1950 NFL playoffs

When the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) folded in late 1949, three of its teams – the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, and Baltimore Colts – were absorbed by the NFL.[1] This forced a realignment of the NFL's divisions into the American and National conferences.[1][2] The Browns went into the American Conference along with teams mostly from the NFL's old Eastern Division, while the 49ers and Colts went into the National Conference with teams from the old Western Division.[2] Under NFL rules at the time, the teams with the best records in each conference after the 12-game regular season met in the NFL championship to determine the winner of the league.[3]

The Browns and the New York Giants jockeyed for first place in the American Conference for most of the regular season.[4] Cleveland ended with a 10–2 win–loss record, both of its losses coming against the Giants.[5] The Giants ended with the same record, having lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Cardinals.[6] In the National Conference, the New York Yanks, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Rams were at the top of the standings for most of the season.[4] The Yanks faded with four losses in the final five games, however, leaving the Rams and Bears tied at 9–3 at the end of the season.[7][8] The Rams lost two of their games against the Bears, while the Bears lost to the Yanks, Cardinals, and Green Bay Packers.[7][8]

With both conferences tied, two playoffs were scheduled to determine which teams would play in the annual championship game.[9] Cleveland won a coin toss to get home-field advantage in its matchup against the Giants on December 17.[10] Chicago played Los Angeles on the same day in Los Angeles.[7] It was the first and only time in the championship game era between 1933 and 1966 when both of the NFL's divisions ended in ties for first place, resulting in two playoff games.[11]

Source:[12]

Los Angeles had made it to the NFL championship game in 1949, making its appearance against the Browns its second straight.[14] The Rams had one of the most potent offenses in NFL history in 1950.[14] It featured Waterfield and Norm Van Brocklin at quarterback, Tom Fears and Bob Boyd at end and Elroy Hirsch at halfback.[14] The Rams averaged 309 passing yards per game, a record that stood until 1984.[14] The team's running unit, led by Dick Hoerner, Vitamin Smith and Dan Towler, averaged more than 140 yards a game.[17] Los Angeles averaged 38.8 points per game in 1950, an NFL record that still stood as of 2007.[14]

While the Rams were unmatched offensively, the Browns' defense gave up half as many points during the regular season.[17] Brown announced before the game that he would employ an umbrella defense against the Rams, similar to the one the Giants had used effectively against the Browns.[18] His plan was to show Los Angeles the umbrella formation at first but switch back to the team's usual formation soon after.[18] He abandoned the umbrella defense after the Rams scored a touchdown on their first play.[18]

The championship game took place on Christmas Eve in Cleveland a week after the conference playoffs.[19] On the Rams' first play after the opening kickoff, Waterfield passed to Glenn Davis for an 82-yard touchdown, giving Los Angeles an early 7–0 lead.[18] Martin was covering Davis, but slipped on the slick turf, leaving the receiver open.[18] Graham and the Browns' offense responded with a drive later in the first quarter that evened the score, but the Rams went ahead again by a touchdown on a three-yard Hoerner rush.[18] Cleveland scored a second touchdown in the second quarter, this time a 37-yard pass from Graham to Lavelli.[18] Groza's extra point attempt failed, however, because of a high snap, putting the Browns behind by one point.[18] Waterfield missed a 15-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half, leaving the score at 14–13 at halftime.[18]

Cleveland took the lead again in the third quarter on a 39-yard touchdown pass to Lavelli, his second of the day.[20] The Rams responded with a touchdown run by Hoerner and another touchdown quickly thereafter when Motley fumbled and Los Angeles's Larry Brink took it into the end zone.[20] Down 28–20 as the fourth quarter began, Cleveland was helped by interceptions by Thompson and Lahr that put its offense in good field position.[20] On a drive with 10 minutes left to play, Cleveland went for it on fourth down three times and made the necessary yards each time, advancing to the Los Angeles 14-yard line.[20] From there, Graham threw a touchdown pass to Bumgardner, who dove to catch it in the corner of the end zone.[20] After several more defensive stands, the Browns had the ball back and drove toward the Rams' end zone as the game drew to a close.[20] Graham fumbled, however, and the Rams recovered with three minutes left.[21] Cleveland's defense held, and Los Angeles punted, giving the Browns the ball back at their own 31-yard line with 1:49 left in the game.[21] Graham scrambled up the middle for 16 yards on the first play, and then turned to his receivers.[21] A pass to Bumgardner and two to Jones on the sidelines, followed by another to Bumgardner, put the ball at the Los Angeles 11-yard line.[21] Graham ran a quarterback sneak on the next play to place the ball at the middle of the field in preparation for a field goal.[22] After a time out, Groza came in and kicked the field goal with 0:28 left on the clock to put Cleveland ahead 30–28.[22] The Rams fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Browns recovered, appearing to seal the victory.[22] The officials ruled that Groza had kicked prematurely, however, and Los Angeles returned his rekick to their 46-yard line.[22] An interception by Lahr on a sideline pass stopped the drive and gave Cleveland the win.[23]

• 1950 NFL statistics at Pro-Football-Reference.com