chicago, meanwhile, scored just one touchdown – a short pass to Elroy Hirsch from quarterback Angelo Bertelli in the second quarter. Chicago successfully contained Marion Motley, Cleveland's most productive back, who finished the game with 49 yards on 14 carries. The final score was 28–7. Week 4: vs. Chicago Rockets 1948 Chicago Rockets season Rockets 7 3 0 0 Browns 0 0 14 7 Sunday, September 26 Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio 37,190 Source: Pro Football Reference yes 1 CHR Eddie Prokop 74-yard pass from Jesse Freitas (Jim McCarthy kick) CHR 7–0 2 CHR Jim McCarthy 18-yard field goal CHR 10–0 3 CLE Bill Boedeker 37-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CHR 10–7 3 CLE Dub Jones 43-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 14–10 4 CLE Bill Boedeker 2-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 21–10 yes The Browns next played the Rockets for a second time in as many weeks, this time in Cleveland.Piascik 2007 109–110 The Rockets opened the scoring with a 74-yard pass from quarterback Jesse Freitas to receiver Eddie Prokop in the first four minutes of the game, and added a field goal by Jim McCarthy near the end of the second quarter.Sauerbrei Harold Browns Rally For 21-to-10 Triumph http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19480926BROWNS.html July 20, 2013 Cleveland Plain Dealer September 26, 1948 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062312/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19480926BROWNS.html 2016-03-04 dead The Browns did not score in the first half, but came back to win the game in the second. Rockets defenders were double-teaming Cleveland's ends, and the Browns adjusted by sending halfbacks out to receive deep passes. Cleveland halfbacks Dub Jones and Bill Boedeker both caught long touchdown passes from Graham in the third quarter. Boedeker ran in for another touchdown in the fourth quarter to make the final score 21–10. As in the previous game, there were several cases of rough play: tackle Lou Rymkus was ejected from the game for hitting Jim Pearcy of the Rockets. A Rockets player picked up a handful of sand from the stadium's baseball infield and threw it in Mac Speedie's face during the game, temporarily blinding him. Hirsch was accidentally kicked by a Browns player and suffered a skull fracture.Piascik 2007 110 Week 5: vs. Baltimore Colts 1948 Baltimore Colts season Browns 7 0 7 0 Colts 7 3 0 0 Tuesday, October 5 Memorial Stadium, Baltimore 22,359 Source: Pro Football Reference yes 1 BAL Billy Hillenbrand 78-yard pass from Y. A. Tittle (Rex Grossman kick) BAL 7–0 1 CLE Edgar Jones 2-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) 7–7 2 BAL Rex Grossman 40-yard field goal BAL 10–7 3 CLE Edgar Jones 12-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 14–10 yes The Browns won their fifth game of the season against the Baltimore Colts on a muddy field during a rainstorm.Piascik 2007 110 Led by quarterback Y. A. Tittle, the Colts began the scoring on the fourth play of the game with a 78-yard touchdown pass to Billy Hillenbrand.Sauerbrei Harold Edgar Jones Scores Twice as Browns' Rally Defeats Colts, 14 to 10 http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481005BROWNS.html July 21, 2013 Cleveland Plain Dealer October 5, 1948 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061849/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481005BROWNS.html 2016-03-04 Baltimore dead A few minutes later, the Browns evened the score after a pass from Graham set up a short touchdown run by Edgar Jones. The Colts retook the lead in the second quarter with a field goal by Rex Grossman and led 10–7 at the half. Focusing on the running game because of the muddy conditions, the Browns scored a touchdown in the third quarter that put them in the lead for good. Jones, who was returning from a rib injury, finished the day with 61 yards and two touchdowns, while Motley ran for 130 yards. The slippery and windy conditions caused miscues on both sides. Tittle and Motley had fumbles, and Cleveland botched a fake field goal attempt in the second quarter. The final score was 14–10. While the Browns had won their first five games, the San Francisco 49ers were at the top of the AAFC's western division standings, having won all six of their games. Week 6: vs. Brooklyn Dodgers 1948 Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) season Dodgers 0 10 7 0 Browns 10 0 7 13 Sunday, October 10 Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio 