1953 NFL Championship Game

The 1953 NFL Championship Game was the 21st annual championship game, held on December 27 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.[1][2][3][4]

1953 NFL Championship Game
Cleveland Browns
(Eastern)
(11–1)		 Detroit Lions
(Western)
(10–2)
16 17
Head coach:
Paul Brown		 Head coach:
Buddy Parker
1234 Total
Cleveland Browns 0376 16
Detroit Lions 7307 17
DateDecember 27, 1953
StadiumBriggs Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
Attendance54,577
Hall of Famers
Browns: Paul Brown (coach/gm), Doug Atkins, Len Ford, Frank Gatski, Otto Graham, Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, Marion Motley, Bill Willis
Lions: Jack Christiansen, Lou Creekmur, Yale Lary, Bobby Layne, Joe Schmidt, Dick Stanfel, Doak Walker
TV in the United States
NetworkDuMont
AnnouncersHarry Wismer and Red Grange
Radio in the United States
NetworkMutual
AnnouncersEarl Gillespie, Chris Schenkel
Detroit is located in the United States
Detroit
Detroit
Location in the United States

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.[5][6] This was the Browns' fourth consecutive NFL championship game appearance since joining the league in 1950, and they were favored by three points.[7]

The Lions were attempting to become the third team in the championship game era (since 1933) to win two titles in a row, following the Chicago Bears (1940, 1941) and Philadelphia Eagles (1948, 1949).[4]

The home underdog Lions rallied in the fourth quarter with a late touchdown and conversion to win by a single point, 17–16.[2][8] The two teams met the following year for a third consecutive title match-up.

Ticket prices ranged from three to seven dollars.[9]

Game summary

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 scored thirteen straight points in the second half to take the lead.

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, intercepting the throw, clinching the Lions their third title.[10]

Scoring summary

Sunday, December 27, 1953
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. EST

  • First quarter
    • DET – Doak Walker 1-yard run (Walker kick), 7–0 DET
  • Second quarter
    • CLE – FG Lou Groza 13 yard, 7–3 DET
    • DET – FG Walker 23 yard, 10–3 DET
  • Third quarter
  • Fourth quarter
    • CLE – FG Groza 15 yard, 13–10 CLE
    • CLE – FG Groza 43 yard, 16–10 CLE
    • DET – Jim Doran 33-yard pass from Bobby Layne (Walker kick), 17–16 DET

Officials

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.[3][4][8]

Video
  • You Tube – 1953 NFL Championship Game – game footage (without audio)
  • You Tube – World's Championship Football Game (Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions, 1953) - highlight film with audio commentary

References
  1. Strickler, George (December 27, 1953). "Browns, Lions meet for title". Chicago Sunday Tribune. p. 1, part 2.
  2. Strickler, George (December 28, 1953). "Lions win in last 3 minutes, 17 to 16". Chicago Daily Tribune.
  3. Sell, Jack (December 28, 1953). "Lions retain NFL title; edge Browns, 17-16". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 12.
  4. "Lions capture pro title 17-16". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. United Press, Associated Press reports. December 28, 1953. p. 2B.
  5. Prell, Edward (December 29, 1952). "Lions win pro crown; beat Browns, 17-7". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 3.
  6. Sell, Jack (December 29, 1952). "Lions defeat Browns for NFL title, 17-7". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 18.
  7. "Browns, Lions clash today". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). Associated Press. December 27, 1953. p. D1.
  8. Livingston, Pat (December 28, 1953). "Detroit's rally keeps NFL title". Pittsburgh Press. p. 14.
  9. "Tickets go on sale for pro grid title". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. December 14, 1953. p. 13, part 2.
  10. "Cleveland Browns History - cleveland.com". October 1, 2012. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  11. "Wallace, Rebele, Hamer to work in title game". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 24, 1953. p. 12.

Harold Sauerbrie, "Browns Lose Title Game, 17–16", Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 27, 1953, Browns history database retrieved December 12, 2007

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