1952 Cleveland Browns season
The 1952 Cleveland Browns season was the team's third season with the National Football League and seventh season overall. They were 8–4 in the regular season and won the American Conference.[1][2] Cleveland hosted the NFL Championship Game, but lost 17–7 to the Detroit Lions.[3][4]
| 1952 Cleveland Browns season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Paul Brown |
| Home field | Cleveland Stadium |
| Local radio | WTAM |
| Results | |
| Record | 8–4 |
| Division place | 1st NFL American |
| Playoff finish | Lost NFL Championship (Lions, 7–17) |
Exhibition schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 23 | at Green Bay Packers | W 21–14 | 1–0 | |
| 2 | August 29 | Chicago Bears | W 14–7 | 2–0 | |
| 3 | September 6 | vs. Detroit Lions at Syracuse | L 21–28 | 2–1 | |
| 4 | September 13 | vs. San Francisco 49ers at Akron | L 31–35 | 2–2 |
Regular season
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 28 | Los Angeles Rams | W 37–7 | 1–0 | |
| 2 | October 4 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | W 21–20 | 2–0 | |
| 3 | October 12 | New York Giants | L 17–9 | 2–1 | |
| 4 | October 19 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 49–7 | 3–1 | |
| 5 | October 26 | Washington Redskins | W 19–15 | 4–1 | |
| 6 | November 2 | at Detroit Lions | L 17–6 | 4–2 | |
| 7 | November 9 | Chicago Cardinals | W 28–13 | 5–2 | |
| 8 | November 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 29–28 | 6–2 | |
| 9 | November 23 | Philadelphia Eagles | L 28–20 | 6–3 | |
| 10 | November 30 | at Washington Redskins | W 48–24 | 7–3 | |
| 11 | December 7 | at Chicago Cardinals | W 10–0 | 8–3 | |
| 12 | December 14 | at New York Giants | L 37–34 | 8–4 |
- Saturday night (October 4)[5]
Week 1
The Browns avenged their December championship game loss to Los Angeles with a 37–7 romp over the Rams at Cleveland Stadium. The Browns took a 23–0 halftime lead and never headed. Ken Carpenter rushed for 145 yards on 16 carries and the Browns defense limited Rams quarterbacks Norm Van Brocklin and Bob Waterfield to a combined six completions in 27 attempts.
Week 4
Despite being without injured wide receiver Dante Lavelli and Carpenter and then losing defensive end Bob Gain to a broken jaw, the Browns had little problem pounding the Eagles 49–7 in Philadelphia. It is Cleveland's 5th win over Philadelphia in as many meetings. Otto Graham threw for 290 yards and four touchdowns and even backup quarterback George Ratterman got into the act, throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Horace Gillom.
Week 6
In the first-ever regular season meeting between the Detroit Lions and the Browns, the Lions won 17–6, at Briggs Stadium. The Lions led 10–6, when a Graham pass intended for Ray Renfro was picked off by Detroit's Jack Christiansen. On the Lions next play from scrimmage, Bob Hoernschemeyer ran for 41 yards, setting up a Bobby Layne to Leon Hart touchdown pass.
Week 10
The Browns took a one-game lead in the Eastern Conference with a 48–24 win at Washington. Chick Jagade ran for 127 yards on 16 carries, including a 17-yard touchdown scamper on a draw play. Carpenter also had a big day returning punts including one for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Week 12
Needing a win in the season finale to clinch the American Conference Title, the Browns (8–3) traveled to the Polo Grounds in New York City, but lost to the Giants, 37–34. Charlie Conerly fired four touchdown passes for the Giants while Graham threw three interceptions.[1] The Browns clinched anyway when Washington upset Philadelphia.
Standings
| NFL American Conference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | CONF | PF | PA | STK | ||
| Cleveland Browns | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | 7–3 | 310 | 213 | L1 | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | 6–4 | 252 | 271 | L1 | |
| New York Giants | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | 5–4 | 234 | 231 | W1 | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | 4–5 | 300 | 273 | L1 | |
| Chicago Cardinals | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | 3–7 | 172 | 221 | L2 | |
| Washington Redskins | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | 4–6 | 240 | 287 | W2 | |
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
NFL Championship Game
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Championship | December 28 | Detroit Lions | L 7–17 |
Roster and coaching staff
|
Quarterbacks
Halfbacks
|
Fullbacks
Ends
|
Guards
Tackles
Centers
|
Head Coach Assistants
Rookies in italics (5) | ||||||
References
- "Browns lose to Giants, yet cop flag". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 15, 1952. p. 22.
- "NFL summary". Pittsburgh Press. December 15, 1952. p. 23.
- "Lions trip Browns, 17-7, for NFL crown". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. December 29, 1952. p. 2, part 2.
- Sell, Jack (December 29, 1952). "Lions defeat Browns for NFL title, 17-7". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 18.
- Livingston, Pat (October 5, 1952). "Browns' surge nips Steelers, 21-20". Pittsburgh Press. p. 41.