31,187 Source: Pro Football Reference yes 1 CLE Edgar Jones 8-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 7–0 1 CLE Lou Groza 53-yard field goal CLE 10–0 2 BKD Mickey Colmer 2-yard rush (Lee Tevis kick) CLE 10–3 2 BKD Lee Tevis 36-yard field goal 10–10 3 CLE Bill Boedeker 10-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 17–10 3 BKD Hank Foldberg 51-yard blocked FG return (Hardy Brown kick) 17–17 4 CLE George Young 9-yard fumble return (kick failed) CLE 23–17 4 CLE Marion Motley 3-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 30–17 yes The Browns beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the sixth game of the season.Sauerbrei Harold Browns Rally for Two Touchdowns in Last Period to Defeat Dodgers, 30–17 http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481010BROWNS.html July 22, 2013 Cleveland Plain Dealer October 10, 1948 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055734/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481010BROWNS.html 2016-03-04 dead While the Dodgers had not won a game all season, they started off strong against Cleveland. The Browns took a 10–0 lead in the first quarter, but the Dodgers answered with 10 points of their own in the second quarter to tie the score at halftime. Edgar Jones ran for Cleveland's first touchdown, which Groza followed with a 53-yard field goal, the longest of his career at the time. Brooklyn's Mickey Colmer ran in the team's second-quarter touchdown after a 66-yard drive. The Browns came back with another touchdown in the third quarter, aided by two long Horace Gillom receptions, but the Dodgers again evened the score after a Groza field goal was blocked and returned by Hank Foldberg for a touchdown. Cleveland pulled away in the fourth quarter, however, with a fumble recovery for a touchdown by George Young and a short run by Motley. The Browns had 23 first downs in the game, setting a team record. Groza missed an extra point after one of Cleveland's touchdowns, breaking a long streak. He also narrowly missed a 57-yard field goal attempt that would have set a professional football record if it were good. Week 7: vs. Buffalo Bills 1948 Buffalo Bills (AAFC) season Bills 7 0 0 7 Browns 17 0 7 7 Sunday, October 17 Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio 28,054 Source: Pro Football Reference yes 1 CLE Edgar Jones 44-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 7–0 1 BUF Al Baldwin 22-yard pass from Jim Still (Bob Steuber kick) 7–7 1 CLE Lou Groza 45-yard field goal CLE 10–7 1 CLE Marion Motley 3-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 17–7 3 CLE Mac Speedie 15-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 24–7 4 BUF Lou Tomasetti 9-yard pass from George Ratterman (Bob Steuber kick) CLE 24–14 4 CLE Mac Speedie 30-yard pass from Cliff Lewis (Lou Groza kick) CLE 31–14 yes The Browns won their seventh game in a row against the Bills in Cleveland.Sauerbrei Harold Browns Win, 31–14, For Seventh in Row http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481017BROWNS.html July 22, 2013 Cleveland Plain Dealer October 17, 1948 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002423/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481017BROWNS.html 2016-03-04 dead Edgar Jones scored the Browns' first touchdown on the team's third offensive play on a 35-yard pass from Graham. Motley fumbled on the Browns' next possession, however, and the Bills capitalized on the mistake. After several running plays brought the ball to the Browns' 22-yard line, quarterback Jim Still threw to Al Baldwin for a touchdown that evened the score. A Groza field goal and a short touchdown run by Motley later in the first quarter put the Browns up by 10 points at halftime. Cleveland retained the lead for the rest of the game as end Mac Speedie caught touchdown passes in the third and fourth quarters. Graham ended the game with 11 completions for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Speedie, who was leading the league in receiving, added seven receptions for 140 yards. While the Bills lost, second-string quarterback George Ratterman, who came in for Still in the second quarter, put in a strong performance, completing 13 passes for 174 yards. His totals included a touchdown throw to Lou Tomasetti in the fourth quarter, when the game was out of reach. Week 8: vs. New York Yankees 1948 New York Yankees (AAFC) season Yankees 0 0 0 7 Browns 7 14 7 7 Sunday, October 24 Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio 46,912 Source: Pro Football Reference yes 1 CLE Dante Lavelli 29-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 7–0 2 CLE Bob Cowan 63-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 14–0 2 CLE Mac Speedie 9-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 21–0 3 CLE Dante Lavelli 18-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 28–0 4 CLE Otto Graham 22-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 35–0 4 NYY Buddy Young 34-yard pass from Pete Layden (Harvey Johnson kick) CLE 35–7 yes End Dante Lavelli returned to the lineup for the Browns' week-eight game against the New York Yankees after recovering from a broken leg sustained in the preseason.Piascik 2007 113 Lavelli's return had an immediate impact. He caught a 29-yard pass from Graham for the Browns' first touchdown in the first quarter.Sauerbrei Harold Browns Rout Yankees, 35–7, as Graham Hurls 4 Touchdown Passes http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481024BROWNS.html July 23, 2013 Cleveland Plain Dealer October 24, 1948 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061853/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481024BROWNS.html 2016-03-04 dead Graham then threw two more touchdowns in the second quarter to Bob Cowan and Mac Speedie. Cowan scored after catching Graham's pass behind New York's defenders and running 35 yards for the end zone. Receptions by Cowan and Lavelli set up Speedie's 9-yard touchdown. Lavelli caught another touchdown at the beginning of the third quarter to give the Browns a 28–0 lead. Graham ran 22 yards for a fifth Browns touchdown in the fourth quarter after a pass play broke down. The Yankees avoided a shutout in the final minute of the game, when end Buddy Young got behind Cleveland's defenders and caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Pete Layden. The Browns had 486 total yards in the game, including 337 yards of passing. While Cleveland remained undefeated, the San Francisco 49ers continued to hold the best record in the AAFC with nine straight wins to begin the season. Week 9: vs. Baltimore Colts 1948 Baltimore Colts season Colts 0 0 0 7 Browns 7 7 7 7 Sunday, November 7 Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio 32,313 Source: Pro Football Reference yes 1 CLE Edgar Jones 4-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 7–0 2 CLE Marion Motley 22-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 14–0 3 CLE Edgar Jones 4-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 21–0 4 CLE Ara Parseghian 15-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 28–0 4 BAL Billy Hillenbrand 69-yard pass from Y. A. Tittle (Rex Grossman kick) CLE 28–7 yes Cleveland beat Baltimore for the second time during the regular season for its ninth straight victory.Sauerbrei Harold Browns Subdue Colts, 28–7, Twelfth Straight League Victory Sets Record http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481107BROWNS.html July 23, 2013 Cleveland Plain Dealer November 7, 1948 https://web.archive.org/web/20131227090228/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481107BROWNS.html 2013-12-27 dead A Baltimore turnover on downs early in the game set up the Browns' first score, a short touchdown run by Edgar Jones in the first quarter. Baltimore's Y. A. Tittle drove deep into Cleveland territory early in the second quarter, but another turnover on downs gave the ball back to the Browns. Passes from Graham to Lavelli and Speedie took the Browns to the Colts' 22-yard line, and Motley ran from there for a touchdown to make the score 14–0 at halftime. Jones scored Cleveland's third touchdown to cap an 85-yard drive at the start of the third quarter. Ara Parseghian ran for another touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Colts avoided a shutout later in the period when Tittle threw a screen pass to Billy Hillenbrand, who ran 69 yards for a touchdown. The final score was 28–7. The win gave the Browns 12 victories in a row extending to the previous season, setting a new AAFC record. Lou Groza missed two field goals during the game. Week 10: vs. San Francisco 49ers 1948 San Francisco 49ers season 49ers 7 0 0 0 Browns 7 0 7 0 Sunday, November 14 Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio 82,769 Source: Pro Football Reference yes 1 CLE Otto Graham 14-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 7–0 1 SFO Joe Perry 1-yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick) 7–7 3 CLE