1955 NFL Championship Game

none November 2013 nflc 1955 File:1955ChampionshipGameProgram.jpg Cleveland Browns Los Angeles Rams Paul Brown Sid Gillman Eastern Western CLE LA 9–2–1 8–3–1 3 14 14 7 38 0 7 0 7 14 December 26, 1955 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, California 87,695 NBC Bob Kelley, Ken Coleman Browns: Paul Brown (coach/gm), Len Ford, Frank Gatski, Otto Graham, Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, Mike McCormack Rams: Dan Reeves (owner), Tex Schramm (administrator), Sid Gillman (coach), Tom Fears, Elroy Hirsch, Les Richter, Andy Robustelli, Norm Van Brocklin USA 1 Los Angeles 34.014 -118.287 Location in the United States 5 290 The 1955 NFL Championship Game was the 23rd league championship game, played on December 26 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1955/12/27/page/46/ Chicago Daily Tribune Smith Wilfrid 85,693 watch Browns take 3d pro title December 27, 1955 1, part 3https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b0waAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iSUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6663%2C2086511 Milwaukee Journal Kuechle Oliver E. Browns crush Rams, 38-14, for pro title before 87,695 December 27, 1955 17, part 2 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B89RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C2wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1829%2C4351910 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Associated Press 87,695 fans see Browns defeat Rams, 38 to 14 December 27, 1955 1 It was between the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Browns (9–2–1), the defending league champions, and the Los Angeles Rams (8–3–1), champions of the Western Conference. The attendance of 87,695 broke the NFL championship game record by nearly 30,000. This was the first NFL championship game played on a Monday and the first televised by NBC. In their sixth consecutive NFL title game, the Browns were six-point favorites.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JnxRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kA8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7527%2C3249075 Milwaukee Sentinel Associated Press Browns 6-point favorite for title December 26, 1955 5, part 4 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Bs9RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C2wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4809%2C4146700 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Associated Press Browns choice to beat Rams, keep pro title December 26, 1955 42 The Browns successfully defended the title and won their third NFL championship of the 1950s in a second straight rout, 38–14. Their next (and most recent) league title was in 1964, 1964. This was the Rams' fourth title game in seven seasons, with one victory in 1951. They did not reach the league's big game again until Super Bowl XIV in January 1980, and did not win until Super Bowl XXXIV in January 2000, as the St. Louis Rams. Game summary First half Browns veteran Lou Groza kicked off; Rams rookie halfback Ron Waller returned the kick, and Groza himself made the tackle. A subsequent Rams drive was stopped at the Cleveland 12 when Kenny Konz intercepted a Norm Van Brocklin pass. Browns quarterback Otto Graham, who had announced his retirement at the end of the season, drove Cleveland to the L.A. 26 where Groza's FG gave the Browns a 3–0 first quarter lead. The Browns scored again when DB Don Paul intercepted Van Brocklin's pass on the Browns 35 and raced 65 yards for a touchdown, making the score 10–0. The Rams answered back when Van Brocklin connected with halfback Volney "Skeet" Quinlan for a 67-yard touchdown, pulling the Rams to within 3 points, 10–7, and giving the large crowd hopes of an upset. But late in the second period, Van Brocklin threw his third interception of the half; defensive back Tom James, who had been beaten on the Rams' Tom Fears' title-winning touchdown on the same field four years earlier, grabbed the errant pass and took the ball back to midfield with time running out. The next play turned a close game into a rout; Otto Graham found Dante Lavelli with a 50-yard touchdown pass along the sideline and the Rams, who moments earlier were driving to take the lead, went to the locker room down 17–7. Second half Graham earned his place as the star of the game. After moving the Browns from the L.A. 46, Graham kept the ball and ran around right end from the 19 and scored to put the Browns ahead 24–7. On Los Angeles's next possession, Sam Palumbo intercepted Van Brocklin at the Ram 36. Graham drove the Browns to the 4, then scored himself on a sneak. Groza's conversion increased Cleveland's lead to 31–7 with two minutes left in the third quarter. In the final period, Graham tossed a 35-yard touchdown pass to Ray Renfro and Groza's kick gave the Browns a 38–7 lead. Late in the game, Waller ran four yards for a touchdown and Les Richter's conversion finished the scoring. In the final minutes coach Brown sent in reserve quarterback George Ratterman and allowed Graham to leave the field to an ovation from the Los Angeles crowd. Cleveland, with its third title of the decade, represented the American/Eastern Conference in the championship game every year since its admission to the NFL, celebrated Graham's farewell. The Rams' Van Brocklin, who threw six interceptions, often was quoted that it was the worst game of his hall of fame career. Scoring summary text-align:center; background:#eee Cleveland Browns 38, Los Angeles Rams 14 December 26, 1955 1 p.m. PST Browns 3 14 14 7 Rams 0 7 0 7 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter CLE – Lou Groza 26-yard field goal. Browns 3–0 Second quarter CLE – Don Paul 65-yard interception (Groza kick). Browns 10–0 LA – Skeet Quinlan 67-yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin (Les Richter kick). Browns 10–7 CLE – Dante Lavelli 50-yard pass from Otto Graham (Groza kick). Browns 17–7 Third quarter CLE – Otto Graham 15-yard run (Groza kick). Browns 24–7 CLE – Otto Graham 1-yard run (Groza kick). Browns 31–7 Fourth quarter CLE – Ray Renfro 35-yard pass from Graham (Groza kick). Browns 38–7 LA – Ron Waller 4-yard run (Richter kick). Browns 38–14 Officials Referee: Ronald Gibbshttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U2ctAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h4kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=693%2C3126531 Schenectady Gazette New York Ron Gibbs, pro grid referee, here today January 25, 1961 20 Umpire: Sam Wilson Linesman: Dan Tehan Back judge: Tay Brown Field judge: William McHugh 4em Alternate: Emil Heintz Alternate: Cletus Gardner Alternate: James Underhill https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B6YVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kA8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2495%2C1628273 Milwaukee Sentinel Associated Press Gibbs to referee Browns-Rams tilt December 24, 1955 4, part 2 The NFL added the fifth official, the back judge, in 1947;https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uH4hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RYsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2674%2C1861090 Milwaukee Journal Associated Press National League officials to work in crews of six (five) August 19, 1947 6, part 2 March 11, 2016 February 8, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160311232120/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uH4hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RYsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2674%2C1861090 dead 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 over $504,000, the highest to date. Each player on the winning Browns team received $3,508, while Rams players made $2,316 each.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=znI_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=uVQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3826%2C3486348 Youngstown Vindicator Ohio Associated Press Each Brown player to receive $3,508 December 27, 1955 8 References 2 http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19551226BROWNS.html Chuck Heaton 87,695 See Browns Keep Title Cleveland Plain Dealer December 26, 1955 December 12, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20121001165031/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?%2Fbrowns%2Fmore%2Fhistory%2F19551226BROWNS.html October 1, 2012 dead mdy-all External links Earl Gillespie (narrator), 1955 Championship Game: Cleveland Browns vs. Los Angeles Rams. Robert G. Conrad, Director. National Football League, 1956. (Video.) 34.014 -118.287 type:event title Championship Game, 1955 Category:NFL Championship games Category:Cleveland Browns postseason Category:Los Angeles Rams postseason Category:December 1955 sports events in the United States Category:1955 in sports in California Category:American football competitions in Los Angeles Category:1955 in Los Angeles Category:Events at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum