1953 Cleveland Browns season

The 1953 Cleveland Browns season was the team's fourth season with the National Football League. Their start of eleven wins before losing their last game was the closest to a true perfect season in the NFL until the 1972 Miami Dolphins. After that fifteen-point loss at Philadelphia,[1] the Browns met the Detroit Lions in the NFL Championship Game for the second straight year; the Lions won again, this time by a point at home.[2][3]

1953 Cleveland Browns season
Head coachPaul Brown
Home fieldCleveland Stadium
Local radioWTAM
Results
Record11–1
Division place1st Eastern
Playoff finishLost NFL Championship
(at Lions, 16–17)

Exhibition schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 August 23 at San Francisco 49ers W 20–7
36,273
2 August 28 at Los Angeles Rams L 27–9
21,440
3 September 4 at Detroit Lions T 24–24
39,985
4 September 7 vs. Baltimore Colts at Akron W 23–21
20,000
5 September 11 at Chicago Bears W 20–14
36,796
6 September 19 Green Bay Packers W 21–13
22,336

Regular season
Main article: 1953 NFL season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Attendance
1 September 27 at Green Bay Packers W 27–0 1–0
22,604
2 October 4 at Chicago Cardinals W 27–7 2–0
24,374
3 October 10 Philadelphia Eagles W 37–13 3–0
45,802
4 October 18 at Washington Redskins W 30–14 4–0
33,963
5 October 25 at New York Giants W 7–0 5–0
30,773
6 November 1 Washington Redskins W 27–3 6–0
47,845
7 November 8 Pittsburgh Steelers W 34–16 7–0
35,592
8 November 15 San Francisco 49ers W 23–21 8–0
80,698
9 November 22 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 20–16 9–0
32,904
10 November 29 Chicago Cardinals W 27–16 10–0  
24,499
11 December 6 New York Giants W 62–14 11–0  
40,235
12 December 13 at Philadelphia Eagles L 42–27 11–1  
38,654
  • Saturday night (October 10)[4]

Week 1 at Milwaukee

In the first-ever regular season meeting between Cleveland and Green Bay, the Browns rolled up 376 yards and Otto Graham completed 18 0f 24 yards to highlight a 27–0 season opening win in at the new County Stadium in Milwaukee.[5] The Browns yield 159 yards and allow the Packers to penetrate Cleveland territory just four times.

Week 5 at New York

Graham scores the game's only touchdown on a 4-yard run in the second period as the Browns beat the Giants, 7-0, on a muddy Polo Grounds field. Graham, who attempts only five passes as the inclement conditions, scores after an offsides penalty on Lou Groza's missed field goal attempt gives the Browns a critical first down.

Week 6 vs. Washington

The undefeated Browns make life miserable for Redskins quarterback Eddie LeBaron by intercepting four passes in a 27-3 win at Cleveland Stadium. Tommy James ties his own Browns record with three as Cleveland scores 24 points off turnovers.

Week 8 vs. San Francisco

A Cleveland Stadium crowd of 80,698 watches the Browns dispatch longtime rival San Francisco, 23–21. With the Browns leading 10–0, Graham is knocked out of bounds by defensive back Fred Bruney and elbowed in the face by linebacker Art Michalik, who opens a gash that requires 15 stitches and nearly incites a riot. Graham returns for the third quarter wearing a clear plastic protective bar in front of his face, a device that will evolve into today's face mask. Showing little effect from his injury, Graham leads the Browns to 13 second half points and the victory.

Week 11 vs. New York

The Browns improve to 11–0 by winning a 62–14 laugher over the Giants at Cleveland Stadium. George Ratterman starts in place of Graham and completes 15-of-27 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns. Graham plays briefly and completes 3-of-4 passes, two for touchdowns. Pete Brewster catches seven passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns in the most productive game of his career.

Standings
NFL Eastern Conference
W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
Cleveland Browns 11 1 0 .917 9–1 348 162 L1
Philadelphia Eagles 7 4 1 .636 6–3–1 352 215 W1
Washington Redskins 6 5 1 .545 6–3–1 208 215 L1
Pittsburgh Steelers 6 6 0 .500 5–5 211 263 W2
New York Giants 3 9 0 .250 3–7 179 277 L2
Chicago Cardinals 1 10 1 .091 0–10 190 337 W1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

NFL Championship Game
Main article: 1953 NFL Championship Game
Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
Championship December 27 at Detroit Lions L 16–17
54,577
Source:[2][3]

Awards and records

References
  1. "Eagles upset Cleveland, 42-27". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 14, 1953. p. 24.
  2. Sell, Jack (December 28, 1953). "Lions retain NFL title; edge Browns, 17-16". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 12.
  3. "Lions capture pro title 17-16". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). United Press, Associated Press reports. December 28, 1953. p. 2B.
  4. "Browns beat Eagles, 37-13". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). United Press. October 11, 1953. p. 1C.
  5. Larson, Lloyd (September 28, 1953). "Browns' machine crushes Packers under 27-0 count". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 2, part 2.


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