Edgar Jones 4-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 14–7 yes A victory over San Francisco gave the Browns 10 wins in a row to start the regular season.Sauerbrei Harold Speedie, Willis, James Shelved for Yankee Game; Graham, Humble Also Hurt http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481114BROWNS.html July 23, 2013 Cleveland Plain Dealer November 14, 1948 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054643/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481114BROWNS.html 2016-03-04 dead The game was eagerly anticipated by both sides: San Francisco had started the season with 10 victories, while the Browns had won their first nine games.Piascik 2007 113 The 49ers relied heavily on their offense, which featured quarterback Frankie Albert and end Alyn Beals.Piascik 2007 113 The team came into the matchup with the Browns averaging 35.9 points per game.Piascik 2007 113 The Browns, meanwhile, were more proficient than the 49ers on defense and in placekicking: the team ranked first in the AAFC in fewest points allowed, and Groza held the league record for the longest field goal.Piascik 2007 114 The game began with a San Francisco fumble of Cleveland's opening kickoff that was recovered by Lou Saban.Piascik 2007 115 Several plays later, Graham ran 14 yards for a touchdown, giving the Browns their first points.Piascik 2007 115 San Francisco responded later in the period with a rushing touchdown by Joe Perry to tie the score. Cleveland struck back with an Edgar Jones touchdown in the third quarter, however, and held on to win the game 14–7. Ara Parseghian was a standout on both offense and defense, batting down several of Albert's passes. The crowd of 82,769 set a professional football record. While Cleveland won, several key players suffered injuries. Speedie had a separated shoulder, while linebacker Bill Willis was kicked in the face and Tommy James hurt his ankle. Graham had his hand stepped on, and guard Weldon Humble suffered a chin injury. Week 11: vs. New York Yankees 1948 New York Yankees (AAFC) season Browns 14 13 7 0 Yankees 0 14 0 7 Sunday, November 21 Yankee Stadium, New York City 52,518 Source: Pro Football Reference yes 1 CLE Marion Motley 78-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 7–0 1 CLE Edgar Jones 1-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 14–0 2 NYY Bruce Alford 29-yard pass from Pete Layden (Harvey Johnson kick) CLE 14–7 2 NYY Otto Schnellbacher 40-yard interception return (Harvey Johnson kick) 14–14 2 CLE Lou Groza 34-yard field goal CLE 17–14 2 CLE Bob Cowan 9-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 24–14 2 CLE Lou Groza 18-yard field goal CLE 27–14 3 CLE Marion Motley 12-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 34–14 4 NYY Bob Kennedy 1-yard rush (Harvey Johnson kick) CLE 34–21 yes The Browns beat the Yankees in the eleventh game of the season.Sauerbrei Harold Browns Break 14–14 Second-Period Deadlock to Defeat Yankees, 34–21 http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481121BROWNS.html July 23, 2013 Cleveland Plain Dealer November 21, 1948 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054518/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481121BROWNS.html 2016-03-04 dead It was the first of three road games the Browns were scheduled to play in a span of eight days.Piascik 2007 115 The Browns opened the scoring early in the first quarter with a screen pass from Graham to Motley, who ran 78 yards for a touchdown. An interception by Parseghian on the Yankees' next possession set up another Browns touchdown, a one-yard run by Edgar Jones. The Yankees responded with two touchdowns of their own in the second quarter. The first was a long pass from Pete Layden to Bruce Alford early in the period. On Cleveland's next possession, Graham threw a pass to John Yonakor, but as Yonakor was waiting for the ball to arrive, New York's Otto Schnellbacher jumped in front of him and made an interception. Schnellbacher had a clear shot at Cleveland's end zone and ran it in for a touchdown that tied the game at 14 points. An interception by Yonakor later in the quarter set up a Groza field goal, and the Browns pulled away as halfback Bob Cowan ran for a touchdown and Groza added another field goal before halftime. Another touchdown by Motley in the third quarter put the Browns ahead by 20 points. The Yankees scored a final touchdown in the fourth quarter to cap a 45-yard drive, but the Browns won the game 34–21. Lavelli was hit in the eye early in the game and had to sit out. Tackle Chubby Grigg and Edgar Jones were also hurt in the game, adding to Cleveland's long list of injured players. Week 12: vs. Los Angeles Dons 1948 Los Angeles Dons season Browns 0 14 17 0 Dons 7 7 0 0 Thursday, November 25 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 60,031 Source: Pro Football Reference yes 1 LAD Walt Clay 1-yard rush (Ben Agajanian kick) LAD 7–0 2 CLE Dante Lavelli 49-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) 7–7 2 LAD Walt Clay 1-yard rush (Ben Agajanian kick) LAD 14–7 2 CLE Bob Cowan 17-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) 14–14 3 CLE Otto Graham 1-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 21–14 3 CLE Lou Groza 36-yard field goal CLE 24–14 3 CLE Tony Adamle 19-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 31–14 yes A victory against Los Angeles in the twelfth week of the season preserved Cleveland's undefeated record.Sauerbrei Harold Browns' 17-Point Second-Half Attack Turns Back Dons, 31–14, for 15th Straight http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481125BROWNS.html July 23, 2013 Cleveland Plain Dealer November 25, 1948 https://web.archive.org/web/20140508025919/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481125BROWNS.html 2014-05-08 dead The Dons began the scoring in the first quarter with a 75-yard drive engineered by quarterback Glenn Dobbs. The series ended with a short touchdown run by halfback Walt Clay. The Browns came back to tie the game in the second quarter after a 71-yard drive that features several completions from Graham to Lavelli. Lavelli caught a 49-yard pass from Graham for the score. On the next possession, Los Angeles converted a fourth down deep in their own territory, extending a long drive that ended with another touchdown by Clay. Cleveland again evened the score with under two minutes left in the first half on a touchdown pass to Edgar Jones. The Browns pulled away in the third quarter, when Graham ran a quarterback sneak for a touchdown. Groza later kicked a 36-yard field goal, and an interception by Cliff Lewis set up a run by Tony Adamle for a final touchdown. The final score was 31–14. Graham twisted his knee in the fourth quarter, and Edgar Jones, Parseghian and Bob Gaudio also had injuries. The Browns planned to stay at the hot springs in Boyes, California to recover as they prepared to face the 49ers for a second time in San Francisco three days later. Week 13: vs. San Francisco 49ers 1948 San Francisco 49ers season Browns 10 0 21 0 49ers 0 14 7 7 Sunday, November 28 Kezar Stadium, San Francisco 59,785 Source: Pro Football Reference yes 1 CLE Dante Lavelli 41-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 7–0 1 CLE Lou Groza 24-yard field goal CLE 10–0 2 SFO Joe Perry 2-yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick) CLE 10–7 2 SFO Alyn Beals 4-yard pass from Frankie Albert (Joe Vetrano kick) SFO 14–10 3 SFO Alyn Beals 29-yard pass from Frankie Albert (Joe Vetrano kick) SFO 21–10 3 CLE Marion Motley 6-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) SFO 21–17 3 CLE Dub Jones 20-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 24–21 3 CLE Edgar Jones 33-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 31–21 4 SFO Joe Perry 6-yard pass from Frankie Albert (Joe Vetrano kick) CLE 31–28 yes Three days after beating the Dons, the Browns played the 49ers in San Francisco.Sauerbrei Harold Browns Win; To Play Here For Title http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481128BROWNS.html July 23, 2013 Cleveland Plain Dealer November 28, 1948 https://web.archive.org/web/20131004213335/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481128BROWNS.html 2013-10-04 dead While the Browns had won their first 12 games, the rematch against the 49ers was significant because the 49ers held an 11–1 record, their only loss coming against the Browns two weeks earlier.Piascik 2007 117 The teams were both in the AAFC's Western Division, and a loss would have put the Browns in a tie with the 49ers for the lead.Piascik 2007 117 The teams' combined 23–1 record was the best ever for two professional squads in one game, and as of 2007, has not been surpassed.Piascik 2007 117 Graham was initially considered doubtful for the game because of the knee injury he suffered against the Dons, but team trainer Wally Bock cleared him to play.Piascik 2007 117 The game began with a 49ers fumble on their first play from scrimmage. Tony Adamle recovered the ball, and Graham threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Lavelli on the Browns' first play. A field goal by Groza later in the first quarter put the Browns up 10–0, but the 49ers came back in the second period and scored two touchdowns. The first was a short run by halfback Joe Perry and the second was a pass from Albert to Beals. San Francisco widened its lead in the third quarter with another touchdown catch by Beals. Graham, however, engineered three drives in the space of eight minutes that gave the browns three touchdowns and a 10-point advantage. Motley ran in the first score, while Dub Jones and Edgar Jones caught Graham passes for the other two. The 49ers scored a touchdown in the final quarter, but the Browns won the game 31–28. After the game, Paul Brown called it "Otto's greatest performance" given his injury. Week 14: vs. Brooklyn Dodgers 1948 Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) season Browns 7 14 10 0 Dodgers 0 0 7 14 Sunday, December 5 Ebbets Field, Brooklyn 9,821 Source: Pro Football Reference yes 1 CLE Dub Jones 1-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 7–0 2 CLE Dante Lavelli 54-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 14–0 2 CLE Otto Graham 1-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 21–0 3 CLE Lou Groza 37-yard field goal CLE 24–0 3 CLE Horace Gillom 25-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 31–0 3 BKD Bob Hoernschemeyer 38-yard pass from Bob Chappuis (Hardy Brown kick) CLE 31–7 4 BKD Bob Hoernschemeyer 3-yard rush (Hardy Brown kick) CLE 31–14 4 BKD Monk Gafford 60-yard pass from Bob Chappuis (Hardy Brown kick) CLE 31–21 yes The Browns ended their regular season with a win over the Dodgers and an undefeated record.Sauerbrei Harold Browns Repel Dodgers, 31–21 http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481205BROWNS.html July 23, 2013 Cleveland Plain Dealer December 5, 1948 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061235/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481205BROWNS.html 2016-03-04 dead The Browns began the game by scoring 31 unanswered points. The first score came on a short Dub Jones run that followed an 80-yard drive in the first quarter. The next score came on a 76-yard drive in the second quarter. After a pair of passes and a 14-yard run by Edgar Jones, Graham completed a long touchdown pass to Lavelli, who sped away from defender Monk Gafford on the right sideline. Graham engineered another long drive just before the end of the first half, completing 18- and 20-yard passes to Speedie. The 90-yard march ended with a short touchdown run by Graham, giving Cleveland a 21–0 advantage at the half. Groza kicked a field goal at the beginning of the third quarter, and a fumble by Gafford on the ensuing kickoff led to a touchdown pass from Graham to Gillom, putting the Browns up by 31 points. With a comfortable lead, Brown took out his starters and substituted third-string players. The Dodgers proceeded to score three touchdowns, two of which came on long passes from Bob Chappuis, but the Browns won the game 31–21. The win left the Browns on top of the standings in the AAFC's Western Division ahead of San Francisco, which had lost only two games, both to the Browns. The perfect regular season record was the first in professional football since 1942, when the National Football League's Chicago Bears won all of their games. Chicago, however, lost the NFL championship that year. Final standings AAFC championship game Bills 0 0 7 0 Browns 7 7 14 21 Sunday, December 19 Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio 22,981 Source: Pro Football Reference yes 1 CLE Edgar Jones 3-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 7–0 2 CLE George Young 18-yard fumble return (Lou Groza kick) CLE 14–0 3 CLE Edgar Jones 9-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 21–0 3 CLE Marion Motley 29-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 28–0 3 BUF Al Baldwin 1-yard pass from Jim Still (Graham Armstrong kick) CLE 28–7 4 CLE Marion Motley 31-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 35–7 4 CLE Marion Motley 9-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 42–7 4 CLE Lou Saban 39-yard interception return (Lou Groza kick) CLE 49–7 yes The Browns won the AAFC's Western Division with their perfect record and faced the Buffalo Bills, the winners of the Eastern Division, in the AAFC championship game.Piascik 2007 120 The Bills had tied with the Colts for the lead in the Eastern, forcing a playoff that the Buffalo won on December 12 in Baltimore.Piascik 2007 120 The championship game took place in Cleveland in 35-degree weather and was sparsely attended.Sauerbrei Harold Browns Win Third Title, 49 to 7 http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481219BROWNS.html July 25, 2013 Cleveland Plain Dealer December 19, 1948 https://web.archive.org/web/20131004213455/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19481219BROWNS.html 2013-10-04 dead The Browns were expected to win the game, having beaten the Bills twice in the regular season and possessing a significantly better record than the 7–7 Bills.Piascik 2007 120 The scoring began with a late-first-quarter Edgar Jones touchdown run, followed by a fumble return for a touchdown by George Young in the second period that put the Browns ahead 14–0 at halftime. Cleveland scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter on runs by Jones and Motley before Buffalo scored its first points. Aided by a roughing the kicker penalty on the Browns, the Bills capped an 80-yard drive with a short touchdown pass from Jim Still to Al Baldwin. Motley scored two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, however, and Lou Saban ran back an interception for a third to make the final score 49–7. Motley and Edgar Jones led the Browns offense in the game, accounting for a large share of the team's offensive production. Graham had an uncharacteristically quiet day, passing for just 118 yards on 11 completions. The victory made the Browns the first professional team to win three league championships in a row, following AAFC titles they won in 1946 and 1947. It was also the first time a professional football team finished a full season unbeaten and untied since a championship game was instituted in the NFL in 1933.Piascik 2007 120 The Chicago Bears had finished with perfect records in 1934 and 1942, but lost the NFL championship both times.Piascik 2007 120 The Browns had won 18 consecutive games stretching to the 1947 season, a professional record that stood until 2004.Piascik 2007 121 In the NFL, the Philadelphia Eagles won the championship 7–0 during a blizzard in Philadelphia's Shibe Park.Piascik 2007 122 Following the win, Eagles owner Alexis Thompson advocated a championship game between the top teams in the NFL and the AAFC, in part because he was losing money and felt an inter-league championship would draw large crowds.Piascik 2007 122 Thompson was also a leading proponent among NFL owners of negotiation with the AAFC over a deal to ease the leagues' competition for talent, which had driven up salaries and was eating into owners' profits.Piascik 2007 122 Thompson met with Browns owner Mickey McBride and agreed to a playoff – either one game in Yankee Stadium or a best-of-three series with games in Philadelphia, Cleveland and possibly New York.Piascik 2007 122 Thompson's proposal was shot down by other NFL owners, however, and he was given a reprimand by commissioner Bert Bell for suggesting the NFL-AAFC championship.Piascik 2007 122 Frustrated with his financial losses and lack of support among the owners, Thompson sold the Eagles shortly after the season ended.Piascik 2007 122 Season leaders and postseason Graham finished the season with the most passing yards in the AAFC and was named the league's Most Valuable Player, sharing the honor with Frankie Albert of the 49ers.Piascik 2007 121 Motley led the league in rushing, and Groza scored the most field goals in the league for the second year in a row.Piascik 2007 121 Speedie, meanwhile, had the most overall receptions and receptions per game of all receivers in the AAFC and NFL for the second year running.Piascik 2007 121 The Associated Press named Graham, Speedie and Motley to the first team of its combined AAFC-NFL All-Pro team, while Lou Rymkus and Bill Willis made the second team.Piascik 2007 121 The magazine Sporting News put Motley and Speedie on its first-team All-Pro list and put Graham and Willis on its second team.Piascik 2007 121 Cleveland's top players also made All-Pro teams assembled by the New York Daily News, United Press International and the AAFC itself.Piascik 2007 121–122 The Browns' perfect season and third championship victory came during a strong year for Cleveland sports teams.Piascik 2007 105 That April, the Cleveland Barons, the city's American Hockey League team, won the Calder Cup championship.Piascik 2007 105 The Cleveland Indians, the city's Major League Baseball club, set an all-time season attendance record and won the World Series.Piascik 2007 106 The Browns' success was also a major draw for fans: the team led professional football in attendance in 1948 with an average of 45,517 people per game, although that was still 10,000 lower than the year before.Piascik 2007 119 The distribution of talent and fortune among AAFC's teams was unbalanced, however, and while the Browns, the 49ers and the Dons were successes at the gate, teams including the Rockets and Colts languished financially.Piascik 2007 119 The NFL was also facing major financial trouble – nine of its ten teams lost money that year – and the two leagues' competition for talent led to talks about a merger.Piascik 2007 119–120 Discussions centered around how many AAFC teams the NFL would absorb; most owners favored four teams, but the talks broke down when powerful owners George Preston Marshall of the Washington Redskins and Tim Mara of the New York Giants intervened and suggested only Cleveland and San Francisco should be absorbed.Piascik 2007 120 The AAFC continued play in 1949, but was disbanded after that season. The Browns, 49ers and Colts were merged into the NFL starting in 1950.Piascik 2007 140–142 Perfect season controversy In winning all of their regular season games and the AAFC championship, the Browns recorded the first perfect season in professional football since the advent of NFL championships in 1933.Piascik 2007 120 The feat has been duplicated only once since, by the Miami Dolphins in 1972.Piascik 2007 200 When the AAFC faltered and dissolved after the 1949 season and the NFL absorbed the Browns, their new league did not recognize AAFC statistics, including the perfect season.Piascik 2007 121 The Pro Football Hall of Fame, however, recognizes it as a perfect season.History: Pro Football's Other Undefeated Teams http://www.profootballhof.com/history/decades/1940s/undefeated.aspx Pro Football Hall of Fame July 25, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131103211224/http://www.profootballhof.com/history/decades/1940s/undefeated.aspx November 3, 2013 live In 2008, United States Senator Sherrod Brown, who represents Ohio in the United States Congress, sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asking the league to recognize AAFC championships and team records including the perfect season.Senator Brown asks NFL to recognize 1948 Browns perfect season http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/02/senator_brown_asks_nfl_to_reco.html Cleveland.com July 25, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20150215000039/http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/02/senator_brown_asks_nfl_to_reco.html February 15, 2015 live At the time, the New England Patriots were undefeated as they prepared for the Super Bowl against the New York Giants, a game they went on to lose.Garber Greg Eli, monster defense power Giants to shocking Super Bowl victory https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=280203017 ESPN.com July 25, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130718093411/http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=280203017 July 18, 2013 February 3, 2008 dead Dante Lavelli also advocated for the NFL to adopt AAFC records.Grossi Tony Browns put together a forgotten perfect season in 1948 http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/02/browns_put_together_a_forgotte.html Cleveland.com July 25, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20150214095230/http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/02/browns_put_together_a_forgotte.html February 14, 2015 live References 30em Sources Andy Piascik The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns Lanham, Maryland Taylor Trade Publishing 2007 Knight, Jonathan (2013). The Browns Bible: The Complete Game-by-Game History of the Cleveland Browns. Kent, OH: Black Squirrel Books. Gary Webster Just Too Good: The Undefeated 1948 Cleveland Browns Jefferson, North Carolina McFarland 2016 none External links 1948 Cleveland Browns at Pro-Football-Reference.com 1948 Cleveland Browns StatisticsJuly 2026 InternetArchiveBot at jt-sw.com 1948 Cleveland Browns ScheduleJuly 2026 InternetArchiveBot at jt-sw.com 1948 Cleveland BrownsFebruary 2025 medicmedic at Database Football "Forty-Niners v. Cleveland Browns, November 28, 1949." Bert Dunne, 1949. (Video.) Cleveland Category:Cleveland Browns seasons Category:1948 in sports in Ohio